DIY Regency Poke Bonnet

I've been in love with the poke bonnet that Kate Winslett in Sense and Sensibility forever. Finally I found where to purchase the base for this bonnet and make my own!

Although to be technical, this is actually called a capotes.

 

Now to get the frame for this hat you need to go to Hats by Leko

 

She does require a $28 minimum balance to purchase because she's a whole seller and the Twisted Sea Grass only runs about $8's but check out her other stuff, she's got a lot of stuff for making Regency hats.

 

When you get your hat it's going to look something like this;

 

 

Nice and flat from shipping- but fear not! It is very mold-able.

 

 

You will want to get your hat completely wet and then place it on your form. Begin to mold it to a head shape first.

 

 

Now I found the hat altogether too long so I cut off the bottom hem.

 

 

I then folded it under to form a new hem.

 

 

Then taking it to my sewing machine and using a long stitch and a neutral colored thread, I sewed the new hem down.

 

 

Returning to molding my hat, I turned the brim up in the back and sewed a stay stitch. Although you could easily re-wet it and clip your hat with some clothes pins to dry. It should stay just fine that way as well.

 

If you like you can decorate your hat from here but other than that, you are done!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regency at the Joslyn

Today I found myself wondering around the Joslyn Art Museum today and I was pleasantly surprised to discover several Regency portraits I felt like sharing.

Portrait of Katherine Frances by James Peal 1807

The Greenhow Children, Artist Unknown 1818

The King of Rome by Jean Georges Vibert 1900

(there were a lot of people around this painting which made it very difficult to get a proper picture)

Portrait of Lady Redesdale by John Hoppner 1790

Portrait of Mrs. Andrew Hay by Sir Henry Raeburn, circa 1795

Portrait of Sir Samuel Shephard by Sir Thomas Laurence, 1796

Portrait of Ruamps de Surgeres by Jean-Louis Laneuville, 1792

Follow Me

I've found the one reason worth going to pinterist for; Regency.

I've managed to college a lot of great pictures of gowns and fashion plates and paintings from the Regency era and probably have the largest collection (that's still growing on Pinterist.)

I've had a lot of people follow my Regency board and I invite you to do the same at http://pinterest.com/pinkweeds/regency/

From Time To Time

Last night I treated myself to a movie called From Time to Time starring Dame Maggie Smith.

The movie is set in the 1940s with a ghost story from 1810. What I love about this movie is that they used unique costumes that haven't been used in 75% of other Regency movies.

These were the pictures I was able to scrounge up from this movie.

Re-working Gowns that are TOO Small!

I find myself doing this a lot lately.

As of right now I can figure out three alternatives to solving this problem.

Option 1. If you have some left over material from the original garment cut out a larger side pannel. it' isn't idea as you'll have to pretty much cut apart your whole dress and start over.

Option 2. Cut open the front of the bodice and add a contrasting fabric or similiar fabric to it.

3. Cut open the front of the dress and make it an open robe.