New Tam from Historical Caps

**Benning Boy** · 21st May 14, 01:12 PM

In today's mail found a new tam from Historical Caps. http://www.historicalcaps.net/index.htm It was ordered 8 May. I received notice a few days ago it was on it's way. To my mind for a bespoke item that's pretty darned fast service. It's knit of natural Herdwick sheep wool, a medium gray shade and heavily felted. It's very dense. I covered my face with it and looked toward a bright light. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I could just barely make out spots where light was coming through. It was much like looking at very faint and tiny stars in the night sky. It will be warm, and nice for wear on wet days.

There will be pictures, but I want to shape it first. I don't care for the Pillsbury Dough Boy look. I figure I'll treat it like an Army beret, soak it in lukewarm water, wring it out, put it on, shape it and wear it until dry. Do you have better advice? This is my first bonnet.

**sydnie7** · 21st May 14, 01:23 PM

There's a process known here as "Jocking a bonnet" (original thread courtesy of Jock Scot). Search on that term and you'll find several related threads showing various rabble's attempts.

**StevieR** · 21st May 14, 01:53 PM

I'm just about to pull the trigger on a purchase of one of these bonnets, so I'll be very interested in some pictures. My only concern is that the diameter might be a bit big. What do you think?

**Benning Boy** · 21st May 14, 02:53 PM

I asked for a diameter of roughly 10.75 inches, about the diameter of the initial issue of US Army black berets. It came out at 11.5. However, I don't consider this too large, if it's properly shaped. In the as finished shape it looks flat and to my eye a little clownish, but that's not Gloria's fault, that's just the way a handmade thing turned out. Knitting and fullering aren't precision processes. I can make it suit me, and expected to have to do some shaping from the beginning. It is really heavy for a knit cap.

**KSmedic** · 21st May 14, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Benning Boy

In today's mail found a new tam from Historical Caps. http://www.historicalcaps.net/index.htm... I figure I'll treat it like an Army beret, soak it in lukewarm water, wring it out, put it on, shape it and wear it until dry.

I REALLY didn't need to know about that site. It's bad enough I'm kicking around the idea of ordering a phillabeg, now I have to deal with historically accurate headgear to go with it! As far as a proper break in, that seems similar to the process we used in the Marine Corps for our soft covers. Assuming, that is, that you haven't got a 5 ton handy to drive over it with.

**Benning Boy** · 21st May 14, 09:45 PM

Gee. Medic, if I'd known the consternation it would cause, I wouldn't have posted the link.

I just recently signed on as a member of the rabble, but I've been reading the fora for years. I think I bookmarked it when someone else mentioned Historical Caps some time ago. It's funny out these things just sorta ripple through the Internet.

**Mudge** · 22nd May 14, 08:33 AM

Click image for larger version.

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Here is the Kilmernock Bonnet I made for myself last year. I have changed out the pin for my clan crest.

**KSmedic** · 22nd May 14, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by Benning Boy

Gee. Medic, if I'd known the consternation it would cause, I wouldn't have posted the link.

No worries! Besides, I caught the missus shopping for a new camera today, to replace the perfectly good one that apparently lacks the one feature she now thinks she wants. Ordering a bonnet will now only cost me a brief disapproving look, and not a lecture about me acquiring yet another hat.

ith:

**Benning Boy** · 22nd May 14, 08:38 PM

You'll like Gloria's bonnets better than your wife will like the camera, I bet. Just out of curiosity, I got out the calipers and measured at the edge of my tam a double thickness of wool and got .333 inches. By comparison a double thickness of HoE regimental weight tartan measured .060. (ETA: a double thickness of US Army beret measured.185.) The bonnet is really thick. I soaked it and started shaping it early this morning. It's still dampish. It's going to take a while to dry. If you're disciplined enough to jock your bonnet and wear it until dry, be prepared for the long haul. The Herdwick wool is coarse, and it started itching too much for me -- and I like wearing wool -- so after a few hours on my head, I've had it off and on a few times, each time touching up the shape and praying it would dry. For everyday use, when the things starts to itch I can always take it off and scratch a bit and not worry about ruining a good jock. I've been thinking some hot windy day I'll dampen it again, touch up the shape, and take a long drive with the top down. That ought to make it take a set.

**Benning Boy** · 25th May 14, 04:00 PM

Well, I finally got help with the camera, so here's a pic of the tam. Perhaps the thread is no longer worthless.

I can set the tam on a shelf, and it holds it's shape, when I lay a well shaped Army beret next to it, the beret collapses of it's own weight and lays flat. I don't intend to attach any tartan swatches, cockades, badges, vegetation, plumage or gamsbarts to this tam, but it would easily carry these. I intend it as something I can wear with anything, and it will make a sharp substitute for a watch cap in cool weather. I believe it will serve well in damp conditions, and is probably windproof. I've shaped it to screw down tight on my head so it won't blow off, nor even move when I bend over.