The Historical Sew Monthly's August Challenge is "Heirlooms & Heritage" and asked to "re-create a garment one of your ancestors wore or would have worn, or use an heirloom sewing supply to create a new heirloom to pass down to the next generations."
There are not many historical pictures in my family to look at my ancestors clothes, nor did any historical garments survive... The photos we have show mostly male family members in uniforms and lilltle children. Since I am not keen on making an uniform or childrens clothes I had to find something else.
I originally planned on finishing this hat for the July challenge and intended to skip this one, but then it touched my mind, that the bobbin lace veil is actually a heirloom itself and therefore would be perfect for this challenge!
I got it from grandma last year, when we emptied her apartment for her move. Along with fabrics, old bedlinen, tablecloth's and her bobbin lace equipment I got some small and medium sized lace doily's.
Although it was tempting, I didn't dare to use the bobbins to make lace for a historical garment ("use an heirloom sewing supply"), but I decided to integrate one of these heirloom doily's into a historical item to pass on myself.
This way I can actually wear something my great-grandmother made herself and also integrate a heirloom into my historical sewing.
The pattern used is Lynn McMasters Civil War Period Hat...
... which was obviously inspired by this one:
| Hat 1349782 National Trust Collections |
My version is a mixture of both. I used straw on buckram as base and lined it in a mint-green-light-blue-ish silk- cotton blend, covered the crown with lace and feathers and added ties on both sides.
So before I start to shower you with all the pictures:
The Challenge Details
A 1860s Summer Hat
Fabric: Silk-cotton blend, cotton batist, my heirloom lace doily
Pattern: Lynn McMasters "Civil War Period Summer Hat"
Year: 1865-1870
Notions: Straw braid, buckram, millinery wire, grosgrain ribbon, ostrich feathers, elastic tie
How historically accurate is it? The pattern and materials used are ok, although the doily is not 1860s, but 1920s. I also used glue in some spaces. Let's say 50%
Hours to complete: around 15 (some just staring at it)
First worn: not yet
Total cost: about 30€
Photos!!!
Be warned! A lot of photos!
The only construction part a little different than usual was sewing on the lining on the upper side of the brim and then folding it to the underside. Since the couloured fabric is very thin I flatlined it to one layer of cotton batist.
My first attempts to trim the hat.
I edged the grosgrain with narrow lace at first, but after adding the bobbin lace the colours didn't match. So I unpicked the lace and left the hatband plain.
More experimenting...
It is actually characteristic for me to linger about hat trimmings. I always want to be able to make changes to my item. That makes it really difficult for me to decide and sew on some trimmings.
After literally staring at my hat for hours (no kidding!) I finally decided on the following version and I couldn't be happier!
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| I wanted to use this mother-of-pearl hat pin, but I just cannot bring myself to actually punch it into the hat... |
So, what do you think of this hat? Let me know!
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