"Jocked" Balmoral Streched

[Kent Frazier]

After "jocking" the balmoral I purchased from USA Kilts it seems to have stretched slightly. When new, it sat about one finger width above my eyebrows and felt slightly loose. Now it slides down over my eyebrows and touches the tops of my ears. There is no gap at the back of the headband like there appears to be with the Robert Mackie's.

I soaked the balmoral in cold water for about 9 hours and then put it in the spin cycle of the washing machine. I then shaped and wore it for part of the day. After noticing that it felt a little "loose" it took it off thinking the head band might shrink a little more. It didn't.

Should I try a warm water soak?

[plaid preacher]

You may be the only person in history to wash wool and get it to stretch instead of shrink. You're mistake may have been spinning it in the washing machine. I think I would start by soaking again in cold water first. Then take it out and roll it in a towel to get the excess water out and wear it for as long as you can. If it's still too loose then maybe I would try warm water...but watch it closely. Wool shrinks ya know! ;-)

[Jock Scot]

Is the bonnet 100% wool? Wool does shrink but only so far, you may just have a bonnet that is too big for you even after jocking. However, don't give up! Take your time and try again, a day soaking in cold water and then GENTLY wring out most of the water----the cloth needs to be almost still dripping---- and see how it fits after drying on your head. If it actually and genuinely fits when really dry----out of the box so to speak--- you could take the long route and just wear it and over a month or six it will wear itself in.

As a last resort you could try warm water and as a last, LAST resort, nearly hot water and even more gently wring out some water and place on the head to dry. Something might happen then, but it might not be good!

[Kent Frazier]

I had read about spinning in a thread here on xmarks. I am really surprised about the stretching. It's not much, but enough to notice. I'll try soaking it again. Any suggestion on how long to soak it? Is overnight really necessary?

[Jock Scot]

Take your time laddie! A few hours extra soaking an extra day (24 hours) underwater matters not when doing a job properly and the spin dry thing really won't have helped----don't be impatient! A day wearing the bonnet in the pouring rain is another alternative, I suppose!

[Kent Frazier]

I'll try Jock, but patience is NOT one of my virtues!

[Kent Frazier]

Is the bonnet 100% wool?

The description on the USA Kilts web site states it is 100% wool, but the tag doesn't specify.

[Kent Frazier]

Here are some photos following a second day of soaking. The torrie fell off so I had to sow it back on.
I think the felted part did shrink some, but the headband area still seems a little big.

Front view:


Rear view:


Right side:


Left side:

[Jock Scot]

The bonnet is a little low on the forehead, that maybe how you like to wear it, a bit to do with your head shape ,or, I am afraid that the wool has shrunk as far as it is going to. If you are happy with it there is nothing more to do, if you are not and need the bonnet headband a wee tad tighter what to do? I suppose an extra thickness of cloth sewn around the headband on the inside would probably do the trick? Failing that, wear it as it is, or I am afraid to say that you will have to bite the bullet and buy a slightly------SLIGHTLY------smaller bonnet. Toories are never very well sewn on by the way. The badge looks smashing!

[Kent Frazier]

Thanks Jock, I thought it was too low. The has size was a 58cm. I may see about adding something around the headband. I do see a Robert Mackie balmoral in my future however. I just need to decide between fawn, Lovat green, or Lovat Blue.