If I Had My Own Blue Box:

This particular hat was a bit of a challenge. I met a woman at the GCV Jane Austen/1812 event who wanted to see me make a shape she called a “capote”. I have to admit, from My mid-nineteenth century perspective I had quite a bit of trouble wrapping my head around this shape that encompassed the back of the head with no brim. 

Of course, I had to look a little further. Looking at fashion plates and originals, I saw a few things. First, the word capote being used for soft bonnets in several shapes, often cap like, but not in straw. 😦 Next, originals in the shape she described made out of fancy straw plaits, an inch to two inches wide. Not the plait that is easily acquired, nor tried on a new shape. I also saw a few plates with similar shapes in straw. These were each called Chapeaux de Paille. 

From The Museum of London.

Working from the fashion plates, this is the bonnet/hat I created. As I started working with the straw, the illustration with the flared brim and green spray is where I leaned for the brim and front of the crown, while looking more towards the two with blue ribbons for the crown and tip. I used my new block to get the shape of the crown as I learned from the test block that it fit the head very nicely. 

I will get this listed soon. 

Here is the shop listing. (Sold)

https://dontpaintthecat.wordpress.com/2016/07/04/new-hat-stands/

Last night was a late night because I was determined to finish this hat.

Find it in my Etsy shop. 

This fashionable hat is in a beautiful midnight blue. It is appropriate for Civil War era impressions. 

Available in my Etsy shop.

Yes, I named a hat “Hedgehog”

This hat is made with the batwing artisan plait. I had just enough left in a hank from a special project to make this shallow hat. It is currently available in my Etsy shop. (though, I sorta want to take it to the GCV CW event)

This little hat will sit high on the head, tilting forward. Here are some shots of me in our oh-so-very-green bathroom:

I suggest a silk lining and ribbon to help hold this hat in place. I could see some very pretty colors on the inside.

This is the Regency chapeaux I started at the Genesee Country Village and Museum’s War of 1812 and Jane Austen event. It turned out to be one of the largest pieces I have done.

The high crown is firmly sized, while the shaped brim is lightly sized for flexibility if you want to add a ribbon over it. The brim dips on each side, while flipping up in the back as several fashion illustrations show. Creating the curves of this hat were very fun.

The hand sewn plait is a supple Milan straw. The brim is fully wired.

Available in my Etsy store.

The numbers you’ll want to know:
Inside the crown is 23″
Side to side – 14″
Crown height – 6″ high
Brim depth – 4.5″ in front.

Be sure to catch the previous two posts to see which millinery pieces were on display and photos of the day. This is the post where I am overly honest and real.

Things I learned yesterday:

First, and foremost, Regency era reenactors are awesome. Seriously, the people I met and chatted with yesterday were so nice and polite and cheerful. Okay, so, it may just be that I am new to them and an outsider. But, it was so nice.
Second, the petti and shortgown combo is insanely comfortable. When I put it on in the morning, I asked myself why I didn’t do this earlier. If I were to compare it to my mid century clothes, it is like being in my underwear. I felt light and mobile. (Not that my CW clothes were not very flexible, functional and workable when I was fit and workable.)
About my dress…. the straps are a must. I was counting on my torso fluff to keep it in place. While I have plenty of curve in the front to keep the petti up in the front, that is not the case in the back. Slip. Slip. Slip. I even managed to bend some pins in beautiful shapes. Linen tape acquired.

The kerchief…. I felt rather silly at home trying to figure out how to wear this thing. I can wear a fichu or an elongated diamond kerchief of the mid century, but this simple square baffled me. Being new from the package, it was full bodied, almost starched. It kept wanting to stick up in the back. Here I am giving it a try again.

Chairs… We’ve been talking a bit about chairs locally. So, I thought this observation would be amusing and useful. The chair at the kitchen table was a pretty painted yellow one. When I went to sit down, I found it was much lower than I was accustom. At first, I thought this would be good for my short legs. Then, I found I kept sliding. Basically, the slope of the back and the curve of the seat was causing my butt to slide forward in the chair. It was not a posture that worked for sewing. It may have worked for reading if I had a foot stool. Luckily, I was able to use a dining room chair. It had a flat seat and straight back.

Carrying in… I need a bag I can put over my shoulder. I don’t know if that is a market bag or just a bag with larger straps. In either case, it needs to be very utilitarian. I also have to decide on taking the tall stands. While they are definitely suitable for the millinery impression, I am iffy about them for this cottage industry. Though, they make it very easy to see the pieces. The catch is, they aren’t easy to pack and carry. While I do have a bag they lay in, it would have been much easier to throw a few heads in a bag tossed I’ve my shoulder.

I need to sew more bonnets.

Photos from today’s War of 1812 & Jane Austen event at the Genesee Country Village. All photos by Lily Phelps. (I will add another post on the day soon. I wanted to share these photos as some friends are asking.)

I spent the day I the kitchen of Foster, the building Grandma quilted in for so many years . I hadn’t realized previously what a nice breeze this space has. It was very nice to work in . It also gave lots of space for people to gather in.

You can see the millinery pieces I made just for this demo. I built the top of a crown while I was there. It is now blocking in my kitchen. It will be one of the tall crowns like the one on the head form.

This is the dress I made rather last minute. When I put it on this morning, I asked myself why in the world didn’t I make and wear this sooner. It is ridiculously comfortable; exceptionally so compare to mid century.

Side note: I am often surprised by my fluffiness when I see photos of myself. This is true with these. While I really like the photos and the look of me in this dress, it is a nudge to do better on the fluff control. Additional walking must be integrated into the routine.

With the War of 1812/Jane Austen Event at the Genesee Country Village coming on quickly, the current few weeks of sewing has been all about Regency Millinery. Each of the pieces I’ve been working on are going with me to GCV, where I will be doing a straw millinery demonstration in the Foster-Tuft House. I have also been assembling an assortment of straw plaits, from fine to coarse, for visitors to examine. As someone else will be demonstrating straw plaiting, I may bring a few of the straw decorative elements I’ve been working on.

Here are the pieces that I will have on display. (Each will be available after the event through my Etsy store.)

Chapeaux de Paille with a high crown

Chapeaux  de Paille with a low crown, scalloped shallow brim (spoken for)

Chapeaux de Paille with high crown

Bonnet de Paille in the Poke style

In progress: Chapeaux de Paille with a round crown

Some of my previous Regency era millinery

Oh, and since I don’t know where else to put it….. Check out this image that shows a nice hair to cap to bonnet fit.