Scottish Bonnets?

[Woodsheal]

Thanks Brian! Now to ponder whether I really need another hat....hmmm.
I really like how they look pulled forward like a cap.

Which is how they were often worn, back in the day:



They will keep the sun out of your eyes, and the rain off your face, worn in that fashion...!

[fluter]

For those wanting to knit a bonnet/balmoral, a good place to find patterns is ravelry.com. Here are two recommended patterns that are for sale:

From our own unaspenser search designers for Russet Lodge Knits. Also directly at her blog: russetlodgeknits.blogspot.com

Anne Carroll Gilmour has a nice one for a modern style balmoral. It was also featured in Piecework magazine, Jan/Feb 2011; it's now available on Ravelry once again.

Public Service Announcement: knitting is addictive, and has been known to have a severe negative impact on one's sewing time. Ask me how I know.

balmoral-nat2 by arcturus1997, on Flickr
Here it is, before being felted (see Ryan's tip above!)

[Ryan Ross]

Which is how they were often worn, back in the day:

They will keep the sun out of your eyes, and the rain off your face, worn in that fashion...!

I've always loved that painting, and will get around to making a bonnet like his... one of these days.

Public Service Announcement: knitting is addictive, and has been known to have a severe negative impact on one's sewing time.

God knows- That's the truth! It'll have a negative impact on time doing almost anything but talking and listening to music!

[piperdbh]

God knows- That's the truth! It'll have a negative impact on time doing almost anything but talking and listening to music!

You can talk and knit at the same time? You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

[Ryan Ross]

You can talk and knit at the same time? You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

LOL... Riiiiiiiight.

Seriously though, if it weren't for my bluetooth, I would have slipped completely into madness, a long time since. :cthulhusmiley:

[Pleater]

Some of the smaller caps shown here I would call a beret.

The Balmoral is difficult to define - it is both wider and deeper than a beret.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Woodsheal]

Some of the smaller caps shown here I would call a beret.

The Balmoral is difficult to define - it is both wider and deeper than a beret.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

When speaking of the modern, structured Balmoral you are correct. But, my son has a real beret sent home by a girlfriend when she visited France. It is knitted, felted, 11" in diameter, and pretty much identical to the early Scots "broad" bonnet of the 18th and early 19th C's.

[Peter Crowe]

When speaking of the modern, structured Balmoral you are correct. But, my son has a real beret sent home by a girlfriend when she visited France. It is knitted, felted, 11" in diameter, and pretty much identical to the early Scots "broad" bonnet of the 18th and early 19th C's.

You are absolutely correct about the similarity of the broad bonnet and the traditional Basgue beret especially the ones without internal leather headbands manufactured in the Spanish Basque region. However, I once saw a late eighteenth century broad blue bonnet in a museum in Dumfries (contemporaneous with Burns residence in the burgh) which had a heavier looking wool body than Basque berets. It was navy and even included a red torrie.

I sometimes wear a contemporary French made Basque beret (not with the kilt) and have a couple of contemporary made Mackie balmorals, which I occasionally wear with the kilt.

[Ryan Ross]

When speaking of the modern, structured Balmoral you are correct. But, my son has a real beret sent home by a girlfriend when she visited France. It is knitted, felted, 11" in diameter, and pretty much identical to the early Scots "broad" bonnet of the 18th and early 19th C's.

And then, there's something that comes between a modern balmoral and an 18th & 19th century deal.

Here's sort of a "fusion" bonnet that I made for my father; I kind of like it...

[SlackerDrummer]

Here's sort of a "fusion" bonnet that I made for my father; I kind of like it...

Dude, your dad looks just like you.