How does one tie a Balmoral bow?

[Scott Gilmore]

As I no longer sport a glorious, thick, long, shiny pelt, on that rare cool evening here in San Diego I need something to keep my nude pate warm. To that end, I picked up a nice silk-lined wool Balmoral at GlengarryHats.com. (That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!)

Anyway, it's a superb quality piece that fits like water in a bathtub, and if you don't my saying so, I look smashing under it. But I don't know how to properly tie the ribbons at the back. I recall seeing a picture of Panache (I think) some time ago showing him from the back wearing a Glengarry, but I can't find that post and I don't rememer how it was tied - if at all.

Your guidance would be, as always, appreciated.

Regards,
Scott Gilmore

PS - Great personal service from Ian at GlengarryHats.com.

[McClef]

I read recently that a Glengarry is never tied and that whether or not a Balmoral is tied depends on one's marital or military status.

I have been struggling for a photograph in vain though - plenty of references to being tied in a bow but frustratingly without instructions!

[Robin]

HOW TO TIE A BOW

Have fun

[Cawdorian]

It may take some experimentation to get an acceptable bow on the back of a Balmoral, I had to tie mine several times in order to get one that looked right.

[McClef]

What works for a bow tie may not work for Balmoral ribbons - the shapes of the two articles are very different.

[macwilkin]

Thompson gives good instructions on how to tie the ribbons up on a balmoral in his book, "So you're going to wear the kilt" -- I went to pull my copy of the shelf this morning, and noticed it was not there! I think I loaned it someone who has not returned it yet <grrr>

T.

[Panache]

Scot,

I'm with McClef, I believe the glengarry's ribbons are not supposed to be tied . They just hang down gracefully from the hat like so.



I would tie a simple bow (like tying your shoelaces) and leave it at that.

Thanks for the review of Glengarryhats.com I have looked at their site many times. Their prices seem very reasonable.

Cheers

[mbhandy]

Now I may be wrong,

Wasn't the ribbon to adjust the size of the hat?
Now they are only decoration on non adjustable hats.?????

I know on my hand made Balmoral that is how it is made with the ribbon going all the way around the inside of the hat. On the GlengarryHats.com hat is sized and the ribbon is wider and is just sewed on the back.

MrBill

[Mike1]

Yes, originally, the ribbons were used to size the balmoral.

During military service, legend suggests that Lowlanders left the ribbons free and Highlanders tied theirs into a simple bow at the hat band.

Another legend suggests that a single man would leave the ribbons free, whilst a married man would tie his into a bow.

I don't know that I've ever seen instructions for how the bow was to be tied, however.

[Woodsheal]

I have a military balmoral with the ribbons sewn together wear they cross, like in the pic of the glengarry. Does one tie the bow below the sewn section, or remove those stitches and tie the bow right at the back of the bonnet?