A Mid-Nineteenth Century Lady's Nightcap
I decided I needed a lady's nightcap. Not a fancy ornamental day cap, but a practical one that could stand washing, ironing, and wearing. My criteria were that it be historically accurate, that it would cover my ears and keep me warm, and that it not twist around or fall off while I was sleeping. I sleep cold; when we camp out at a reenactment, I will wear a knit cap to sleep during the cold weather. At the end of March we are going to participate in an immersion event, which is where everything must be as accurate as possible at all times, 24/7 (or in this case, 24/3). We will be staying in an antique log cabin, so there is no heating other than the fireplace. It's been a cold, windy winter with an over abundance of snow, so I wanted to make sure I stayed warm at night. In July 1859, Peterson's Magazine (akin to Good Housekeeping or Better Homes and Gardens ) published a pattern for a lady's nightcap. A number of reenactor...