Kilts and Such: Knitting a Balmoral Bonnet

By SMcCandlish (Own work)
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html

I'm slowly building my kilt accessories both for casual wear as well as the Renaissance festival. One of the items I would like to add is a bonnet. From the several options available, I really like the look of a Balmoral bonnet.

If you google it, you'll find many places to purchase one. However, they are not inexpensive. I'm sure they are worth every penny, but I'm trying to keep within my budget which includes attending festivals.

My wife knits, and I casually mentioned my desire for a bonnet. To which she said, "Um...." To be fair, she has many knitting projects going on, several for other people, and I don't really want to ask her to take on another project. Besides, it's something I'm interested in, and the Saline Celtic festival is in a few weeks...

Learning to Knit
I decided to learn to knit. Stacey helped me look for a pattern, provided links to online training videos and resources, and best of all - she took time to show me the ropes (or yarn). This is significant since I'm the poster child for a difficult student. We both survived :-)

I started with a worsted weight yarn since this will be used for the balmoral pattern. Casted on using the long tail method, and practiced working flat with knit and purl stitches. I then made a simple toque using circular needles that ended up way too small. My stitches were way too tight and the gauge was at least 30% smaller than needed. As she feared, I was "man handling" the yarn. A second attempt produced a better toque, that was still 20% off but it was wearable.

Balmoral Bonnet Pattern
The Classic Highlander's Balmoral Bonnet pattern by Anne Carroll Gilmour was suggested by several members of X Marks The Scot forum.

Translating Knit-ish into English has been challenging. Once I approached it as if it were a computer programming language and graphed out as a series of nodes with decision paths and repetitive loops, it started to make sense.

After several false starts, I just finished the band and have started to increase the number of stitches to shape the bottom of the balmoral.

I'll post more as I complete it.

Finished Balmoral Bonnet #1
I used Lion Brand Yarn Fisherman's Wool. It's a very nice inexpensive yarn. My daughter picked out the ribbon colors.

The cockade design is from "So You're Going To Wear The Kilt" by J.Charles Thompson.

I have bonnet #2 in green (Cascade 220) felted and started knitting bonnet #3 in black. By far, I like the Cascade 220 yarn. You really do get what you pay for.  

Balmoral Bonnet #1

Traditional Bow

Cockade

Balmoral Bonnet #2