The Innovation: The Calash was designed to overcome the problems of protecting a large hairdo; the idea is to protect the hair from wind and rain and it even had a ribbon to hold onto to prevent it from flying backwards in a gust of wind. Good girls didn't snap their ribbons, but those who weren't quite so good were known to snap them to attract the attention of the opposite sex (scandalous!).
Fabric: Dupioni Silk (not period accurate) and linen (accurate); the silk was from old stash, the linen recent stash.
Pattern: None, got some ideas from a tutorial, but it was lacking seriously in the detail I needed so in the end I winged it from photo's. The outer supports are garden irrigation tubing and the inner bits are done with cotton cord pulled taught to give the wagon cover look.
Year: 1776
Notions: Polyester thread, cotton cord, garden irrigation tube and a little ribbon.
How historically accurate is it? Design wise I think it's pretty good, my fabric is halfway there so I'd say about 65% total. There was some machine sewing for the channels cos I was feeling lazy.
Hours to complete: 7
First worn: for the photoshoot
Total cost: $8 for the linen, everything else was from old stash so no longer has a value.
It came out a little lower than I'd hoped for, but I won't ever be doing the huge hair to the extent that I'd need a high one anyway and I'd happily wear this as it is. I'd go so far as to say I love this thing!
3 comments:
So cute! And amazing that you just winged it!
It looks so authentic! I think you could sneak this into a museum exhibit everyone would think it an exactant piece :)
Intruiging. I had no idea ladies once wore such things. The things you learn when you are really just having fun.
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