An 18th Century Aqua Silk Hat with Organdy Trim and Pearls
18th Century Sewing Journal

An 18th Century Aqua Silk Hat with Organdy Trim and Pearls

September 23, 2013

My latest project has been the tweaking of an 18th century silk hat that I began at a sewing workshop with the Colonial Williamsburg Costume Design Center in 2010.

Since refashioning hats and gowns are totally 18th century, I’m in good company!

We were provided with the hat, silk and trim…along with lots of inspiration and instruction in technique.

After coming home, I completed my hat to look like this.

sage silk covered hat with cream organza trim with pearls homework from Costume Design Center hat trimming class in Colonial Williamsburg
my 18th century aqua silk covered hat trimmed with organdy and pearls

Since then, I’ve been looking at more period renderings (like they showed us in class).

Although I’ve never seen scattered pearls on a hat, I have found pearls worked into trim on many garments.

So, I decided to redo my hat to complement the gown I’ve been sewing from my Burnley and Trowbridge workshop last November.

RESEARCH

Originally inspired by hats in the following paintings: The Artist’s Second Wife and Son by Anton Wilhelm Tischbein and Catherine Langdale, Wife of William Constable by Henry Walton….I ended up replicating hats I’ve seen at Colonial Williamsburg.

ladies' aht at the milliner shop in Colonial Williamsburg
Pearls on an 18th century hat at the milliner shop in Colonial Williamsburg
hat created by Costume Design Center at Colonial Williamsburg
Poofs on an 18th century hat at the Costume Design Center in Colonial Williamsburg

REFASHIONED SILK COVERED HAT

After making the straw blank smaller, I reused the same silk to cover the straw form by merely cutting it down and restitched the edges by hand.

Like one of the inspiration hats at the workshop, I decided to poof lots of ribbon at the top of the hat, through which I incorporated pearls like I’ve seen in a period rendering somewhere, but I can’t find it now.

With all these ideas, I completed my new silk covered hat with rouching, poofs, and pearls!

2013-9-23_1 organza pearl silk covered hat_blue slate striped gown_draped Burnley Trowbridge
my refashioned 18th century aqua silk covered hat trimmed with organdy and pearls
2013-9-23_2 organza pearl silk covered hat_CW CDC class
my refashioned 18th century aqua silk covered hat trimmed with organdy and pearls

And this is the gown from the B&T workshop it will pair with, to which I want to apply trim and pearls.

2013-9-23 organza pearl silk covered hat_bum roll_cream petticoat_blue slate striped gown_draped Burnley Trowbridge
my refashioned 18th century aqua silk covered hat trimmed with organdy and pearls

I’ve also been experimenting with a rump pad for a few years, which I’ve not yet worn in public because they always seem like I’m wearing them incorrectly.

2013-9-23_4 organza pearl silk covered hat_bum roll_cream petticoat_blue slate striped gown_draped Burnley Trowbridge
my refashioned 18th century aqua silk covered hat trimmed with organdy and pearls

COMMENTS FROM MY OLD BLOG

Rebecca September 25, 2013 at 1:37 AM -This looks so perfect with the gown! Can’t wait to see it all put together on you! 🙂

Anonymous February 27, 2018 at 8:16 PM -Your beautiful pictures have all disappeared. Can you load them up again? I would love to see your hat!

lahbluebonnet February 27, 2018 at 8:18 PM -Oh, no! I shall try to fix that! Thanks for alerting me! =)

EPILOGUE 2024

And the above comment regarding the lost photos is why I’m now moving my old blog to this new self-hosted site, since the former blogging platforms removed functionality.

For more photos, check my Flickr set.

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