Cottage Bonnet

This was a lot of fun to make.  I used heavy-weight buckram (from Southern Importers), some orange velvet I had on hand, and some silk for the lining.  The lace inside was also a remnant.  I bought the flowers on clearance at Michael's for 99¢.

This is most commonly referred to as a Cottage Bonnet and was popular through the 1840s - perfect for Dickens and Brontë -era costumes, but too early for Civil War reenactments.

I cut out the frame in buckram then I went around the front edge with 20 gauge craft wire - using a zig-zag stitch on my machine real slowly. 

I did the same with the circular piece in the end - except it had a seam allowance to account for.  I notched the seam allowance and fit the end up inside the frame - now it looked like a hat!

I covered the end first, trimmed the excess fabric off, and then laid down the main part.  Spray glue is AWESOME.  I have no idea how people make hats without glue.

I folded all the edges over, clipping the curves and securing with glue.  This will all be concealed by the trim and lining.  I trimmed the front edge with some cording I picked up on Harwin for $1, then I stitched the lining in by hand - tiny stitches right into the cord along the edge.

There's also a back ruffle around the nape of the neck made from the silk lining, and a coordinating ribbon that runs across the top of the hat.