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I could use some advice from those who make bonnets. I've made one of a pale pink silk moire trimmed with antique black brocade ribbon with the same colors. The trouble is, the back of the moire bevolet is rather heavy and tends to pull the bonnet backward too much to my taste. I'm going to sew in security strings to keep it in place, but also thought to trim the front with some beading. I have several examples from an 1864 Der Bazaar which has many illustrations. They have a bonnet trimmed with pearl beads in Heidi Marsh's bonnet book, page 148, which appears to be from the November Godey's 1865. "bonnet trimmed with pearl fringe."
What I would like to know is has anyone else here done beading fringe on their bonnets, and has it altered the weight balance of how it fits? What I wonder is should the bonnet, if made specifically for fringing, should it have a longer crown so that the beads fall free of the forehead and prevent the bonnet from tipping so very much? My bonnet is practically identical to the Empire style listed in the Godey's illustration, but I also wonder how much pull the beads would have on the moire bevolet. Should I worry about the weight of the glass beads before I buy them, or just purchase something that matches the same shape and style? As for the top of the bonnet, I'm leaving that as simple as possible, just a long feather drape. Your thoughts, any advice? I've not seen a beaded and fringed bonnet here in CA so any tips would be useful.
What I would like to know is has anyone else here done beading fringe on their bonnets, and has it altered the weight balance of how it fits? What I wonder is should the bonnet, if made specifically for fringing, should it have a longer crown so that the beads fall free of the forehead and prevent the bonnet from tipping so very much? My bonnet is practically identical to the Empire style listed in the Godey's illustration, but I also wonder how much pull the beads would have on the moire bevolet. Should I worry about the weight of the glass beads before I buy them, or just purchase something that matches the same shape and style? As for the top of the bonnet, I'm leaving that as simple as possible, just a long feather drape. Your thoughts, any advice? I've not seen a beaded and fringed bonnet here in CA so any tips would be useful.