My First Ryan Ross Bonnet ...

[mookien]

Dale: Thanks for the link to your pictures. Your Dark Blue bonnet looks lighter than the picture on the STM web site at

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/cblue1.JPG

though your Green bonnet matches closely mine in shade of color.

To me your picture looks more like what the STM site shows as Light Blue. Are my eyes deceiving me, or are the pictures unrepresentative of the actual shades in the Blue bonnets?

Also, I would appreciate your (and others) opinions on which blue (Dark or Light) would blend better with the Mcleod of Harris and MacDonald Clan tartans (both modern).

[Ryan Ross]

Dale: Thanks for the link to your pictures. Your Dark Blue bonnet looks lighter than the picture on the STM web site at

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/cblue1.JPG

though your Green bonnet matches closely mine in shade of color.

To me your picture looks more like what the STM site shows as Light Blue. Are my eyes deceiving me, or are the pictures unrepresentative of the actual shades in the Blue bonnets?

Also, I would appreciate your (and others) opinions on which blue (Dark or Light) would blend better with the Mcleod of Harris and MacDonald Clan tartans (both modern).

Seago sensei's bonnet does look a bit light in those particular pics, I must say... suppose it's the lighting. It's the standard dark blue color, though, for sure.

For the two tartans you mentioned, in the modern color scheme, I would definately opt for the dark blue, myself. Light blue wouldn't look out of place, but I think dark blue might look even sharper.

[mookien]

Ryan: Thanks. I'm now definitely listing towards Dark Blue. It would look especially good with the Blaylock Annandale tartan, for which I have a swatch. It contains "old blue", a darker shade of blue.

[Dale Seago]

Seago sensei's bonnet does look a bit light in those particular pics, I must say... suppose it's the lighting. It's the standard dark blue color, though, for sure.

For the two tartans you mentioned, in the modern color scheme, I would definately opt for the dark blue, myself. Light blue wouldn't look out of place, but I think dark blue might look even sharper.

I agree with Ryan. Same blue bonnet in different (artificial) light:


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...&id=1199617140

Looks darker.

[okiwen]

What color is fawn? I cannot find it in my Crayola Crayons. I remember when this all started with Jock and the jocking of his bonnet and the fawn was all the rage. I would like to learn to make myself a bonnet to felt (long midnight shifts) and was drawn to the light color with the green dicing.

I guess you just knit around and around until you think it is big enough to felt and shrink correctly, right? What you guess, about 25% larger?

[piperdbh]

What color is fawn?

Sort of a tannish-green color. Think of a just laid duck egg.

I guess you just knit around and around until you think it is big enough to felt and shrink correctly, right? What you guess, about 25% larger?

More or less, on both counts.

[Ryan Ross]

More or less, on both counts.

Agreed. Well over thirty bonnets later, I've realized that felting is by no means a science, but very much an art. You can change the size and properties of a bonnet so much by the way you felt it...not just how much you felt it, but the methods you use. Experimentation is the only way to find out just what does it for you.

[Sorcha]

Guys, thanks so much for the comments! We're really so proud that you're enjoying you bonnets. That's why we keep knitting them up, and the photos are a treasure. You all look so handsome in them, so don't be shy!

Please give us feedback on how we could improve your bonnets, and especially let us know if some aspect of it fails or needs repair.

We're about to field test a lighter-weight bonnet based on an old trade standard Ryan read about. We hope to report accurately on it soon, and it should be offered on the webpage soon. We're hoping it might be a good option for warmer weather.

Mr. Mookien, thanks for the nice review and the photos! I think blue would tone nicely with your kilt, your eyes, and your beard. Our "light blue" isn't very pale, and our "regular blue" isn't very dark. The darker one has gray in it and the lighter one is like denim. Also, I like your quote- a very appropriate spin on a good Latin class joke.