Tuesday, April 9, 2013

A Correct Cap

I've made quite a few gauze caps... but none of them were for me! I needed something to wear with my white silk gown, so I whipped this puppy up in about 5 days. Phew!

This cap is made of single layers of silk gauze, with all the edges finished (rolled hems in this case) and whipped together. This is the way that the vast majority of caps I've seen were made--not using two layers for the brim and then sandwiching the ruffles or pleats and caul in between the two layers. The single layer method is a bit more difficult, because hemming anything curved is the biggest pain in the neck, but it's what's correct and I think it looks lovely.

Also, I will be open for commissions of caps, kerchiefs, aprons... you name it, millinery-wise (which in the 18th century means all manner of fashionable accessory) once school is over. I haven't yet figured out how many to take at one time, but it looks like I have a few friends interested in caps, 1860s undersleeves and collar, and possible a (correctly made) ruff. Can you tell I need money? :-/















5 comments:

Sarah W said...

Wow, that is delicate sewing! Beautiful!

I too have been thinking to sew on comission (mostly medieval stuff), but at the moment I have far too much to do as it is...

Kleidung um 1800 said...

Excellent work as usual!!! It's amazing how tiny the rolled hems are and how delicate the fabric.
Hopefully you'll get lots of comissions :)

Sabine

Amy said...

Ooh it's lovely!!! Beautiful work. I don't know I'd have the patience to make very many of those, but I sure would enjoy having a bit of finery like that one day.

Fichu1800 said...

Absolutely exquisite work. Really beautiful.

Denise said...

I'm so glad I found this post! I was struggling to put together a cap and looking for a better method, and I needed this reminder about how they hemmed and whipped things together in the period. It worked so much better and ended up prettier than trying to sandwich everything together in the band. Thank you!