Stretch a Balmoral

[O'Searcaigh]

I don't know if this will help but I have stretched at least one bonnet the same way we used to stretch our sailor hats ("Dixie cups") when I was in the Navy. Soak the hat in warm water then make fists with both hands inside the hat and twist the hat around your fists stretching and shaping it as you go. If it doesn't need too much stretching, that should work. If it needs more stretching then you can snip the back where the ties are, secure the ribbons (by sewing) to each side of where you have cut the hat, and then tie the ribbons together for the proper fit.

[super8mm]

mine does not have a V but you can see where the ribbons are they are stitched in a V shape with another row of stitching up center of the V.

[thescot]

That'll probably work. The better bonnets tend to come with the ribbons stitched together about 3-4" down from the sweat band. You need to pick that out anyway. Then you can likely get to the little VEE at the top.


Picking out the threads in the bibbon.


You can see the V


Trimming the excess ribbon after tying the bow.

If you do a little judicious slitting right there and add a bit of elastic on the inside, I think it'll work fine.

BTW: this is a photo of a brand new bonnet I bought a couple years ago, went to a lot of trouble to break in, photograph the process, etc. and had it stolen the first time I wore it out!

I am still looking for the culprit. If you hear I am in the slammer, you may assume that I found him!

[super8mm]

Yes that looks like the way mine is sewn up, I will seperate the ribbons and see what is there

well if you catch the perp maybe a little extra use for that seam ripper to open up their seam "LOL"

Thanks

[SadisticMedic]

We used the warm water method when shaping our berets in the Army back in the day. Hot water on the wool, put on head and shape. Wear until dry. The felted wool stretched but not much.

Inside the beret where the flash and unit pin go is a layered fiber board (layers of cardboard like that on the back of a pad of paper) piece covered in the same material as the lining. The flash was sewn through this card. You could probably do the same thing with the area that the clan badge is attached. It will be stiff enough to help it stand up, but not too stiff so it will mold to the contour of your head.

Medic

[super8mm]

I just looked at it real close and there is nothing in there to stiffen that side of the cap.

If I get my wife a new sewing machine this weekend for Mothers Day maybe I can get her to open the lining up and I can trim and fit a piece of Mylar in there and when it get it sized punch some small holes in to and have her stitch it down and then stitch the lining back up??

I might need to do this after I soak and stretch it I guess

[Downunder Kilt]

You don't have to stitch the mylar in. Once you put the plastic substance in and have the two holes to put the pin through, it will become self supporting. I cut a 2.5" square out of the top of a plastic icecream container, punched two holes in it and and attached the badge, never had a problem since .

A photo of the balmoral

[super8mm]

Thanks Downunder, does that ever pull your hair?

I am currently in my last act of defiance of growing my hair long while I still have a couple of hairs left LOL

[thescot]

A balmoral does not have the stiffener that some berets have, and I fear it would end up looking like an Irish caubeen. I have found myself that some of the heavier badges will pull the bonnet down over the band in an unsightly manner. Those really heavy ones are made of pewter and are quite thick. One of my favorites was a USMC badge that always made the bonnet sag badly, so I quit wearing it as well as the Robertson badge I first bought.

You might want to try a lighter badge. Try putting something lighter just to check it out and see how it goes. I'll be the problem disappears.

I found that by looking around, I could find badges that did not sag my bonnet so badly. Just look for one that is lighter and thinner.

[super8mm]

it is a bit heavy as it is made from pewter, when I soak it I will see how it does with out the badge