Timely Tress ~ Lucia Regency Bonnet ~ Update #2!

I finished my bonnet today! Or, at least, the basic form of it. Now the fun and endless possibilities of various trims looms before me.

For now, I have a black ostrich feather. I wanted a white one, but black seemed to go with this better for some reason. I think a white one would really just blend in with the fabric too much.

Or I could wear it plain without the feather. I like both looks. The one without the feather is more "me". But if I don't go with the feather, I will need to go with something else!

I do want to find something red to wear on the bonnet. A flower, a rosette, something. My shoes are red leather pointy toe slippers and my shawl has threads of red in it and I plan to make the reticule either white, dark blue or red. (I think a red one may be too matchy-matchy though?)

I really, really recommend this pattern from Timely Tresses. As usual, it was easy to work with and the finished result looks just like the photos on the pattern cover. The only thing I had a bit of a problem with was the markings on the lining pieces to which you are supposed to match the gathering for the "poufs" on the outer fabric. I couldn't figure out just how to do that easily, so I did the easiest thing of all - I eyeballed it ;) - and it seemed to come out fine. I think I could have more evenly distributed the gathers, but will do that next time! I love how this pattern is SO versatile - you could make a more tailored style with using the lining pattern as the outer crown, or you could make a plain gathered circle for a simpler style. Plus there are 3 brim variations/sizes so there are quite a few options, really!

It's been very nice for me to have this project to work on. It has been a very hard week for me so far as I found out on Sunday night that two people I knew were in an accident and did not survive. Working with your hands to create something useful and pretty is very soothing and I emerge from this project feeling far more cheerful than I did when I went in.

Love,
Sarah

Timely Tresses ~ Lucia Regency Bonnet ~ Progress Update #1

In my costuming world I flit from one thing to another. Whenever I get bored with a project, I will finish it as quickly as possible and move on to something I find more interesting. With our first 1860's reenactment conveniently under my belt and full wardrobes functional and proper for all of us I can turn to more interesting things.

Last week, I got my birthday present from David in the mail, a copy of Napoleon and the Empire of Fashion by Christina Barretto. Yes, it is a birthday present I picked out for myself. David would not have thought of it on his own since he did not understand how badly I needed it. He thought I should get a waffle iron or food processor or something useful. But when I assured him I'd love him forever and ever if he got me this book he humored me and ordered it. And I love it. It's a fantastic resource.

That book has put me in the mood to work more on my regency ensemble for the Jane Austen festival that is now only a few short weeks away. David's outfit is very nearly complete so I felt no guilt in postponing starting his coat so I can work on some fun, small projects for myself.

I have my shawl almost finished and so yesterday started my bonnet. I ordered the Lucia pattern from Timely Tresses quite a while ago and have been looking forward to making it up. I bought buckram for a covered bonnet but when Malachi took a huge bite out of the brim of a very pretty Amish straw hat we found at the thrift shop, I decided I needed to salvage the straw braid so I took the entire hat apart and picked out the fishing thread it had been sewn with and remade the straw into the brim for my bonnet.

After the brim was done I realized that I don't know if a straw brim with a fabric crown is period correct. : / I've seen what appears to be a straw brim with a fabric crown in fashion plates but perhaps I am interpreting it incorrectly and the reality is a full straw bonnet then with the crown covered in fabric. Oh well. It's too late and I don't have enough straw to make a whole bonnet.

For the brim, I traced the shape of the paper brim onto cardboard and then pinned the first row of straw into place along the back edge. I overlapped the second row of straw onto the first row and sewed them together using a backstitch that was long on the inside and short on the outside as you can see in the photo below. It went rather quickly and I finished the brim with three rows of straw sewed all around the front edge to make a nice border.

Today I assembled the lining from natural undyed linen. The lining is rather fitted to the head so I will need to wear a simple hairstyle with this bonnet, I think. It is made of 8 triangular shaped sections with a circle sewn in the middle.

The outer layer of the crown will be a big poufy circle of white windowpane checked sheer cotton voile with gathers  across the top so there will be 3 poufy sections down the head, which kind of reminds me of a lobster body. So far I'm really happy with the shape and the fact that the brim offers some sun protection! This is Brim 2 and there is a deeper brim included in the pattern which is even larger and shadier. I may try a bonnet in that style if I have time before the festival!

I went to the thrift store today and found some really pretty gold metallic trim that I might try to use to make a headdress or something for the ball. I will need to do some more research to see if it would be appropriate to use or not. Does anyone know? I thought it was too pretty to pass up for $1! The ugly chunky metallic gold piping that came with it can be tossed though. Ick. It's nasty stuff.

Alas! Off to make supper. We may get some severe weather later too. A stormy warm evening is always exciting!

Love,
Sarah

Practical Head-ware

I thought about finishing my brown drawn bonnet for use this fall at events. It has only been in progress since February. But I rejected the idea in favor of making a new sunbonnet since I sold the ones I had previously made and was without one entirely. And, gasp, is it not rather *shocking* to go about bare-headed? (although I usually do. . .)

This one is made from Timely Tresses Lucy Amelia Sunbonnet pattern. This is the 3rd one I have made from this pattern and I must say, I do like it very much. It has a pleasant shape that flares from the head instead of encasing it in long vertical lines. The long vertical lines were just not doing it for me, you know. I am not exactly thrilled to see myself in a such a bonnet and be grimly reminded of the long, narrow face of a mule. This pattern is a different. And I do like it. Perhaps this will take care of my preference to wear nothing on my head at all.

The brim is made from a double layer of white and blue striped cotton. The brim is interlined with two layers of cotton flannel, for stiffness and washability and the whole thing is hand quilted for sturdiness and shape. The crown is just one layer of fabric and there is a drawstring adjustment for the neckline and ties at the neck and under the chin.

I love how fast this pattern works up - both quilted bonnets I have made from this pattern have taken just one day to complete. The corded one (with over 25 rows of cording if I recall correctly) took just two afternoons. I don't usually use patterns but this is definitely a keeper!

Fall is surely here and this weekend we are off to another event. If I try very hard I may succeed in being a good girl and keeping my bonnet on when out and about!

Love,

Sarah