Reenacting and historical costuming is marked by the growing, improving, and continuous learning you do. With my journey into the 18th century in particular, I've focused on balancing research and creating. It's easy for me to get "analysis paralysis" and stuck in a researching spiral without ever accomplishing. I'm proud of the fact that I've not allowed myself to do that as I've pursued this project. However, it means re-making things as I learn more about what an item should look like and as my own skills improve. Previously, it was my stays; now I've redone my cap.
I used the same pattern and the same fully hand-sewn construction techniques as before. My first cap was made of cotton organza, and there is nothing wrong with that. It looked nice, and from what I have been able to learn, would be appropriate for an upper-middle class impression. However, I'm focusing on a working class or lower-middle class impression, where a cap out of a simpler, harder working fabric is required. At Fort Frederick, I picked up a third of a yard of fine linen from Burnley & Trowbridge's remnant sale with a new cap in mind. This week, I cut and sewed it together. I forgot how finicky rolled hems can be, but the cap also comes together in an evening if you're familiar with what you're doing (and this time I was). I have yet to trim it, because I can't decide on a ribbon color, but other than that, it's complete!
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Hemming the ruffle with a rolled hem. This is the most time-consuming part.
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One of the two "ears," once the ruffle was attached.
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I'm pretty proud of those stitches!
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And because I love a good side-by-side to show progress in both my skills and my historical accuracy:
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Even though they're not quite at the same angle, you can see the differences in shape. New on the left, old on the right.
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I also completed my market bonnet in brown polished cotton at last. The pattern I used was from Reconstructing History. This is the first pattern from them that I used, and overall I liked it. My one gripe is that the instructions were a bit hazy to begin with. Some different wording or some more detailed illustrations would have made a big difference in helping to explain some of the points. However, once I figured out what I was supposed to do, it didn't take much time to complete at all, and the actual construction wasn't difficult.
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Attaching the brim and crown. Still only 50% sure I did this right.
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I'm pleased with how nice and neat the interior is!
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Lovely little pouf decoration
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It looks better on a human head than a mannequin, but I wasn't feeling up to photos today. Proper modeled photos will be forthcoming, however!
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