Modified 1870's SLAT BONNET, LUPUS PATIENT HAPPILY GARDENING IN E. TEXAS
by sunshiine in Craft > Fashion
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Modified 1870's SLAT BONNET, LUPUS PATIENT HAPPILY GARDENING IN E. TEXAS
Supplies
1 1/2 yards of fabric for bonnet and lining if you want to line it.
Matching thread
Scissors
Seam ripper
Pattern http://www.mormontrek.net/Pack/PDF/Slats.pdf Please note if this link does not work for the pattern Read the last page to get another link and the directions. I read where the site is down July 2011.
Found the link here: http://www.thesewingacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2010Slats.pdf
Grocery bags fused together for bonnet rim
Pins
Sewing machine
Iron/ ironing board
Wash/ dry/ iron fabric
Gather all tools
Copy pattern
fuse plastic bags together for the bonnet brim
CUT OUT BONNET
PLEASE NOTE: Videos are available if you do a Google search on how to fuse plastic bags together. Also be very careful and make sure you iron in a well ventilated area and make sure not to iron the plastic or you will wreck your iron. I used fairly thick bags and they worked out fine.
BEGIN SEWING THE BRIM
SEW BONNET SASH OR NECK PIECE
SEW THE BONNET BRIM TO THE BONNET NECK PIECE.
SEW BONNETS TIES
Link for New Pattern
I got this from a forum here: http://thesewingacademy.org/index.php?topic=267.100. The site where I originally printed my pattern is down for some reason. This formu kind of talks about the pattern I used. Someone might post a new link.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/MrsParker1/slatbonnetside.jpg.
How To Make a Slat Bonnet
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/MrsParker1/slatbonnetside.jpg)
Slat bonnets were worn commonly to protect women's complexions from the sun. Worn in an era when a pale complexion was considered fashionable and nearly every woman attempted at least some sort of protective measure when being outdoors, slat bonnets were worn in a variety of fabrics and social classes.
Slat bonnets are very easy to make yourself. They require minimum sewing skills and make a nice evenings project.
For durability and practicality, make your slat bonnet out of a sturdy fabric in a plaid or geometrical print. It's fun to play around with different colors for the bonnet and the inner lining--something that suits your complexion and eyes looks very well as an inner lining.
Have fun wearing your bonnet!
Procedure:
Step One: Preparation
To make your slat bonnet, you'll need some sturdy material for slats (either a lightweight wood or some stiff cardboard), about a yard to a yard and a half of material (depending on how large you want your bonnet to be). For the following instructions, I'll give my own measurements but feel free to alter these as you wish. For instance, you might want a longer curtain than I have made, so you'll add a few inches length to the curtain piece and the brim piece. Or, perhaps, you'll want a wider brim to offer better protection from the sun if you are planning to wear your bonnet for heavy-duty outdoor work. So, it's up to you!
From your fabric, you will cut three rectangles of material, these measurements:
• For the brim, cut a rectangle 9" x 40"
• For the back/curtain, cut a rectangle 20" x 30"
• For the inner brim lining, cut a rectangle 9" x 24"
You will also need some scraps of your fabric with which to bind the brim edge and to make ties for the inside of the bonnet, and also the back.
Step Two: Construction
Mark the casing lines in your brim lining piece. To do this, turn under 1/2" to the wrong side on each short side of the brim lining piece, and press. Measure across. Your brim lining piece should now measure 23". On each short side, draw a line 1/2" away from the edge. From line to line your brim lining should measure 22". Make casing lines 2" apart from line to line. There should be 11 casing 'slots' in all when you are finished.
Find the centers of both your brim and brim lining pieces. To do this, fold each piece in half and press. Matching centers, pin brim and brim lining together WRONG sides together. Sew lining to brim 1/4" from lining edge, and then again on the line 1/2" from brim lining edge which you drew in step 1. Sew all casing seams. Press.
Make your slats. If you are using wood, use a scroll saw for the best results, and lightly sand your slats for a smooth finish. If you are using cardboard, mark your slats and carefully cut them with a sharp pair of scissors or a knife. Make eleven slats 8" by 1 3/4". Slide them into the casings.
Take your back piece, and, starting at the edge of the brim, pin upwards towards the center of the brim. When you are a few inches from the center, stop and repeat procedure on opposite side. You will have a fairly large amount of fabric left over in the center, this can be gathered or pleated to fit the remaining area of the brim. Pleating is the easiest. Make a few pleats in the fabric to reach center brim, then repeat on other side. You will have 'points' of fabric sticking up. This is the corner of the rectangle. Just trim off the corners. If you have more fabric left over, make a giant pleat at the center of the brim, and pin. Sew. Turn bonnet right-side-out and press.
Hem the bottom edge of your bonnet by turning under a small hem and securing with a hand running stitch.
To bind the brim, first measure the brim and cut a 2" strip that length plus 1". Turn up 1/2" on each short side of the strip, press. Sew strip to the brim, right sides together. Turn under 1/4" on free side of binding strip, and fold binding to the inside of the bonnet. Slip stitch in place.
Cut four lengths out of your scraps left over about 1 1/2" x 15". Press up 1/4" on each long side of each tie, then fold them in half down the length, wrong sides together, matching edges. Sew about 1/8" from the edge.
Tack two ties to the back of your bonnet to adjust the fit of the crown around the head at about ear-length. Tack the other two to the inside of the brim about jaw-length.
To prevent edges of ties from fraying, cut on an angle, or finish with a narrowly rolled hem.
Here is a pattern to buy if you can't find one. http://www.longago.com/colonialwomen.html.
Enjoy!