Short Balding Guy
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 9,871
- Location
- Minnesota, USA
I am a fan of the Casentino Wool Cordova Caps. Serious fan. My new "blue cap" joins its brothers on my cap rack.
I see caps advertised featuring their fineness and softness – very luxurious. Terrific hand feel. The challenge is with hard wear the wool pils, threads come loose and wears within a couple of seasons. Admitedly I have plenty of caps so as not to see excessive wear on any particular cap. But in my neighborhood I find need for a "hardy wool." More body and texture of the wool to stand to damp, light rain, snowy and general harder conditions.
The Casentino wool, is hardy. The Casentino wool originates from the Tuscan town of the same name. Casentino’s distinctive look comes from little ringlets that fray off from the fabric’s surface. The effect looks a little like pilling, but is intentional, in order to make the wool both warmer and more durable. Originally the effect was achieved by taking a fresh length of wool and beating it with a sort of stick that would break off some threads which would then curl up and form the fabric’s distinctive texture. Today this process is done by machine, but the basic idea is the same. Abrasive instruments agitate the fabric to produce a rough finish, which is then smoothed out into something more uniform.
A lot of words above, but the result is a hardy cap. Mr.Cordova has to work extra hard to sew this thick and hardy fabric. Getting the curvaceous shape and brim are a challenge.
My hue choices in the Casetino wool are a blue (saphire-like), green and a charcoal. These hues work for my wardrobe.
The caps got snowy while I took the pics. I hit them against my thigh after the pics to shake of the snow. Today's wetter and clumpy snow came right off. A quick dry on a rack and they are good for the next wear.
Thanks for taking a moment and letting me share my hardy caps. Cheers, Eric -
BTW: I am efforting at putting away caps this morning. They are easy to grab and wear, but so darn hard to put away! Go figure.
I see caps advertised featuring their fineness and softness – very luxurious. Terrific hand feel. The challenge is with hard wear the wool pils, threads come loose and wears within a couple of seasons. Admitedly I have plenty of caps so as not to see excessive wear on any particular cap. But in my neighborhood I find need for a "hardy wool." More body and texture of the wool to stand to damp, light rain, snowy and general harder conditions.
The Casentino wool, is hardy. The Casentino wool originates from the Tuscan town of the same name. Casentino’s distinctive look comes from little ringlets that fray off from the fabric’s surface. The effect looks a little like pilling, but is intentional, in order to make the wool both warmer and more durable. Originally the effect was achieved by taking a fresh length of wool and beating it with a sort of stick that would break off some threads which would then curl up and form the fabric’s distinctive texture. Today this process is done by machine, but the basic idea is the same. Abrasive instruments agitate the fabric to produce a rough finish, which is then smoothed out into something more uniform.
A lot of words above, but the result is a hardy cap. Mr.Cordova has to work extra hard to sew this thick and hardy fabric. Getting the curvaceous shape and brim are a challenge.
My hue choices in the Casetino wool are a blue (saphire-like), green and a charcoal. These hues work for my wardrobe.
The caps got snowy while I took the pics. I hit them against my thigh after the pics to shake of the snow. Today's wetter and clumpy snow came right off. A quick dry on a rack and they are good for the next wear.
Thanks for taking a moment and letting me share my hardy caps. Cheers, Eric -
BTW: I am efforting at putting away caps this morning. They are easy to grab and wear, but so darn hard to put away! Go figure.