Blue Bonnet

[pdcorlis]

Wonderful photos Brian!

[Fedgunner]

Two things.....

Dreadbelly, can you make a "Bonnie Blue" as we have seen pictures of?

Second, I was told that a Jacobite wore a piece of white lace as a cockade. Is this true?

[Woodsheal]

Second, I was told that a Jacobite wore a piece of white lace as a cockade. Is this true?

The white cockade took any number of shapes: a bow, a round rosette, a St. Andrew's cross; and any white fabric would suffice. Here's a famous surviving example:

[Woodsheal]

OK, finally a N. American source for correct Jacobite-period knitted/felted bonnets - and at a great price! X-Marks member Arlen's fiancee Diane is adding these bonnets to her line of kilt-related knit goods here:

http://russetlodgeknits.blogspot.com/

Yours truly has helped guide her in developing a pattern for these historic reproductions. No pictures are posted on the website yet, but a prototype bonnet is on its way to me, and I will post a review when I receive it. So, interested parties might want to wait for that before placing an order. But, I'm in no doubt these are going to be fine bonnets, Diane being the experienced knitter that she is...!

[pdcorlis]

Way to go Diane! I can't wait to see a few photos - hey I wonder if I get a discount for being a fellow spud from Idaho?????

[thescot]

Beloit, one this is for sure: ask for help around here and you get covered up. This is the coolest site I've ever seen.

And, Brian, thanks for that picture of the white cockade. I make them with grosgrain ribbon, but I've always made them likethe ones you get when you purchase a balmoral bonnet. Now I'm going to do one like Lord George's thanks to you.

I wear a white cockade on all my own balmorals.

[Woodsheal]

OK, I've received the prototype from Diane, and a VERY fine bonnet it is, lads!!

It is of the proper size and configuration for the Jacobite period: 12 inches in diameter flat, 1 inch headband, no toorie (pom-pom). The knitting and felting is tight and dense. Hold it up and you can't see any light coming through it! This will shed water like a duck's back. A great product at a great price...!

Here's a pic of the new bonnet on my 15-year-old. I asked for one in a natural brown color, as I already own a bunch of blue ones. Please note that bonnets of that period were worn square on the head, with the front tugged forward to shade the eyes, NOT cocked up on the left with a badge or what-not (clan badges came later):



Do not hesitate to place an order with Diane! With knittin' this fine, her kilt hose must be excellent as well....

[cloves]

i think this is really awesome! is it as tweedy in real life as it looks in the picture? By that i mean not uniform in color. It looks sorta like a multicolored yarn.

[McMurdo]

I was contemplating having her do up some kilt hose for me, and judging by your new bonnet I think I must get on that soon, that is just beautiful, thanks for posting the picture.

[Woodsheal]

i think this is really awesome! is it as tweedy in real life as it looks in the picture? By that i mean not uniform in color. It looks sorta like a multicolored yarn.

Diane refers to it as her "natural brown" yarn, and it does look tweedy with multi-toned flecks all through it - and very soft. Gorgeous!

She also does the traditional blue bonnets in "woad" (light blue) and "indigo" (dark blue) shades. All of the single colored bonnets are a mere $45.00US, which includes shipping to any US address!

Two colored bonnets are also available, with a contrasting headband for instance. She does the Highland regimental type from the French & Indian War (Seven Years' War) period: indigo blue with red headband and small red toorie (pom-pom). Two colored bonnets are $55.00US, again shipping included to the US.