Bonnet Bashing Jock Scott Style

**mbhandy** · 29th April 10, 07:39 AM

So what are you trying to do? Stretch the felting?

Did no see Jocks post.

MrBill

**piperdbh** · 29th April 10, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by mbhandy

So what are you trying to do? Stretch the felting?

Not so much stretch as soften and work out the creases that form during shipping. Jocking makes the bonnet look "broken in", instead of that brand-new, fresh-out-of-the-box look.

**Tartan Hiker** · 29th April 10, 09:21 AM

And I suggest that we add "Jockin' the Bonnet" to the official XMTS lexicon.

**BobsYourUncle** · 29th April 10, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

And I suggest that we add "Jockin' the Bonnet" to the official XMTS lexicon.

I must confess I had the same thought as I typed it...."Jockin' the Bonnet" belongs in our lexicon...

**BobsYourUncle** · 29th April 10, 05:33 PM

O.K. Stage 2 of Jockin' the Bonnet. I don't know why exactly, but I thought it would be more efficient to save the tying of the ribbons and sewing down the knot for after the first soak and the first drying period. I guess I thought the ribbon and knot would come out of the process with that much more integrity that way...remains to be seen....I do think that the knock in the headband on the Robert Mackie militates in favor of tying, despite my MacPherson brethren who maintain that such ribbon tying is not done at the mouth of the Spey...

Ironed ribbons, positioned for tying [Many moons ago Turpin did a thread on this]:

Begin the knot--just like a bow tie for those you who use other abstruse forms of fashion, for all others, think grade school shoe lace tying:

Make a horizontal with the bottom loop, bring the top over at approximately 90 degrees:

Put a finger in the middle of the top ribbon, and tuck in around and into the loop in between the front of the knot and the back:

Pull through to just form the knot, don't pull it all the way tight, now is the time for the little adjustments that make it perfect and symetrical, if that's how you like it, THEN you pull it all the way tight:

Adjusting...

Final adjustments made--the sine qua non, if not the ne plus ultra:

Time to sew down the knot so it will be permanent through all of life's trials:

Yep, spear it right through the knot, and run it through several times before the final tie-off.

Final tie-off:

**BobsYourUncle** · 29th April 10, 05:36 PM

Bonnet, cold water, bucket and rocks ready for a second overnight soak:

Izzy the kitten inspects the works:

Why have you inserted rocks into a bonnet which otherwise would be a perfect napping place?

Rocks into the bonnet for a second immersion:

Into the drink:

The rising bubbles are the sure sign of a happy bonnet, being properly shaped:

Tomorrow: the partial drying to dampness, the forming and wearing while it dries....

**BobsYourUncle** · 30th April 10, 11:50 AM

O.K. I've retreived the bonnet from the cold water, wrung it out, beat it like a rented mule again, and now for the shaping.

Place the disformed bonnet on your skull. Do not dismay that it looks something like a bloated cactus on my head. This just means that the wool has had it's pre-formed shape beaten out of it, and is ready for me to impose my will:

As Jock instructs in his thread, imagine looking down at the top of the bonnet. The back of my head is 6 o'clock, my left ear is 9 o'clock. Bow at the back [6 o'clock], cockade to the front left [10 o'clock].

Holding the bonnet at the bow [6 o'clock] with one hand, with the other hand grab the front of the cloth at 12 o'clock and pull the cloth forward. This creates an overhang in the front.

Then, pull to the side to create a rakish angle:

Holding with one hand at 6 o'clock, smooth from back to front:

Side view shaped bonnet:

Other side:

Back view:

As you can see, the nasty flying saucer, just out of the package look has been successfully eradicated. Now I will wear this thing for the rest of the day so that it will dry to the shape of my very own noggin. When we have reached completion, I will provide a suitable shot of me enjoying the only beverage with which to celebrate such a culturally significant accomplishment...