On his site a while back (and he post on here too) he said he was more or less retiring from the head net biz to spend more time getting out there. This was, if I remember correctly, about 1 1/2 years ago. I seem to remember that he had either found, or was looking for, some other entity to take over making them, but that there would be a delay. I could be wrong about that, but maybe someone one here know if this is the case.
Got my tulle on amazon.
Black tulle is far more enjoyable to wear that the stuff in the sea too summit ones, but yeah, that design but made out of the more fragile tulle is a minimalist design that works fine.
What I have done is get a big piece of pattern paper(since I am a dude I have the kind of stuff you roll out on a shop table to protect it…lol) and draw a line around the rim. Then draw another line about 1 inch around that – 1/2" for the seams and 1/2" for "overhang". Cut this out – piece 1 – an oval piece. You may want to use a rotary cutter – scissors and tulle do not play all that well together. A hot knife and a straight edge work ok too.
Measure around the circumference – I do it around the second (outer)line since the extra you can cut off at the end – not so much if it is too short. The actual total distance would be a bit shorter of course. This circumference, plus 1" for 1/2" seams on the end is the long dimensions of the rectangle you will cut-piece 2. For my tilley this was if I remember correctly was something like 48.5". The other dimension of the rectangle is the distance from the top of the hat vertically down to the spot on your chest where you want the net to come down plus 1 1/2" – 1/2" for the top seam and 1" for the folded part at the bottom for the draw string. For me I think this was around 18".
Then, and this is the main thing in my mind along with the tulle, that makes it a "vacco" style net is to measure the vertical distance from the top of the hat to about between you shoulder blades + 1 1/2". For me this was about 11". You want the seam for the cylinder to be in the back so mark the both short sides of the rectangle this distance down from the top, and the middle of the long side at the bottom. draw and cut the two lines that connect the first two points with the last point so you now have a wedge shape. Cut a 1"+ line at the point of the wedge where you will fold over the tulle to make a slot for the draw cord. Sew the short side together to make a cylinder. Fold over the bottom to make the slot with the opening n thee front (at the point of the "wedge". Sew on the oval piece. Voila.
The main final *goal* is for the net to hang down in a smooth cylinder without folds around the hat, and down to where you will be protected, but no more. Obviously it will work if you slightly miss this target, as I nearly always do.
I have some pics around somewhere if people are interested, but I always figured that a lot of the people on here would figure out even better ways (and would add their own personal dodads) to do this. I'm sub-amateur in my sewing. Don't "ruin" it by using to heavy a draw cord :-) You can leave the draw off entirely depending on how crazy the skeeters in you area are.
Final weight < 0.2 oz. Visibility – priceless.
Yes its "only" a head net, but its the little things that really show the bugs who the higher species is! Otherwise the terrorists win.
