Monday, November 24, 2014

Regency Bonnet Completed

After staring at me untouched for way too long, I decided to finish my bonnet this Saturday.  I only had scraps left over from cutting out the silk exterior fabric, so I had to piece together strips for the bonnet ties, which I then hand felled. The ties are attached under the last row of trim on the crown, which seems to be a pretty standard practice of the time. I had some bias cut strips of white silk that I pieced together and then pinked the edges.  My first version used a gathering stitch, but it was too wild.  My second attempt was pleated, sewn, and then trimmed down further and then applied to the brim.  Many of the original fashion plates I referenced had some sort of trim on the brim, either lace or other detail, and adding some white really brightens up the entire hat.  I added a little bow to the back, because a hat can never have too many bows!
Inspiration 1814 fashion plate 
Regency bonnet front view
Regency bonnet 3/4 view, ties attached under trim.
Regency bonnet brim view

4 comments:

  1. I love it! It's tailored, but still frilly. I love the color, too.

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  2. Love it! What a nice bonnet, the details are lovely.

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  3. I so wish I could live just a week in that era! I was a Museum Curator for 12 years. My mother always said to me "you've always liked living in the past and this is a perfect job for you". Now I'm 48 years old and reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder series all over again. I read it first as a young child, then in my 20's to my first two children, and now for the third time. I found your blog because I was researching what fichu meant, as it was mentioned in the book "These happy golden years". Now I'm lost in your blog, wishing, dreaming, trying to figure out how to bring the past into the present. P.S. I love the bonnet! Signed Monique O--Canada

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