Peterson's 1861 Pearl Diadem
Time: 4 hours
Cost $13.50
$10 pearls
$2 boning
$1.50 Velvet ribbon
This headdress has been a bit of an obsession of mine. It has such a simple elegance to it, with the combination of the pearl and black velvet. The Daee ballgown will hopefully have velvet ribbon trim on it before the next ball, but knowing me, I'll probably be sewing it on in the car on the way to the ball. To go with that theme, this little headdress was just begging to be made. This was actually a pretty easy project, taking around four hours to make. It is found in Peterson's 1861 and seemed to follow the theme for the season of velvet diadems, with dangling decorations. The writer stated that the back could be left black to add flowers or more ribbon, but for the sake of authenticity, I left it like the picture with the frame, velvet, and dangling pearl beads, with pearls outlining the top of the frame
The first step was to figure out what to use for the shape. The original pattern called
for wire, but I used regular boning from Joann Fabrics, removed from the casing.
I took 3/4 inch velvet ribbon and wrapped it around the plastic boning, attaching
it into a point in the front.
For sake of time, I did the pearl band around the top in set of 3's.
These pearl sets are attached all the way around, making a stark contrast
against the velvet ribbon
To create the hanging pearls, the pattern calls for
one small pearl
one large pearl
one medium pearl
several small pearls gradually increasing in number
The effect is very pretty. This is the front center point and this pearl
dangle will lay in the middle of the forehead
Several dangles. I spaced it out about and inch between each dangle,
although the original pattern calls for 3/4 inch between.
I did one middle center with 4 the the rest as follows
4
4
4
4
5
6
8
10
12
14
14
12
10
8
6
5
4
4
4
and that brings us back to the center
Tada! It is done! Good job, time to debut it at the ball knowing
you are the height of fashion... 160 years ago!
There truly is something satisfying about wearing an item
that were worn by many woman from the early 1860's.
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