The sunbonnet is an iconic symbol of frontier womanhood. A utilitarian fabric hat to shade the face and a short cape to protect the neck from wind and sun. Never intended as a high fashion item, pioneer women nevertheless did their best to make them as attractive and feminine as possible, whether in a farm field or on a frontier trail. Patterns were printed in fashion magazines and shared amongst women, but like many every day clothing items, very few originals exist. Nobody saves their work clothes for posterity! We’ve used historic patterns, as well as copied patterns from real examples, to recreate the historic style for our interpreters. We’ll be teaching how to make a historic style sunbonnet on Saturday, May 11th, in a workshop from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Interpretive Center. $20.00 fee includes fabric, supplies and pattern. Bring your own sewing machine; basic sewing skills required. Call 541-523-1844 for more information or to register.
