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An English Hood - step-by-step instructions |
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Written by Anne Colet of Carshalton (Jean Waddie)
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Sunday, 05 August 2007 |
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Page 5 of 9
The veil
The pattern for the veil is easiest to explain by describing how it is worn. You will want to go through this section with your scrap, pattern-making fabric before you cut into your velvet/wool/silk. (Velveteen is, according to people who know these things, more similar to period velvet than modern dress or furnishing velvets. It�s also easier to get in a natural fibre.)
The veil is basically a semicircle, draped over the frame and falling to about the level of the elbows. The front part, covering the lappets, is lined with brocade or embroidered fabric and turned back. The ends of this front section are then folded up onto the top of the head. This makes it necessary to have a split at the back of the lappets. In later styles, one or both sides of the back section are also flipped up onto the head. For this purpose, the centre back is also split.
Why is the veil pattern this shape?
So, the pattern, is this shape:
You will need to put on the frame to take the measurements. Length A is the distance over the top of the frame falling to your elbows on each side. Length B is the distance over the top of the frame to the level of your nostrils - this is where the lappets turn up. Length C is twice the width of the lappets, to allow for turning back. Length D is from the front of the frame, along the ridge and over to the base of your skull, or your hairline. Point E is the centre for drawing the semicircle at the back.
For me, A= 42" B=22" C=6" D=15"
The lining should be cut out as A x (C+2"). Sew the lining edge to edge with the right side, across the ends and up the slits. Turn it to the wrong side and hand sew the part between the slits. Then turn the free edge over the open side and hem it onto the right side, so it overlaps by 1 1/2 inches. I just did mine edge-to-edge all round, but I think this will give a neater look.
Then hem the rest of the veil. If you prefer, you can line the whole thing, for example if it is made of velveteen, line it with silk or fine linen. It should all be black.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 August 2007 )
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