Using a 14" straw hat purchased from Michael's as a base to make an 1850-60ish looking bonnet.

Note

[20170903] My eye for more historical bonnets has improved since creating this tutorial. What seemed lovely when I first started, now is wrong for historical reenactment. If you want your bonnets to look slightly more historical, do not use obvious big plastic flowers. On the inside of the brim, try to find smaller, paper or fabric flowers. Do not use flat lace as trim on the inside of the brim. (Oops! Sorry, younger self, those big roses and black lace have to go.) Either leave plain gathered up cotton lace for trim.

straw hat top straw hat side straw hat inside straw hat cutout pattern straw hat cutout straw hat side
Cut out piece from bonnet. Leave approx. 2" of crown (bottom/inside of hat)
straw hat missing piece straw hat missing piece straw hat iron
Steam iron out the top a little and the sides a lot.
straw hat lace straw hat flowers
Stitch on lace on the inside brim. Sew on flowers, optional. [Edit: Don't use flat black lace. Don't use giant flowers like this. Instead use small sprigs of paper or fabric flowers. Small. Flowers.]
straw hat fabric
Cut out fabric
straw hat glue fabric
Hot glue back and brim fabric to straw.
straw hat crown straw hat needle
Hot glue or sew fabric.
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Hot glue binding onto edges.
straw hat curtain ribbon straw hat curtain detail
Sew on curtain. Sew on ribbon. Add flowers. [Note: Again, try to use more natural looking flowers. Silk ribbons will look better than shiny polyester ones. Ribbons were wide during this time period - around 4" wide ribbons.]

Finished bonnet looks like this

Jade cotton no-wale cotton corderoy over straw hat. Black lace on interior brim, black binding and pink satin ribbon ties. Purchased pink flowers on interior and exterior.
straw bonnet right straw bonnet straw bonnet left straw bonnet back straw bonnet top

Teal and Pink Straw Bonnet

Here's one that was lined in fabric with smaller flowers.

[20111103] Finished covering and trimming one of the straw bonnets that I started.  Mostly hot glued.  Teal no wale corderoy with pink silk trim and silver polyester satin ties.  White ruched inside.  Turned out okay so feel a little better about sewing quality.  Hopefully sewing will continue strong for the buckram and silk bonnet.

Teal Pink Straw Bonnet
Teal Pink Straw Bonnet

Teal Pink Straw Bonnet
Teal Pink Straw Bonnet

Charcoal and Red

Straw bonnet covered with charcoal gray/black cotton velvet with black lace front, red 4" ribbon, red rose and apples on one side, red mums on the other side, and red roses on inside brim.
straw bonnet right straw bonnet straw bonnet right straw bonnet back straw bonnet top straw bonnet inside straw bonnet three quarter view

Charcoal and Silver

Straw bonnet covered with charcoal gray/black cotton velvet with black lace front, silver 4" ribbon, white feathers, blue/purple flowers, and purple floral on the inside brim.
straw bonnet left straw bonnet straw bonnet left straw bonnet back straw bonnet top straw bonnet inside

Jade and Red

Straw bonnet covered with jade no wale corderoy with red 4" ribbon, black lace front, red mums, red holiday pick, and red feather.
straw bonnet right straw bonnet straw bonnet left straw bonnet back straw bonnet top straw bonnet inside straw bonnet three quarter view

Charcoal

Charcoal cotton no-wale cotton corderoy over straw hat. Black lace on interior brim, black binding and baby blue 4" satin ribbon ties. Purchased blue and purple flowers on interior and exterior. Purple feather.
straw bonnet right straw bonnet straw bonnet left straw bonnet back

Charcoal and Red

Straw bonnet covered with charcoal gray/black cotton velvet with black lace front, red 4" ribbon, red rose, red feather and red roses on inside brim.
straw bonnet right straw bonnet straw bonnet right straw bonnet back straw bonnet top straw bonnet inside

Charcoal and Lilac

Straw bonnet covered with charcoal gray/black cotton velvet with black lace front, lilac 4" ribbon, pink and white floral on inside brim, grape pick, and purplish feather.
straw bonnet right straw bonnet straw bonnet left straw bonnet back straw bonnet top straw bonnet inside

Dark blue with roses

Straw bonnet covered with dark blue polyester suede with black lace front, black 4" ribbon, white floral on inside brim, and blue roses.
straw bonnet right straw bonnet straw bonnet left straw bonnet back straw bonnet quarter view



These instructions are free and for your personal use. If you would like to make a contribution for this tutorial, donations are accepted: