lol, thanks - Yep, I think I'll skip the mare's milk. I guess I saw the videos of people making the material and thought that's what a hat was made of but it appears to be cheating somewhat. I have no confidence in my ability to learn knitting and I'm pretty sure I don't want to wear a fez with my kilt.

I had seen the thread here on making a caubeen (http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...caubeen-20569/) - with the circles of material cut out and lined and sewn together. I think I could do that lol. I figured if I made my own material I could customize it even more....Then I ran across this series of instructions: http://www.feltinglessons.com/wet-fe...ro-to-felting/
the last vid where she explains adding extras was pretty cool...it looks easy enough so I might try it anyway (even if I can't make a hat it never hurts to have more creative outlets to make other things) but what I REALLY need to do is visit a store that has actual caubeens and balmorals that I can look at and touch and see what they feel like in real life. I've seen plenty at highland games but never thought to ask a fella if I could touch his balmoral. Which was probably helpful towards my continued existence.