A.G. Merino Watch Cap

A good watch cap asks for nothing but a head to sit on. The A.G. is our take on the knit wool cap the U.S. Navy issued to sailors standing cold watches through WWII, fully shaped and knit in California from soft "A Grade" Italian merino. A 2+ season weight for the first raw morning of fall through the last one in spring. One size fits most. In Syth Black, Dark Shadow Gray, or Storm Gray.

Plenty of beanies made in this country start life as a knit tube with one end stitched shut, which is why they sit on your head like a deflated chef's hat. The A.G. is knit to shape on computer controlled machines in California, crown and all, so it follows the curve of your skull and stays put under a hood or a headlamp strap. Medium rib knit for stretch and recovery, a 3" fold up cuff for a double layer over the ears, and merino that keeps working when the fog rolls in. Machine wash cold, tumble dry with no heat. That's the whole maintenance plan.

Specifications:

• 100%, Premium Grade, Italian Merino Wool

• AOS

• Classic Medium Rib Knit
• Fully Shaped Knit Process
• 3" Fold Up Cuff
• 2+ Season Weight
• Easy Care: Machine Wash Cold, Tumble Dry (No Heat)
  

• California, USA

A.G. Merino Watch Cap: Common Questions

Should I get the standard A.G. Watch Cap or the Arctic Weight?

For most people, most of the year, the standard. It's a 2+ season weight in one size that fits most heads, and it handles cool to cold days without cooking you on the walk back. The Arctic Weight uses 40% more merino yarn for real winter and fits smaller, best for hat sizes 6.75 to 7.5. If you wear a 7.5 or larger fitted hat, the standard will be a better fitting watch cap.

How does one size fits most work on a knit cap?

The medium rib knit stretches to fit and then recovers, so one size covers the large majority of adult heads. The 3" fold up cuff sets how low it sits: pull it down over the ears when the wind picks up, or wear it higher when it doesn't.

Is merino wool itchy?

Not like the scratchy wool caps you may remember. Merino fibers are much finer than ordinary wool, so they bend against your skin instead of poking it. That's why the A.G. can sit directly on your forehead all day with no liner.

Will a merino beanie shrink in the dryer?

Heat is what shrinks wool, so leave it out. Machine wash cold, tumble dry with no heat, and the A.G. comes out the same size it went in.

What makes a fully shaped knit different from a regular beanie?

Many knit caps are made as a straight tube, then gathered and sewn closed at the top, which leaves a seam and a boxy or pointed crown. A fully shaped knit narrows the cap while it's being knit, so the machine forms the crown itself. The result follows the shape of your head and lies flat under a hood.

Is the A.G. Watch Cap made in the USA?

Yes. Every A.G. Watch Cap is knit in California, USA, from Italian merino yarn, on computer controlled knitting machines that shape the cap as it's made.

Why is it called a watch cap?

Because sailors wore it to stand watch. The U.S. Navy issued knit wool caps to crews on deck in cold weather, and the name held through WWII and every decade since. The A.G. keeps the classic silhouette and fold up cuff, then upgrades the wool and the knitting.