Michigan Hats

[KathyBradford]

Terre Lawson has graciously agreed to make more hand-spun, hand-dyed indigo yarn for tassels in the next three weeks. My understanding is that this is a once a year project, so we need to get a commitment from everyone who wants one from this year's run. Her yarn is beautiful, and it will be great to have tassels that match.

If anyone wants a cap with her yarn, please post here or send an email to PreservationParcels@hotmail.com Information needed is

Name
maroon or dark blue wool felt
hat size (see chart below if unsure)

I'll post a running list of names to make sure nobody is left out.

Each one will be made with top quality 100% wool felt, lined with linen, and topped with an eleven inch-long, very full tassel. (The tassel will be longer and fuller than the picture.)

At this point, it looks like the price will be $65, postage paid, and from each cap, $16.25 will go to preservation. It seems only fitting that it would go to support a Michigan preservation project or a place that was meaningful to the 4th Michigan. I'm open to suggestions.

If you know anyone who wants one of these but doesn't read this forum, please pass along the word.

Thanks to all who have been part of this process.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w129/preservationparcels/sewing/Michigancap-1.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w129/preservationparcels/sewing/Michigancap2-1.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w129/preservationparcels/sewing/Canada_Hat_4th_Michigan.jpg

[Minieball577]

Historic Fort Wayne would be a great place to recieve the funds. http://www.historicfortwaynecoalition.com/

Do you make other tassles? I have no need for this, but am in need of another tassle.

[KathyBradford]

Chris,

Historic Fort Wayne seems a good choice to me.

Please send details about the meterials, size, and color of the tassel you'd like. I'd be happy to make it for you.

Thanks for the input.

[Erik]

Please include in the run.
Erik Simundson
Dark blue wool
Size 7 1/4
Shipping address will be sent.
What method of payment do you wish?

Erik Simundson

[Will Eichler]

Please put me in for one as well.

Will Eichler
7 1/2
dark blue wool

Please advise on payment and I'll send you a shipping address.

Also, if you need contact to the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition, drop me a note, I'm the vice-chair currently.

Best,

Will

[Terry Sorchy]

Kathy,
Dark Blue wool 7 1/4 size please.
Thank You Much:p
Terry Sorchy

[JWKellum]

Ms. Kathy,

Please add me to the list for a hat.
Maroon
7 3/8
Thanks very much and Best Regards,

[KathyBradford]

Update

Today, I should get final word from the 100% wool felt suppliers regarding availability, delivery date, and the correct colors.

We have a once-a-year opportunity to have Terre Lawson's indigo wool for tassels, so please send names of anyone who wants one of these as soon as possible. She will hand dye the yarn for us, so we need to give her the final yardage.

These are the names, sizes, and colors for the orders to date. If I have missed anyone, please let me know. Just as a heads up, the majority of guys are asking for maroon ones. If anyone would like to switch colors, please let me know that, too.

Maroon
Steve Bucher 7 5/8
Chris Hawley 7 1/4
Rick Miculack 22¼”
Matt Prince 23½”
Jeremy Scott 24¼”
Josh Bucher 23½”
Denny Whiting
Russ Paul
Chris Meeker
Charles Traxler 7 3/8
Robert Roeder 7 1/2 - 23¾”


Dark Blue
Erik Simundson 7 1/4
Jeremy Bevard 7 3/8
Will “Huck” Green 7 1/8 to 7 1/4 22 ½”
Will Eichler 7 1/2
Terry Sorchy 7 1/4
Dirk Behana 22¼”

After we know the price and the date of delivery for the materials, I'll post a request for payment. Then, I'll make the hats in the order it is received. Thanks for your patience while all this develops. It's exciting to see so many people working together to do something well!

With much appreciation,
Kathy Bradford
Preservation Parcels

[Spinster]

Do you make other tassles? I have no need for this, but am in need of another tassle.

A goodly number of the tassels on Kathy's regular sleeping hats also come from my yarns---I keep a running box of overruns from my sleeping hats and tassels and ship to her when the volume warrents it.

What color are you looking for, and I'll see what I have to include in her shipment with the indigo yarn.

I also want to emphasize here--if a particular group wants their hats to present a uniform appearance, the yarn for the tassels MUST be dyed now, in one skeined lot, in one pot. If somebody comes up 6 months from now expecting that shade of blue to be matched, they will be slam out of luck. Every batch of indigo works off differently, and every dip from that batch is also different.

[KathyBradford]

Updated list

Maroon
Steve Bucher 7 5/8
Chris Hawley 7 1/4
Rick Miculack 22¼”
Matt Prince 23½”
Jeremy Scott 24¼”
Josh Bucher 23½”
Denny Whiting
Russ Paul
Chris Meeker
Charles Traxler 7 3/8
Robert Roeder 7 1/2 - 23¾”
Will Eichler 7 1/2
Dave Prince 7 3/8 - 7 1/2
Jeremy Bevard 7 3/8

Dark Blue
Erik Simundson 7 1/4
Will “Huck” Green 7 1/8 to 7 1/4 22 ½”
Terry Sorchy 7 1/4
Dirk Behana 22¼”
Curt Schmidt 7 1/2
Brian Koenig 7 1/8
John Wickett 22 3/4"


Wool felt and yarn orders will go in Wednesday. Please encourage anyone who wants theirs to match to get their order in for this run. Also, if anyone would rather switch to maroon in light of the recently revealed picture, please let me know.

Thank you.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Me too please, although in my wife's Ohio State family this "Michigan" stuff may not fly... ;)

Dark Blue, 7 1/2.

Danke...

Curt

[KathyBradford]

Thank you, Curt.

The good thing about this pattern is that it goes back at least to the 1600's. The Vasa Museum in Sweden displays one of these that was found on the 64-gun warship that sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. It was very commonly worn during the 18th and 19th centuries, as well. It's one of those few PEC items that should be universally acceptable, with or without a tassel. Soon, I hope to offer them in other fabrics and colors for use as sleeping caps.

[LibertyHallVols]

blast it all! I guess I can't be without one of these!

Dark Blue
22.75" noggin

Gracias!

[Spongebucket]

Ms. Bradford,
Please add another dark blue for a 22.5
Cheers,
Joe Blunt

[KathyBradford]

Updated list

Maroon
Steve Bucher 7 5/8
Chris Hawley 7 1/4
Rick Miculack 22¼”
Matt Prince 23½”
Jeremy Scott 24¼”
Josh Bucher 23½”
Denny Whiting
Russ Paul
Chris Meeker
Charles Traxler 7 3/8
Robert Roeder 7 1/2 - 23¾”
Will Eichler 7 1/2
Dave Prince 7 3/8 - 7 1/2
Jeremy Bevard 7 3/8
Brian White 7 1/2

Dark Blue
Erik Simundson 7 1/4
Will “Huck” Green 7 1/8 to 7 1/4 22 ½”
Terry Sorchy 7 1/4
Dirk Behana 22¼”
Curt Schmidt 7 1/2
Brian Koenig 7 1/8
John Wickett 22¾”
Joe Blunt 22½”
Ron Mueller 7 1/2


Wool felt and yarn orders will go in Wednesday. Please encourage anyone who wants theirs to match to get their order in for this run. Also, if anyone would rather switch to maroon in light of the recently revealed picture, please let me know.

After we know the price and the date of delivery for the materials, I'll post a request for payment. Paypal, checks, or money orders will all be welcomed. Then, I'll make the hats in the order payment is received.

Thank you.

[Abrams]

Sent PM for a blue one.

Fort Negley may just be a bit nippy this year. :)

[KathyBradford]

Updated list

Maroon
Steve Bucher 7 5/8
Chris Hawley 7 1/4
Rick Miculack 22¼”
Matt Prince 23½”
Jeremy Scott 24¼”
Josh Bucher 23½”
Denny Whiting
Russ Paul
Chris Meeker
Charles Traxler 7 3/8
Robert Roeder 7 1/2 - 23¾”
Will Eichler 7 1/2
Dave Prince 7 3/8 - 7 1/2
Jeremy Bevard 7 3/8
Brian White 7 1/2
Rob Carter 7 3/8

Dark Blue
Erik Simundson 7 1/4
Will “Huck” Green 7 1/8 to 7 1/4 22 ½”
Terry Sorchy 7 1/4
Dirk Behana 22¼”
Curt Schmidt 7 1/2
Brian Koenig 7 1/8
John Wickett 22¾”
Joe Blunt 22½”
Ron Mueller 7 1/2
Ken Callaway 7 3/4
Eric Fair 7 1/2


Wool felt and yarn orders will go in Wednesday. Please encourage anyone who wants theirs to match to get their order in for this run. Also, if anyone would rather switch to maroon in light of the recently revealed picture, please let me know.

After we know the price and the date of delivery for the materials, I'll post a request for payment. Paypal, checks, or money orders will all be welcomed. Then, I'll make the hats in the order payment is received.

Thank you.


Sorry to keep reposting this with the additions. The editing time for the last one expired.

[JustRob]

Gosh, you go away for a long weekend and all sorts of stuff happens.

I'll take a maroon with blue tassel, size 7 3/8.

[Eric Fair]

I'd love to have a dark blue for a size 7 1/2. Thanks for this run - they look outstanding!

[bhutton]

Hi Kathy,

I'll take one
Maroon 7 1/4'" will email you for price and address

Bob Hutton

[26th NC]

Oh crap, just when I thought I could make it through one season without having to buy a "gotta have it" item, along comes this hat and everyone getting one. Ok, you twisted my arm.

Maroon
7 3/8

It'll probably complement the sleeping cap, three housewives and preservation parcels I have from you, but I am not sure. Guess I'll have to see what comes next also. Payment coming on PayPal.

Layton Pennington
26th NC

[4th Michigan Historian]

Just some thoughts regarding my image posted at :

www.fourthtexas.com/federal_orders.htm

The tinting of a photograph by a photographer and or his "artist" was done to emphasize the life-like portrayal of the sitter, in this case a soldier from the Fourth Michigan Infantry. The addition of color would transfer a grayscale portrait into a more realistic composition of the scene / and or sitter captured by the camera's lens. So with that in mind, when color was added, the artist was not at liberty to turn a blue uniform green, or gray hair black, or more specifically a blue hat maroon. The photographer's work would obviously be subject to approval by the sitter and so he was working within the parameters that would honestly portray, and thus please, the customer (soldier) with the colors that were available for him to use. This was especiually so with regard to the addition of color, since the soldier incurred an additional expense for that choice. So tinting a soldier's blue cap into a maroon cap would most likely leave the photographer stuck with the customer's unwanted image!

Continuing in thought..... A northern photographer who's typical customer was a Union soldier, would have relied on blue and gold as the most common colors to use by him (or his artist), with probably red and green to follow. I say that since most of his customers were wearing State and Federal issued uniforms of blue. The gold paint would be required to tint the brass buttons, regimental and company devices, branch of service insignias, as well as belt plates, epaulettes, etc. So I wonder if blue was indeed the most common color used by the photographer's artist, why have I never noticed a single blue tinted fez in the dozen's of "Canadian hat" images that I've seen? And I do not exaggerate when I say that I have seen at least seventy "Canadian hat" images and at least fifteen of those were enhanced in color by the photographer or his artist. Even in those images that I have seen that were identifeid to regiments other than the Fourth Michigan Infantry, red or maroon was the dominant color choice.

So in summary, I believe that unless a period document, letter, diary, etc. is located that spells out the use of a blue cap with a blue tassle, we are speculating that a blue hat with blue tassles was the description of the headgear worn by some of the men of the Fourth Michigan Infantry. And if we rely on the shading in a grayscale ( or even sepia) image to determine that the cap was blue as well as the tassles, we are speculating much more . I find a great deal less speclation in a digitally scrutinized view of period tinted images with reasonable provenance ( identifying them as a soldiers from the Fourth Michigan Infantry) which reveals a maroon body and medium blue tassles.

Author and fellow Fourth Michigan enthusiast, Marty Berterra and I have both agreed with a 90% certainty that the regiment wore Canadian hats, or fezs if you prefer, with a maroon body and blue tassles. But of course the opinions and research of others would be welcome with respect to the blue/ blue color scheme.

Respectfully,
George Wilkinson
Dexter, Michigan

"I am tuff A nuff to cross hell on a wooden bridge to whip a trator"
Private Newell White, Co. B, Fourth Michigan Infantry (Aug. 5th,1861 letter home)

[KathyBradford]

Thank you, George.

I ordered extra maroon wool felt, just in case anyone wanted to change their order. If so, please just let me know.

Terre Lawson is scouring and indigo dying our wool yarn for the tassels. Weather permitting, she'll be able to send it in about two weeks.

Meanwhile, I'm planning to sew the caps for all who have paid in the order that funds were received. That way, they'll be ready for tassels and mailing as soon as possible.

Thank you to all who have been part of this.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

"After we know the price and the date of delivery for the materials, I'll post a request for payment. Paypal, checks, or money orders will all be welcomed. Then, I'll make the hats in the order payment is received."

and

"Meanwhile, I'm planning to sew the caps for all who have paid in the order that funds were received. That way, they'll be ready for tassels and mailing as soon as possible."


Mistress Kathy:

Did I miss the "request for payment?"

??

Curt
Missing in Action Mess

[KathyBradford]

Sorry for the confusion, Curt and All,

I posted the call in a different thread, and I should have put the information, here, too. Here is the other thread. http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19355

In summary, the hats will be made of the highest quality available 100% wool felt and lined with linen. The maroon ones are from 16 oz. wool, and the navy ones are from 14 oz. wool. The tassels will be handmade from Terre Lawson's hand spun, hand dyed, indigo wool yarn.

This is the list of all the names and choices so far. If anyone would like any changes, please just say the word.

Maroon
Steve Bucher 7 5/8
Chris Hawley 7 1/4
Rick Miculack 22¼”
Matt Prince 23½”
Jeremy Scott 24¼”
Josh Bucher 23½”
Denny Whiting
Russ Paul
Chris Meeker
Charles Traxler 7 3/8
Robert Roeder 7 1/2 - 23¾”
Will Eichler 7 1/2
Dave Prince 7 3/8 - 7 1/2
Jeremy Bevard 7 3/8
Brian White 7 1/2
Rob Carter 7 3/8
Bob Hutton 7 1/4
Layton Pennington 7 3/8
John Wickett 22¾”

Dark Blue
Erik Simundson 7 1/4
Will “Huck” Green 22 ½”
Terry Sorchy 7 1/4
Dirk Behana 22¼”
Curt Schmidt 7 1/2
Brian Koenig 7 1/8
Joe Blunt 22½”
Ron Mueller 7 1/2
Ken Callaway 7 3/4
Eric Fair 7 1/2

The final cost, postage paid, will be $63. Money orders, personal checks or Paypal at PreservationParcels@hotmail.com gladly accepted. For checks or money orders, please send me a quick email at PreservationParcels@hotmail.com, and I'll send you my mailing address. Hats will be sent in the order of payment received.

25% of the proceeds from each hat ($15.75) will be given to preservation. Ft. Wayne will be the recipient unless otherwise specified. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Shepherdstown Ford have also been mentioned.

Thank you to all who have contributed to this discussion!

Kindest regards,

[KathyBradford]

Mrs. Lawson endured heavy Ike winds that kept blowing out her fire, but she persevered to dye our wool. It's on its way here.

I've received payment from the men with an asterisk * next to their names, and I'm making hats in the order payment is received. The first run will be ready to send out as soon as the wool arrives. For anyone who would like to be included in that group, please email to PreservationParcels@hotmail.com for my address. If you'd rather send PayPal, my account is PreservationParcels@hotmail.com

Unless designated otherwise, all the preservation funds will be sent to Ft. Wayne. If I've missed any details about color preferences or size, please let me know.

Thank you so much!

Maroon
Steve Bucher 7 5/8
Chris Hawley 7 1/4
Rick Miculack 22¼”
Matt Prince 23½”
Jeremy Scott 24¼”
Josh Bucher 23½”
Denny Whiting
Russ Paul
Chris Meeker
Charles Traxler 7 3/8*
Robert Roeder 7 1/2 - 23¾” *
Will Eichler 7 1/2
Dave Prince 7 3/8 - 7 ½*
Jeremy Bevard 7 3/8*
Brian White 7 ½*
Rob Carter 7 3/8
Bob Hutton 7 3/8*
Layton Pennington 7 3/8*
John Wickett 22¾”
Dave Stutdard 7 ¼

Dark Blue
Erik Simundson 7 ¼*
Will “Huck” Green 22 ½”*
Terry Sorchy 7 1/4
Dirk Behana 22¼”
Curt Schmidt 7 ½*
Brian Koenig 7 1/8
Joe Blunt 22½”
Ron Mueller 7 ½*
Ken Callaway 7 ¾*
Eric Fair 7 ½*

[Erik]

What a courtious and nice way of confirming payment for such a large order.
I appreciate your professionalism and look forward to receiving this splendid hat.

Erik Simundson

[KathyBradford]

Gentlemen,

While we wait for the post office to get the boxes, here are the first two. I'd like your opinion about how these stack up with the original pictures. What say ye?

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w129/preservationparcels/Michiganhats.jpg

[Abrams]

They look Dyn-o-mite to me!

Its sounding like my pumpkin head may remain warm at Fort Negley this November. :)

[Beaner]

Kathy,
These are outstanding. Thank you for all your work and research.
Dave Prince

[Erik]

Kathy,
I think that you have captured the essence of this hat. The matter of colour is a nonsequetor. The style of the hat is exactly what the most pristine images portray. I am certain that the buyers will impart their own impressions on the shape, based on photographs.
What a very nice and crisp military hat you have produced.
If I remember correctly the original question was about the shape of this hat and a manufacturer who could produce them.
The first part was easy and you stepped up to the plate for the second.
I await my hat with eagerness.

Erik Simundson

Colour? That is another 50 miles of rough road.

[KathyBradford]

The first of the hats should be in some mailboxes today. Others should arrive Monday and throughout next week. So far, $345.75 has been designated for preservation. Thank you!

[JWKellum]

Ms. Kathy,

I wanted to let you know that I received my hat today. It looks and fits great! Thanks very much.
Best Regards,
Charles Kevin Traxler

[pvt_jb]

I received mine today as well. It is outstanding!! Not even sure that word does it justice. You do amazing work Kathy. I will wear it proudly in a couple of weeks and any other chance I get. Also, thank you for the tracts.

Kind Regards,

[pvt_jb]

Hey,
Now we have the hats now we need Michigan Sack Coats!

I wonder if a particular Michigan vendor would ever be willing to do a run of those....:p

Maybe just in a kit?? :D

[26th NC]

Kathy, received the cap a few days ago. Beautiful! It will great service. Thank you.

Layton Pennington

[bhutton]

Received my Michigan hat today, thank you Kathy it looks great, will wear it to next event in two weeks, as with your sleeping cap and housewife these items are expertly crafted , one of a kind ,and greatly appreciated .

[Abrams]

I also received my cap. Awesome job. Looks great, fits like a glove, and will keep my noggin warm.

Thanks for your top-notch service and work :)

[Erik]

Kathy,
I received my Canada cap today. Hurrah.
The fit is perfect and the finishing a delight. What a very nice professional piece. As I portray an officer it shall be more of a camp hat for me but a warm and comfortable one. The highest compliment was from my daughter who said " You look like a voyageur. Are we having quiche and creme brulee for dinner?"
Oddly enough, when wearing the cap I cannot tell what color it is.
Really nice work and thank you for the tracts. I shall read them carefully.

Erik Simundson

[KathyBradford]

All of the hats for which funds were received before this week are in the mail. They should arrive in plenty of time for Wolcott's Mill. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures.

I have one extra hat ready to go out. It's dark blue, size 7 1/2. Anyone interested?

[tater]

Pm sent on extra hat.

[KathyBradford]

The extra one is reserved for Tyler. Thank you.

There is still more of both colors of wool felt and Mrs. Lawson's indigo yarn. If anyone else wants one of these hats, please just let me know. This has been a a terrific project, and it's even better that so much will be going to preservation.

[KathyBradford]

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this. So far, the donation stands at $471.80. We're two hats away from being able to donate over $500 to Fort Wayne. Generous people sent extra toward the project or donated their military discount, so it added up quickly. A check will be sent so that it may be presented at the Light Infantry Drill scheduled for November 7th.

If anyone else would like a hat, they are still available.

Meanwhile, if anyone has pictures, I'd love to see them, and if it's okay with you, I'd love to have them posted here.



With much appreciation,

[Beaner]

Kathy,
Here's a picture of myself and the host unit, 4th texas Co. E. It was taken midmorning Sunday. I was little tired at this point. The Canada Hats were the hit of the event. I'm sure you'll be getting more orders soon. Our local P.B.S. station channel 56 Detriot will also be featuring the hat one week from this Monday at 5:30pm. If you go to the Michigan social group several pictures has also been posted of the event.

Dave Prince
Event Coordinator
"Skirmish at Wolcott Mill Event"

[garyjd]

For those that have not picked up one of these gems you're missing out. My cap arrived today and Kathy's caftswomanship is to be congratulated. I could not be more pleased. ~Gary

[Abrams]

A recent photo from the Fort Negley event with me standing sentry at 3AM wearing my hat. (man thats one fat yankee, heh) Its was in the upper 30's, lower 40's that night, and I stayed warm in large part because of this hat.

You-all that did not get one should hope that these become available again if you do fall-winter-spring events. The worksmanship is top-notch, it fits and feels great, and this is not only a warm hat, its a fun hat too. :cool:

[KathyBradford]

Thanks, men. These pictures are great. Thanks to all of you, Ft. Wayne received a check for $505.30 this past weekend. You all deserve warm heads to go along with your warm generosity.

There is still enough of Mrs. Lawson's yarn to make 7 more of these hats for anyone who wants one.

With much appreciation,

[bhutton]

Kathy,

I've a copy of a book titled 'The Blue and Gray In Black and White' by Bob Zeller, page 61 there is a photograph of captured members of 69th NY after Bull Run, the gentleman in the center of the photo has a hat very similar if not exactly the same as the ' Michigan Hat' on. I've tried to scan the picture but it comes out too dark. i'll see what I can do with it.If you find a copy of the book check it out. Being proud owner and a New Yorker, this is of special interest.