New Bonnet

[wyldathart]

Ok I just received my new Balmoral bonnet in the mail. I've been wearing it all over the place and I've noticed a irritation. The ribbons in the back are sewn from the band down to about halfway to the ends. This creates a bit of stiffness in the ribbon. Is there a reason for the tails being sewn? Can I remove the stitching to keep it from irritating my neck.
Also what if I want to tie my ribbons up in a bow. I know alot of gentlemen wear them down but they aggrivate me being down my neck and back. Can I remove the stitching and tie them up ?

[Jock Scot]

I cannot quite see in my minds eye how your ribbons are stitched, but most certainly here in the highlands the ribbons on a balmoral are normally tied in a bow.

[wyldathart]

Ok if you hold your bonnet in your hands torry up and looking at the back. The ribbons are stitched edge to edge from the sweat band to halfway down to the ends. Leaving the lower halves of the ribbons to hang free.

[piperdbh]

There was a thread about this very subject not too long ago, but I couldn't find it just now.
Yes, you can rip out the stitches that hold the ribbons together. In fact, many of us would recommend that you do so.
If you want to tie the ribbons into a bow, go ahead. Some folks tie them in a simple overhand knot and pull it tight; I pinned mine into a nice-looking bow and sewed it into place.
It's perfectly alright to cut the ribbons off and wear your Balmoral without them.
It's also OK to wear them untied, unsewn, and let them flutter in the breeze, although they can rub the back of your neck, as you indicated ion your post.

In short, it's your hat, your head, your neck, so wear it as you choose.*

*disclaimer: It will look much better with a badge of some sort.

[wyldathart]

Awesome thats what I figured but I wasn't sure if the stitching was for a reason.

[piperdbh]

If there's a reason for the stitching, it's probably so the ribbons won't get wrinkled in shipping.

[thescot]

I'm pretty sure that the ribbons were stitched together about 3-4" down from the head band. That's how nearly all new bonnets used to come. Yours must be a good one, made in Scotland since the ****'s often don't come that way.

Carefully pick the stitching out up to the sweatband. Then, you'll probably have to iron the ribbons to get them flat.

Next, tie an overhand knot, just like you would if you started tying your shoes. Next, make a loop/bow with one of the ribbons, wrap the other over from the top and punch it though, tightening the whole into a bow.

After making it all nice and orderly (and very tight), you'll probably have to trim the ends to make it all neat and even. Trim the ends on a bias parallel to the ends as they were shipped and sew a small, inconspicuous knot through the thing to keep in all in place. (Not absolutely necessary, but you'll probably come back and do it later if you don't do it now. )

You can read the instructions on how to do this in Scotty Thompson's book, and this is just about exactly what you'll find there. The bow may have a slight list to one side, and that's OK; it's the nature of the beast.

[wyldathart]

I'm pretty sure that the ribbons were stitched together about 3-4" down from the head band. That's how nearly all new bonnets used to come. Yours must be a good one, made in Scotland since the ****'s often don't come that way.

Carefully pick the stitching out up to the sweatband. Then, you'll probably have to iron the ribbons to get them flat.

Next, tie an overhand knot, just like you would if you started tying your shoes. Next, make a loop/bow with one of the ribbons, wrap the other over from the top and punch it though, tightening the whole into a bow.

After making it all nice and orderly (and very tight), you'll probably have to trim the ends to make it all neat and even. Trim the ends on a bias parallel to the ends as they were shipped and sew a small, inconspicuous knot through the thing to keep in all in place. (Not absolutely necessary, but you'll probably come back and do it later if you don't do it now. )

You can read the instructions on how to do this in Scotty Thompson's book, and this is just about exactly what you'll find there. The bow may have a slight list to one side, and that's OK; it's the nature of the beast.

Thats just about how I finally did it. Instead of tying a bow like with shoe's, what I did was to double both sides and then tie a bow. No overhand knot. It came out looking very nice and yes it still has the list to one side. I can deal with the list, just as long as I don't have the ribbons aggravating my neck LOL Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated

P.S. I bought the bonnet from USAkilts. The whole bonnet seems to be very well made. All stitches are tight and even. I'm not an expert but the wool , under the hand, feels like it's high quality. I definitely give props to USAKilts for this one

[Bugbear]

Congratulations on the new bonnet.

[pdcorlis]

FWIW - "****" is an offensive term to many.