How to Make Colonial Bonnets
During the Colonial era, it was common for women and girls to wear bonnets. Wearing these bonnets gave women a convenient way to dress their heads in a manner easier and less time-consuming than styling their hair. The bonnets also served to protect their hair from dirt and dust. With the hair kept clean, it could be washed less often. Making a Colonial bonnet is an enjoyable educational activity for children or adults. Using simple supplies that you probably already have on hand, you can easily create your own Colonial bonnet.
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Things You'll Need
- Brown paper bag, size 12 or 16
- Sheet of construction paper
- Clear tape
- 5-foot length of ribbon
Instructions
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1
Open the paper bag. Cut down the center of one of the narrower sides of the paper bag to about 4 inches from the bottom.
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2
Turn your scissors, and cut at a right angle starting at the end of your first cut and ending at the fold of the paper bag. Make another cut starting at the end of the first cut, cutting toward the other side of the paper bag and stopping at the fold. You will have created a T-shaped cut from the side of the paper bag.
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3
Open the two flaps out. Then, turn the bag flap-side down. Flatten the top of the bag slightly, and line up the edges of the bag's opening.
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4
Draw an arch shape on the bag, starting at one bottom corner of the cut section and drawing toward the center of the top of the bag. End your line at the other bottom corner of the bag. The drawn line should resemble the curve of the brim of a bonnet. Cut this drawn section out of the bag.
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5
Open the bonnet, and tuck in the four corners of the back of the bag to give the back of the bonnet a rounded shape.
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Fold a piece of construction paper in half lengthwise. Tape the folded construction paper to the top of the inside of the bonnet, about 2 inches from the back.
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Turn the bonnet right side up. Cut a slit on both sides of the bottom of the bonnet, near the folds of the bag. The slits should be just wide enough for the ribbon to pass through.
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Pass the ribbon through the underside of one of the slits. Pull the ribbon over the top of the bonnet and to the other side. Thread the ribbon through the other slit, and gently pull until the length of ribbon is equal on both sides.
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Tips & Warnings
For a finishing touch, try decorating the bonnet with lace or other fabric.
References
- Photo Credit woman in colonial williamsburg image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
