Custom Balmorals?

[Piobair]

I was wondering if anyone had any leads on custom balmorals - preferably in tweed. I noticed that posters had recommended eBayer "Mossie Croft" in the past, but couldn't find any current info about them. I found a very detailed pattern here, but lack both the skill and patience to make my own.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

[creagdhubh]

House of Labhran offer Balmorals in tweed, but at the moment, they are out of stock. Check it out:

http://www.houseoflabhran.net/scotti...sh-hats-2.html

Cheers,

[davidlpope]

Mackie will do this. I had one custom-made in tweed. Be warned, though, that this will be a pieced and sewn balmoral with seams and stiffener and will not look like their normal felted bonnets.

[tripleblessed]

Made from tweed cloth, or custom knit? Any tweed? Specific tweed? Custom tweed? The Harris Tweed Shop - http://www.harristweedshop.com/hat-cap-index.html offers some. You might check with Ryan Ross through the forum or the Tartan Museum gift shop about the possibility of a custom bonnet knit from tweed yarn. Other DIYers on the forum might be willing to tackle the pattern you linked for you.

[ForresterModern]

My question to the OP would be why one might want a Balmoral in tweed, or more precisely would it actually be tweed material with a specific pattern or merely in a mixed color palette that would be similar to a specific tweed one already had? If the former then matching tweed bonnet might come off as a bit too matchy matchy. If the latter, a marled yarn custom made bonnet from Ryan or STM would probably fit the bill but not appear too matchy matchy, although the felting process may undo the marled original color pattern somewhat.

[brewerpaul]

Had to play around with some tweed today and a pattern for a bonnet to see what happened. I do like tweed alot and the thought of a tweed bonnet intrigued me quite a bit. My EBay buying has landed me some vintage 1956 heavy tweed fabric which is what I used. I had a simple three piece bonnet patter to work with. The results follow. Yes this has a seam from sewing two pieces together just as a flatcap would but there is no way around that. I think it looks rather nice and feels good too.

The vintage tweed I used, mostly brown and beige with flecks of red and blue.



This fabric was from and estate and must have been well stored. Note the date 1956 on the original tag.




Here is the bonnet in the daylight. I like the colors and the look.



Side shot of the bonnet. I may need to jock it a bit but this is fresh off the sewing machine.

[Friday]

I like that Balmoral! I may not wearing it with a tweed kilt, but if you are into matchy, matchy I see no reason not to.

[brewerpaul]

I like that Balmoral! I may not wearing it with a tweed kilt, but if you are into matchy, matchy I see no reason not to.

Thanks, and agreed I wouldnt wear it with a tweed kilt. The red/maroon flecks do go well with my brick red sweater or even a pair of burgundy kilt hose. Not too matchy match there, just a bit of accent.