Yet Another Balmoral Question...

[Jock Scot]

Jock
It was just a small query. I dont plan on cutting off my Torrie, if i do i will be just to replace it with a different color, if that is an acceptable practice.

the Balmoral i have is one my dad got some 30 years ago when he was in port in Scotland(us navy) Now the only bad thing is my head is a little bit bigger than his, by about a 1/8 inch. This has nothing to do with the Torrie, Its the only one i have, and one day i would like to get a new one, one that fits proper.

I do like the Trad. look, i have yet to get a cap badge, I am new to wearing Trad kilts, I own 2 UK's.

I have read your post about getting the balmoral wet and shaping it to your head. Will the cap shrink any or is there a possibility that it could adjust buy that 1/8 to help fit better.

as always

thank you

The first part is easy! Yes,it is quite acceptable to replace the toorie on your father's bonnet.

The next bit is a wee tad trickier! Usually when you have a new bonnet it shrinks a tad when really wet and that should give you a snug fit.(Note to those buying a new balmoral, buy it just a wee tad, I repeat, A WEE TAD too big so when customising with tepid water it will shrink to a snug fit). So your father's bonnet has probably shrunk over the years and is unlikely to move outwards. Right then, two things you can try. Firstly,undo the bow at the back and see if you have a bit more slack, you just might, then re-tie the ribbons. Or the drastic route! At the back of your bonnet there is probably an inverted V,where the ribbons are. Take a pair of scissors and make a half inch cut upwards, after untying the ribbons. That will give you some slack.It will pay you to stitch the sides of your cut and most definitely put a couple if stitches at the top of your cut to stop it going higher.If you find your bonnet is then too big, and after re-tying the ribbons, sew a piece of elastic across the cut to make it fit tighter again.Re-tying the ribbons should help hide the surgery. Hope this helps.

[Kilted Rogue]

The first part is easy! Yes,it is quite acceptable to replace the toorie on your father's bonnet.

The next bit is a wee tad trickier! Usually when you have a new bonnet it shrinks a tad when really wet and that should give you a snug fit.(Note to those buying a new balmoral, buy it just a wee tad, I repeat, A WEE TAD too big so when customising with tepid water it will shrink to a snug fit). So your father's bonnet has probably shrunk over the years and is unlikely to move outwards. Right then, two things you can try. Firstly,undo the bow at the back and see if you have a bit more slack, you just might, then re-tie the ribbons. Or the drastic route! At the back of your bonnet there is probably an inverted V,where the ribbons are. Take a pair of scissors and make a half inch cut upwards, after untying the ribbons. That will give you some slack.It will pay you to stitch the sides of your cut and most definitely put a couple if stitches at the top of your cut to stop it going higher.If you find your bonnet is then too big, and after re-tying the ribbons, sew a piece of elastic across the cut to make it fit tighter again.Hope this helps.

Jock
thank you on both points. i dont think my dad wore it to much if at all,he is a bit of a collector. The Ribbon in the back is untied and still has the original stitching the first few inches. so i could try the 1st suggestion and see if I can " let it out " that way.

[Jock Scot]

Jock
thank you on both points. i dont think my dad wore it to much if at all,he is a bit of a collector. The Ribbon in the back is untied and still has the original stitching the first few inches. so i could try the 1st suggestion and see if I can " let it out " that way.

Glad to be of help. I am not at all sure that your plan will work as the ribbons these days are not really for adjustment as in the days of yore.They are there just for show.You may be lucky though. Those ribbons really ought to be tied you know!

[freddie]

http://www.51hd.co.uk/museum/item?i=7

Not the best photo, but take a look at the officer standing on the left.

In terms of hose "scrunched down", I have seen one photo of a group of Commando officers (No. 12 Commando, if I remember correctly) -- two of the officers, one of them from the Argylls, are wearing kilts, and one officer does have "scrunched" hose with his ammunition boots. The picture is in Mike Chappell's Army Commandos, part of the Elite series by Osprey.

Now, given that the chap is a Commando, I would say that this is most likely a "field-expedient" thing; as Jock states, hose were worn the proper way with "Bombay bloomers".

Regards,

Todd

I think he is wearing his socks pulled up. If you look carefully you can see the flashes under the turn down. What looks like scrunched down socks are in fact gaiters.

[Kilted Rogue]

Glad to be of help. I am not at all sure that your plan will work as the ribbons these days are not really for adjustment as in the days of yore.They are there just for show.You may be lucky though. Those ribbons really ought to be tied you know!

well it was either sit and tie the ribbons or just go buy a FLAT CAP

I will work on getting them tied, if my Glaswegian housekeeper is working tomorrow. I will see if she can do it while she is sitting on her duff waiting to go home.

The bonnet isnt really all that tight on my head, maybe i will just leave it as is and just correct the issue with my fly a way ribbons, and then put a black toorrie on it

[macwilkin]

I think he is wearing his socks pulled up. If you look carefully you can see the flashes under the turn down. What looks like scrunched down socks are in fact gaiters.

I'm referring to the Argyll officer third from the right. Your description fits the other kiltie in the picture on the left.

T.

[Jock Scot]

well it was either sit and tie the ribbons or just go buy a FLAT CAP

I will work on getting them tied, if my Glaswegian housekeeper is working tomorrow. I will see if she can do it while she is sitting on her duff waiting to go home.

The bonnet isnt really all that tight on my head, maybe i will just leave it as is and just correct the issue with my fly a way ribbons, and then put a black toorrie on it

Flat cap indeed! If your balmoral really is not that tight then do tie the the ribbons, that will almost certainly take up the slack. Try the tepid water route and drown the bonnet, GENTLY squeeze MOST of the water out and put on you head, arrange the bonnet to how it should be and let it dry. There is almost nothing worse than a slightly too large bonnet to wear. Please do consider tying those ribbons, as we highlanders get quite "touchy" when we see them flapping about!

[Bugbear]

Note to self: put stitches in bow of balmoral so it will never come undone.

Note to self: You don't have a balmoral yet...

Note to self: Oops.

[Kilted Rogue]

Flat cap indeed! If your balmoral really is not that tight then do tie the the ribbons, that will almost certainly take up the slack. Try the tepid water route and drown the bonnet, GENTLY squeeze MOST of the water out and put on you head, arrange the bonnet to how it should be and let it dry. There is almost nothing worse than a slightly too large bonnet to wear. Please do consider tying those ribbons, as we highlanders get quite "touchy" when we see them flapping about!

well i dont need it to take up any slack, but i would hate to offend any highlanders who may be visiting my fair city. I kind of like it a little snug, that way a stiff wind wont blow it off, when your trying to hold your kilt down and the wind is blowing your hat off its hard to keep both in the right place.

if i just wet the upper wool of the bonnet will that set the angle and shape, with out possibly tightening the headband?

[Jock Scot]

well i dont need it to take up any slack, but i would hate to offend any highlanders who may be visiting my fair city. I kind of like it a little snug, that way a stiff wind wont blow it off, when your trying to hold your kilt down and the wind is blowing your hat off its hard to keep both in the right place.

if i just wet the upper wool of the bonnet will that set the angle and shape, with out possibly tightening the headband?

Yes snug is the way to go. Not the British Royal Marine fashion of "cutting and shrinking" your bonnet (Beret) to almost ridiculous lengths.Sorry, its a family joke and I am having a pop at a son of mine! Anyway, If you do as you propose and only wet one part, you may put the whole bonnet out of shape. Mind you, a balmoral properly worn (NOT that awful starched and ironed quasi military look) is a fairly shapeless bit of kit anyway and I cannot stress this too often ,with a balmoral the more beaten up it is, the better they look.