A bonnet question

[frualeydis]

Do any of you know of any good books which shows bonnets from the 1850s and 60s? They are so small in the brim that it is very hard to find out from photos and fashion plates how they really look, even harder how they are made. Especially since they are usually pictured from the front.
If not, does anyone know of any patterns for them?
Book recommendations on mid 19th century fashion are also very welcome.

Apart from that it's snowing outside and we had a snowstorm yesterday. This means that my husband is staying home with me watching the soccer game on TV instead of live. I am currently sewing on my linen chainse to wear with my new bliaut. It will have pleated gores at the side, like the alb that's at the Abegg foundation. Not as prettily smocked though, since I've never done any smocking. I'm also getting close to finishing my second ball of yarn for my shawl which means that I've done half of it. Hooray!

Comments

[johannaelisabet.livejournal.com]

I recently bought Denise Drehers book "From the Neck up - An Illustrated Guide to Hatmaking". There are three patterns for mid-century bonnets in that book , but the brims look like they make up most of the bonnets. You are lucky because the only library in Sweden to have this book is Stadsbilioteket in Gothemburg. It is marked "referens" and can be found in the section Qcca. Looking at Google pictures I searched for bonnet 1850 and got some pictures of bonnets from different angles, both reproductions and from the era. Good luck!
Johanna

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

Is the alb from Abbegg detailed in a publication? It sounds really interesting.

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Miller's Millinery, http://www.bonnets.com , has excellent patterns. I was very happy with the 1840s bonnet pattern I used. Still need to trim that. I've heard good things about their 60s bonnet patterns too.

The most fashionable bonnet for the 1860s was the spoon bonnet, which had a very high, spoon-like brim.

I'd also recommend From the Neck Up, but it's a little bit of an information overload if you just want to make a bonnet. At least it was for me. As I get into more things, it'll be perfect and I did alter the techniques in the pattern I used based on the book. There isn't a good 50s or 60s bonnet pattern in it either, just to let you know...

[(Anonymous)]

Inte så mycket om hattar tyvärr, men "Kvinnor och krinoliner" av Alvar Granström handlar bara om 50- och 60-talet och är väldigt intressant. Han går igenom modet år för år. Jag lämnar nog tillbaka den till stadsbiblioteket snart.
mvh
eskimonika