RE: [h-cost]Night caps
I don't know exactly when they started being worn but there is a famous portrait miniature of Henry VIII's illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy wearing one. Oh, now that I think of it, I seem to remember a number of 15th century French illuminations depicting people in bed wearing them, as well... At that time they would have most likely been made of linen, but it is rather difficult to generalize about construction. I seem to remember some of the extant ones I've seen in the VA being of a four panel construction, tapering to a point at the crown.if that makes any sense. I don't remember seeing any ties but then I wasn't looking for any. Cheers, Danielle At 09:58 AM 11/8/2007, you wrote: Here's a suitably esoteric question for this group. Night caps. As in, Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap had just settled down for a long winter's nap When were they worn? What were they made of ? How were they contructed? How did they stay on? I'm assuming they may have been worn any time that fires were the only source of home heating, but I have only seen images from late 1800's and early 1900's. I'd like to make some. Anyone know? Laurie ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
RE: [h-cost]Night caps
That sounds like a biggin. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 4:43 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [h-cost]Night caps In a message dated 11/8/2007 6:02:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Also 17th and 18th century And I'd say as far back as medieval. You can see them in illustrations sometimes. Of course I can't think of any now, but I remember doing a show and making a simple linen one to be worn under a broad brimmed hat. I saw it in an illumination. It had long ties [untied and hanging] that would tie under the chin. And of course this was a man out and about in the day, but the same kind of close coif-like cap could serve the purpose of a night cap...which was to keep your head warm. It covered his ears. For all we know the Roman could have worn them. I mean, think about it. Such a useful item before central heating. ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost]Night caps
In a message dated 11/9/2007 10:10:03 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
That sounds like a biggin.
***
Indeed.
Main Entry: 2biggin
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French
beguin
: _CAP _ (javascript:lookWord('cap');) : a : a child's cap b : _NIGHTCAP _
(javascript:lookWord('nightcap');)
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Re: [h-cost]Night caps
In a message dated 11/8/2007 6:02:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Also 17th and 18th century And I'd say as far back as medieval. You can see them in illustrations sometimes. Of course I can't think of any now, but I remember doing a show and making a simple linen one to be worn under a broad brimmed hat. I saw it in an illumination. It had long ties [untied and hanging] that would tie under the chin. And of course this was a man out and about in the day, but the same kind of close coif-like cap could serve the purpose of a night cap...which was to keep your head warm. It covered his ears. For all we know the Roman could have worn them. I mean, think about it. Such a useful item before central heating. ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
RE: [h-cost]Night caps
At 02:58 AM 9/11/2007, you wrote: Here's a suitably esoteric question for this group. Night caps. As in, Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap had just settled down for a long winter's nap When were they worn? What were they made of ? How were they contructed? How did they stay on? I'm assuming they may have been worn any time that fires were the only source of home heating, but I have only seen images from late 1800's and early 1900's. I'd like to make some. Anyone know? Laurie Well, they must have been fairly common in the Elizabethan period as there are quite a few surviving examples in museums of highly embroidered nightcaps. Try searching the VA, Cleveland Museum of Art, and the MFA Boston. They all have online images. For construction - http://katerina.purplefiles.net/art%26scribes/Embroid/nightcap.htm Cheers, Jane Jane Stockton - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Barony of Mordenvale, Kingdom of Lochac In Prayse of the Needle - http://needleprayse.webcon.net.au/ (personal website) Historical Needlework Resources - http://medieval.webcon.net.au/ (resource website) The Needles' Excellency - http://laren.blogspot.com/ (blog) ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost]Night caps
Here's a suitably esoteric question for this group. Night caps. As in, Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap had just settled down for a long winter's nap When were they worn? What were they made of ? How were they contructed? How did they stay on? - My dad stills wears them and my mom makes them for him out of flannel. Last time they visited he left one behind. This one is cut on the fold and it looks a bit like a quarter circle pie shaped piece, except it is a bit flat on top and still sloping outward slightly at the bottom. There is one flat felled seam and a hem of about an inch and a half. It's a bit loose when he wears it and near as I knew he just puts it on and it stays on. Susan in Bellevue, WA. ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost]Night caps
Hi, Also 17th and 18th century have some very nice night caps survived. If you would like to try to embroider an 18th century one, there is a gorgeous pattern in the book Costume Close Up from Colonial Williamsburg. It has the draft of the embroidery two. Night caps were used by men, not only when they went to bed, but also when they were relaxed at home, wearing a banyan (house coat). In 18th century they were ideal, because when mundane, they didnt have to wear a wig, but could use the night cap in stead. They were made with manny beautifull embroideries, with polycrome collours and the banyans was also very collourfull. Bjarne ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
RE: [h-cost]Night caps
Well, they must have been fairly common in the Elizabethan period as there are quite a few surviving examples in museums of highly embroidered nightcaps. Try searching the VA, Cleveland Museum of Art, and the MFA Boston. They all have online images. For construction - http://katerina.purplefiles.net/art%26scribes/Embroid/nightcap.htm This is fantastic, thanks Jane! Laurie _ Windows Live Hotmail and Microsoft Office Outlook – together at last. Get it now. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102225181033.aspx?pid=CL100626971033___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
RE: [h-cost]Night caps
So it looks as though I'd be safe using a basic coif pattern with ties (my hair is very slippery). It seems I may have been wrong about the time period I quoted originally, though. I did a google and found 2 New York Times articles from 1883 and 1884 (related one to the other) about a doctor who suggested going back to wearing night caps like our grandfather's did in order to eliminate dreaming and have peaceful sleep. The second article states that the author has tried this and indeed it works, altho men are no more likely to wear a night cap than women are to wear sensible footwear. There was also a reference to gentlemen wearing them as Bjarne suggests, not as sleepwear, but as informal dress at home during the day. I hadn't considered the wig issue! Thanks all, Laurie _ Climb to the top of the charts! Play Star Shuffle: the word scramble challenge with star power. http://club.live.com/star_shuffle.aspx?icid=starshuffle_wlmailtextlink_oct___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
