A watch cap should still hug after a month of being pulled on and stuffed in a pocket. Most of them grow a size and stay there.
We wore ribbed wool and cashmere caps through ordinary cold, then checked whether the crown sprang back or slumped into a loose tube.
Rib and recovery
A tighter gauge holds. A fluffy two-ply cashmere feels better on the first morning and gives up sooner if the rib is loose. British-weight wool is itchier for some people and much more stubborn about its shape.
- A rib that recovers when you stretch it with your hands.
- A folded brim that stays folded, not a brim that creeps up.
- Enough depth that your ears stay covered when you look down.
- A yarn you can wash without it felting into a bowl.
Stretch it once in the shop. If it does not come back, it will not come back later.
Between wears
Let it dry in shape. A wet cap left in a ball on a radiator is how you get a permanent slump. A cool hand wash and a dry over a jar brings the crown back.
Choose recovery over the first soft touch. Soft without memory is a hat you replace in February.
