Thursday, July 11, 2013

A Beautiful Black Bonnet

This is SUCH an improvement over my first black silk bonnet that I made about 2 years ago. I've learned so much since then!

I made up the pattern myself, which really just involved playing around with paper grocery bags until i had something I liked.

The brim is stiffened with artist's chip board to simulate pasteboard, which I personally like better than buckram for this kind of hat. The "Instructions for Cutting Out Apparel for the Poor" of 1789 recommends pasteboard for bonnet brims, as does the Kannik's Korner pattern (Kathleen wrote about pasteboard and bonnets here and here.) It is covered with black silk taffeta, trimmed with the same, and drawn up in the back with black silk ribbon. After careful consideration, I decided to construct my bonnet using the same method described by Rebecca. It made the most sense to me, and to Michael. I'd love to look at CW's original bonnet (currently the only known extant bonnet form the 18th century) to see how it was constructed, but the brim is stiffened with stripes of baleen, so that changes things a bit.

So here it is. Also pictured is the new spot'd kerchief I made. Yay for accessories!

      

6 comments:

Rebecca said...

I love it!!! The shape is absolutely perfect and it looks great on you - like someone just plucked you right out of an 18thc print. :-) Can't wait to see how good it looks all put together with an entire outfit!

Thread-Head said...

It's fabulous! I love the trimmings. I wore mine for the first time this evening for a book-signing at work. :)

Kleidung um 1800 said...

Beautiful!
I like the giant black bow tie, which adorns the crown.
It's interesting that the brim is constructed with cardboard and I will have to investigate wether this method was still in use in the early 19th century bonnets and hats.
Thank you for revealing this and as you've written, you never stop learning :)

Sabine

Gina said...

Samantha, this is seriously the most darling bonnet! I love the shape, color and especially that sweet bow! You have done marvelously!!

Cassidy said...

It's wonderful! Absolutely perfect, you look like you've stepped out of a painting.

Sabine, I can't speak for the vry early 19th century, but bonnets from the 1840s I've examined do use a cardboard/heavy paper base for the brim.

Holly said...

I am absolutely in love with this bonnet! Is there any way you might be interested in making one for me?

My email is Holly@needsupply.com

thank you so much!