Balmoral Bonnet Bow

[creagdhubh]

Good Evening,

This is not an 'unknown area' for me, so to speak, but I will seek the advice of the rabble anyway, as I am extremely curious. Does anyone know a 'trick' to tying a perfect looking bow on a Balmoral bonnet? I do know how to tie the bow - it's fairly simple - however, I can't seem to get it just right after several attempts (how embarassing!).

This may seem a wee bit neurotic and I may possess too much attention to detail, but I suppose that is the clean-cut Marine in me! I initially untied the ribbon tails in order to iron them flat, using a pressing cloth naturally.

I now welcome your suggestions!

Thanks gents,

[creagdhubh]

I forgot to mention, the bonnet is a diced, Robert Mackie Balmoral.

[Chas]

I suppose I am in the same boat. So in the end I unpicked the ribbon. The idea was to tie the perfect bow and then re-stitch. Its been over two years now. I must get round to it some time.

Regards

Chas

[creagdhubh]

Hmmm, I'm on bow attempt, number 8! Haha!

Cheers,

[Mickey]

This may seem a wee bit neurotic and I may possess too much attention to detail, but I suppose that is the clean-cut Marine in me!

I feel your pain for the same reasons I've asked this myself before, and have been tying, and re-tying for months. I can't seem to do it. I get a good bow but a bad knot or a good knot and a bad bow. I've given up and have gone with ironing them flat, then trimming them just short enough to not be poked in an eye during wind.

Advice I remember from my question was having a florist tie me a separate bow and then just sew it on. Possibility for ya?

[Peter Crowe]

Advice I remember from my question was having a florist tie me a separate bow and then just sew it on. Possibility for ya?

If your balmoral as the navy/black ones do comes with the ribbons hanging down, and no space (like on a glengarry) where a bow was pre-tied, this is the way to go. Untie the lot, make a bow and stitch into place. I personally prefer a small neat and tight bow which is unobtrusive. I do prefer, however not to dispense with the bow altogether as it (along with the torrie, grossgrain ribbon, and cockade sets a balmoral apart from a beret.

Having said all of that the best balmoral I ever owned was a slightly smaller Mackie balmoral (6 3/4 rather than a 6 7/8) in fawn with the bow pre-tied (with gap), on which I simply retied a tighter bow and trimmed off the excess before putting in a couple of stitches to hold it tight. Unfortunately I lost it in a flitting some years ago, and have never got round to replacing it. These days (weather permitting) I prefer to be bare headed anyway.

[OC Richard]

I did the same: completely untie ribbons, pressed them smooth, then tied a very neat little bow and stitched it into place.

I've been wearing that Balmoral since the early 1980s and it still looks great.

[creagdhubh]

Peter,

It's a diced Lovat blue Balmoral. I have finally tied a rather smart looking bow, I was only curious if any of you had any 'tips' or 'pointers' that may have worked for you!

Thanks,

[Peter Crowe]

Peter,

It's a diced Lovat blue Balmoral. I have finally tied a rather smart looking bow, I was only curious if any of you had any 'tips' or 'pointers' that may have worked for you!


Thanks,

Not really Kyle, Like others have said the bow to use is the same one with which you tie your shoelace. I would also caution against it being too neat or perfect. Like a self tie bow-tie it is the slight imperfection that makes it look right. I found the stitches could hold the bow in place and could be discretely inserted from behind (inside the headband side).

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The only "tip" I'd offer is, don't untie the bow again.