How does one tie a Balmoral bow?

[turpin]

Maybe it's sacriligeous, but I just tacked my ribbon into a nice, symmetric bow with thread. It's a Glengarry Hats Balmoral with a decorative ribbon.

[turpin]

I've been experimenting with the tails of my balmoral and managed to tie a reasonably horizontal bow that ends up looking a bit like a Saltire cross. My ribbon is sewn to the headband. First I just tied teh ribbons in a half-knot (like you start you shoes). Then make a loop with the lower end, bring the upper end in front, and back up in a loop behind the lower end. pull and adjust as necessary fore evenness and symmetry. If this doesn't seem to work for you I can try some pics, but since it's a black ribbon on a dark green hat I don't know how well they'll come out. Try it.

[motorman4life]

If this doesn't seem to work for you I can try some pics, but since it's a black ribbon on a dark green hat I don't know how well they'll come out. Try it.

Pics please

[turpin]

Pics please

I took some today - I'll get them up tonite.

[Scott Gilmore]

I took some today - I'll get them up tonite.

Thanks in advance.

Incidentally, every picture I found of glengarry ribbons shows them untied, and I found some rather prominent glengarry wearers. I assume balmoral ribbons are treated differently?

Regards,
Scott Gilmore

[turpin]

According to Charles Thompson's book;

"..on the Glengarry bonnet the ribbons are always left hanging loose. With the balmoral there is some disagreement. Some of the experts insist that the ribbons of the Balmoral should always be tied in a neat, small bow. Nobody says it is wrong to knot [in a bow]the ribbons; some just feel that you don't need to. You will be safer to knot the ribbons. Most people do, and nobody objects to it. I have even heard the romantic notion that knotted ribbons mean that the wearer's affections are engaged, while free-flowing ribbons mean that his fancy is equally free." Thus speaketh Obi-Wan Kilt-Nobi.

here are the picture of my bow. I've tried to capture the tieing of it, but black ribbon on dark green is a bit tough.

here is how a Glengarry Hats Balmoral comes

I tie a half-granny knot

loop the lower tail and bring the upper tail in front

push the upper/front ribbon diagonally up to form the second loop

pull and shape so the loops and tails are about equal length

and another


hope these show sufficient detail. i think the key is the first step. it sets the foundation for the horizontal bow.

[Scott Gilmore]

Hey! That's pretty good, thanks. I'm off to try it. BRB.

Regards,
Scott Gilmore

[turpin]

just curious if this worked for anyone.

[Scott Gilmore]

just curious if this worked for anyone.

Well, depressingly, I indubitably lack the digital dexterity undoubtedly deemed indispensable when binding a balmoral's black back ribbons.

In other words, when it came time to tie the knot, my fingers lacked the concomitant capability clearly required to conceive and complete the commitment.

Alas, though Carol has been my constant companion lo these three and thirty years, my balmoral knot shall remain untied until such time as someone trusted with gentle fingers is able to offer knot a little assistance.

But hey, your knot looks absolutely bitchin'. So let me know next time you're in SoCal as there's a balmoral with my name on it as needs your knotting talents.

(In Earth language, what I'm saying is that the stitching for the ribbons at the back of my balmoral seem a little too delicate to withstand knot-tying and the like. As I don't fancy stressing seams on an otherwise perfectly good balmoral without good cause, I've elected to go knotless until such time as someone can convince me they can tie my knot without damaging my precious new head-gear. After all, vanity is everything.)

And all kidding around aside, I sincerely do appreciate your efforts posting those snap shots. They are quite clear; I'm afraid to say the failure is entirely mine.

Pedantically yours,
Scott Gilmore

[turpin]

Bummer, man.