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Originally Posted by sennachie  Does anyone know how to make a standard beret into a balmoral with a toorie and cockade? |
Being a dedicated beret wearer since my military days, and thinking about the berets in my collection, I'm gonna say that it'll look a little funny.
Maybe if you started with a French-style, it could work. Take off the little dingle on top and put a toorie there, construct a ribbon cockade and sew it to the left front.
I have seen balmorals that fit the head almost as tightly as a good military beret, I've seen others that have considerable sail area.
I can appreciate economic necessity -- prone to that, myself. Look for "Randwulf" online. He has patterns to make balmorals (though some don't like them because where Mackie would form the hat, Randwulf sews it). Then it's just a matter of finding the time to sit down at the sewing machine (I'm working on it, Tim!).
My advice is to find a good balmoral -- best first find some chaps who favour them and have a selection for you to try if you ask nicely. Mate of mine lately traded balmorii with another chap here and both now have hats they like.
Not having a balmoral myself, I am not a bit apologetic about wearing one of my old black berets with casual attire, though it is now adorned with a small embroidered red maple leaf where the unit crest was.
(sorry, I couldn't resist)
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