Trying to find a supplier of old fashioned wool bobble hats for the mountains.

[PADDY]

I had a lovely dark navy mountaineering hat, all wool, with a 'little button' bobble on the top. It is similar to the balaclava type hats, but didn't have the 'balaclava' bit. Wasn't expensive either and I bought it in an old 'one man' hiking store in the northeast of England many, many moons ago.

It's been lost and I'm trying to replace it. Searched the net without any joy. Any pointers ...? please

 

[Dav]

Perhaps souwestchunkies could knit you one, worth sending him a PM.

 

[PADDY]

These used to be so easy to get hold of! H.Johnson will know what I mean! Really hairy itchy wool of the old school type! But now outdoor wear has got so trendy with spaceage fabrics.

 

[Kitty_Sheridan]

Paddy, look on my facebook contacts.. there's a girl called Nadine. she will knit anything and not expensive. She can even use 3 ply wool so you have more vintage shades.

 

[Zemke Fan]

Did you mean Bobble HEADS? ThatIcouldaheltpchawith.

 

[Tone]

These?

 

[PADDY]

Not Beanies, but thanks for trying. Katie, I might very well follow that up, thanks!

 

[Tone]

Yeah, they call it a beanie over there, instead of mountaineering wool cap. Now I'm curious, what version are you speaking of when you describe a little button top balaclava-ish bobblecap? Point me to a pic of one of those, please. I have to know what exactly you had in mind when describing it. Sounds most interesting.

 

[Speedster]

Something like this?:

 

[PADDY]

Nope, afraid not (but appreciate your efforts to load the photos). Imagine the old balaclavas as worn by Scott of the Antarctic or Shackleton, but 'without' the balaclava face piece. Those pom-poms are ridiculously LARGE there!! (haha).

 

[BinkieBaumont]

Now thats what I call a Bobble hat, especially in cafe au Lat

 

[PADDY]

Something 'like' this.

 

[PADDY]

That's a bit more 'manly' than the metrosexual hats 'above' They just 'don't do it' for me. Hey-ho!

 

[Speedster]

The "manly" cap you posted is a balaclava.

You can get a similar one here: http://www.bemidjiwoolenmills.com/details.php?id=bm07_170

But regretably not in 100 % wool.

Or this one from here: http://www.gearforadventure.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=1332

The "metrosexual" caps are from way before that word was invented. They were quite normal winter sporting headwear for both men and women back in the 30'ies-50'ies. And the pom-poms came in all sizes, and is the easiest part to do yourself. Even a 5-year old can make a pom-pom.

If possible you should try to find some in "Gewalkte Schladminger Wolle" (Fulled Wool from Schladminger?).

And yes, we miss H.Johnsons take on this.

 

[PADDY]

Hi Speedster, 'I know' it's a balaclava my friend, but it was the 'only' image I could find that approximated the look of the hat

So, imagine the 'little peak' wasn't there poking out, and essentially you have the shape/look of THE HAT (more like The Holy Grail right now, as they seem to have disappeared in the past two decades).

PS: (The pom-pom hats, I remember making them at school.! Makes me think of Folk Singers in hairy woolly jumpers holding guitars for some reason).

 

[Speedster]

Yes, your requested style was available all over the place just a few years back.

But as an alternative we are getting closer:

From here: http://www.wellingtonsurplus.com.au...0/3+PEAKS+BALACLAVA+-+RAGG+WOOL++-+STYLE+A550

If you know a competent knitter they should be fairly simple to make - and then you could make it without the slot and with a small pom-pom. You could even take up knitting yourself Paddy. Something for the long winter evenings.

 

[nobodyspecial]

How about a Dachstein hat?
http://www.bradleyalpinist.com/cart...ducts_id=471&zenid=2itims71h1dkbtefnfmol37u50

No pom pom on top, but this is on my list for next season.

 

[Fitzcarraldo]

Something like this? Fisherman hat

http://cart.gijen.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=378&=SID

http://cart.gijen.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=363&=SID

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/bel-wool-balaclava-3pk-new.aspx?a=751723

Douglas Mawson in his wool balaclava

 

[ChadHahn]

Something like this?:

He's pretty pleased with himself in the green cap.

Chad

 

[wing-nut]

Chad, I think he is just glad to be getting paid.