Sorry, this one is not available. But, it is too cool not to share. This section of green straw was determined to be unique. I think it looks great with the Marie Stuart dip to the brim.
Tonight’s Millinery: Blue Straw Bonnet
I wanted to beat the sun so I could photograph this bonnet outside to capture the jewel tone blues in this straw. The inside lights will have to do.
The blue straw spoon bonnet was blocked on an original bonnet block.
Today’s Millinery: Large Crown Hat
Several have been asking for a hat with a larger crown. Here is one!
This crown is 22″ around with a shallow 1.5″-1.75″ rise. The brim dips fashionably in the front and back. The brim measures 13″ front to back.
Soft Crown Bonnets
Here is an assortment of soft crown bonnets I have made.
More on soft crowns:
https://annaworden.wordpress.com/?s=Soft+crown+bonnets&submit=Search
Tonight’s Millinery
This copper brown straw soft crown bonnet features Silk velvet ribbon stripes on the sheer organza soft crown, while vintage rayon ribbon edges the sheer organza bavolet. Vintage velvet pansies fill the copper straw brim.
Many find soft crown bonnets to be the most comfortable bonnets they wear.
- Copper straw plait
- Black silk organza
- Black cotton net
- 3+ yards of vintage silk and vintage rayon velvet ribbon
- 3 yards of lush black satin vintage ribbon
- Cotton sateen ties
- Cotton lining
- Silk organza frill
- 3 bunches of vintage velvet pansies, plus a little bit more
- 5 hours of hand sewing straw & wire, 8 hours of finishing and decorating.
Today’s Millinery
Today both Serenity and Galaxy are offering bonnets.
First is a green straw spoon bonnet blocked on Serenity. I made this one so it will fit a smaller, rounder face. It was really hard to get the color of the straw in today light.
Next is a natural straw cottage bonnet blocked on Galaxy. This bonnet has a gentle rise through the crown and a round brim with just a hint of flare.
Both bonnets are available in my Etsy shop.
Boxes for Bonnets
Devon asked about boxes for transporting bonnets to events. Here are some of what I have. Don’t mind the less than fabulous photos. I am back on no lifting or bending.
Thisnis a box from Farmers Museum in Cooperstown, NY. I would love a few more of these the next size up. It just barely fits a small bonnet. Notice how it is oval-esque. The museum was making these and offering them in their shop. It is unclear if they still are.
This is a vintage handmade box I recently picked up. The shape is excellent – an oval with flat sides or a rectangle with deep curves. You pick. The downside with this box is its size and it is not strong.
This is the shape box I keep my personal bonnet in. This is a strong sided, tall box that fits the bonnet very nicely. I think it is 12-14″ tall. Downside is it is round rather than the more common oval-esque shape.
This is the box I made last year. I figured round would be the easiest place to start. The pasteboard was large thick sheets Dan found for me. This was a nightmare to sew. It does seem to be decently strong in terms of the sides. If the right material presented itself along with time, maybe I would make another. Maybe. (I do have tubes that I will be making into parasol transportation.)
This was a yard sale find box that was one of my first recovering projects. I used wrapping paper. Don’t. The wrapping paper comes out horribly wrinkly. As this is a nice oval shape and a bonnet does fit inside, eventually I will take this paper off and re-recover it with proper paper. Until then, it holds a neglected project.
These are some of the recoverex boxes. The bigger ones are from JoAnn’s. The smaller are from Dollar General. JoAnn’s had a decorative”Paris” line that were made of stronger walls and were taller than the hat boxes we usually see. I picked them up on clearance at a few different stores. The DG were a surprise this spring. Taller and strong, yet covered in cute 3D motifs. Most took new paper fairly well. As these were done fast to fill the shop, the insides and bottoms of some still need to be done. Oh, before the surgery distraction, I had planned to paint the DG boxes. I will have to do another.
Here is a miniature version of me sewing a bandbox: https://annaworden.wordpress.com/2016/04/08/a-week-of-sewing-cases-4/
Here is a previous post on storing bonnets: https://annaworden.wordpress.com/2015/04/15/how-do-i-store-my-bonnets/
A bit on bonnet baskets that I still haven’t tried: https://annaworden.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/bonnet-baskets/
Old photo that has my oval box I can’t reach.
Publications Update
A quick look at what is currently available and what is coming….
Currently Available
- Paisley, Plaid, & Purled: Shawls of the Mid-Nineteenth Century. A look at the types of shawls worn during the mid-century, including period directions to making some at home.
- From Field to Fashion: The Straw Bonnet. A walk through the process of plaiting and constructing straw bonnets in the Mid-Nineteenth century.
- Mid-Nineteenth Century Winter Hood Pattern. This winter hood has long draping sides and deep brim that helps in the strong, frigid winds of winter.
- Quilted Winter Hood Pattern. This version pattern makes a snuggley warm winter hood.
- Fanciful Utility: Victorian Sewing Cases & Needle-Books. Available at The Sewing Academy.
Coming Soon!
- To Net, or Not to Net: Revisited. A deeper look at the hairnet, how they wore it, and how to capture the correct look.
- Warmth for Winter: Sewn Domestically Winter Hoods and Bonnets. A detailed analysis of construction methods spanning fifty years of quilted and wadded bonnets.(title still in development.)
Introducing Serenity
I would like to formally, finally, introduce Serenity.
Serenity is one of three new millinery blocks that made it home to me in June thanks to wonderful friends. Serenity continues the naming tradition started with Galaxy, in receiving a sci-fi name.
Serenity is an 1860s shape, approximately 1860-63. She is plaster as are her sister blocks, which I will introduce sometime soon-ish. She is lighter weight than I expected, but definitely delicate feeling.
This past week, in preparation for the GCVM event, I made and blocked 4 bonnets on Serenity. In doing so, I found how naturally the cheek tabs developed their spoon curve as the brim rose.
There is one similar block I am aware of found in a blog review of Sue Langley’s book, Hats & Bonnets: 1770-1970. It is remarkable how similar the block shape is while the opening below the tip is different.
The Millinery, at GCVM
This was a long, let’s pretend elegantly beautiful, post about this past weekend. Really, there were two exceptional passages reflecting on the year and the people at the event. Then, my laptop went black and silent. I need, really need, to replace the battery.
This past weekend, I escaped the challenges of this year filled with ughs, pains, and headaches, by fully surrounding myself with nineteenth millinery and wonderful people. I had two lovely assistants, Elyse and Elizabeth, who were there just in case, but also provided excellent conversation and companionship.
A few of the millinery pieces found new homes. This coarse straw bonnet, meant for a laboring working class impression, was one I thought would be a long term display piece. Katie came in to say hi and the bonnet somehow ended up on her head. It was absolutely perfect for her and her impression.
I have hardly any photos of people. I have a bunch of photos of the millinery pieces. But, you see those all the time. So, I won’t share those other than to say these two just went up in the Etsy shop:
I did try to take some photos of myself Saturday morning before anyone arrived. Here are the not horribly blurry or excessively stern looking shots.
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 