Highland bonnet question...

[JRB]

I purchased a blue knit wool highland bonnet about ten years ago from a now defunct comapny called H&H Scottish Imports. I wanted it to be accurate to a late 17th c. era bonnet and had read that the early ones were quite large in diameter. So, I had the bonnet made 13" in diameter. Well, I underestimated how large a 13" diameter is. It's big; real big. It's so large in diameter that I've never really worn it outside of a ren fair. Is there any way to shrink it down? I washed and dried it in the washer on hot settings and it's still really large. Would boiling it help tighten the fibers? Can I felt the wool to make it smaller? Any advice would be appreciated. I'm willing to try anything because I'm not going to wear it as it is.

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

I can't help you shrink it; I imagine trying what you're thinking of doing would destroy the bonnet. You had it made to 17th century fashion, which would be out of place anywhere but a ren festival. I suggest you sell the bonnet and use the money to get a new one.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Could you not turn it inside out, run a seam around it, and then flip it right side out?

[Jock Scot]

I think if it were me, I would cut my losses and buy another one.

[Phil]

I think if it were me, I would cut my losses and buy another one.

The last one I bought was £45 - not a cheap item. But I have to agree, these botched-up jobs never really look right.

[Woodsheal]

A 13" diameter is not too big for that period, but they can appear quite 'floppy' to modern eyes:



I'm pretty sure it's already been felted. Otherwise it would have shrunk some more from the hot-water washing.

If you don't like it, sell it to a reenactor type (or keep it for when you join a reenactment group - hint! hint! )....

[DWFII]

If I'm not mistaken, the Highland regiments wore tams that were 12" in diameter from WWI through WWII. I think it's only in the last 50 years or so that the smaller Balmoral has replaced the larger TOS.

Once you get used to the look the Balmoral begins to looked crabbed and as if someone were wearing a child's beret.

I don't know what a contemporary balmoral measures but to these old eyes it never seems to pull over the ear with the grace and finesse of the larger bonnet.

Just my 2¢...

[Woodsheal]

If I'm not mistaken, the Highland regiments wore tams that were 12" in diameter from WWI through WWII. I think it's only in the last 50 years or so that the smaller Balmoral has replaced the larger TOS.

Once you get used to the look the Balmoral begins to looked crabbed and as if someone were wearing a child's beret.

I don't know what a contemporary balmoral measures but to these old eyes it never seems to pull over the ear with the grace and finesse of the larger bonnet.

Just my 2¢...

Agreed! The old, wide ones tug forward nicely to keep sun and rain out of your eyes, as well....

[JRB]

Thanks for all the responses. The bonnet has been sitting in my closet for the past ten years so I'm not all that upset that it probably won't get any smaller (no matter what I do). MacMillan seems to offer the only true option for changing the size of my bonnet but I'm not sure I'm willing to put in the time or effort. Like Brian said, the bonnet is historically correct in terms of size. I just never really liked wearing something that hangs over my entire head like that. It definitely looks like a costume or garb. I was just hoping that it would be more versatile so I could also wear it with my modern highland wear. Since that doesn't seem possible I guess I'll just have to join a Jacobite rebellion reenactemnt group!

[Jack Daw]

Sell it on eBay and buy another. BTW, I bought some pretty goods items from H&H back in 1999.