1890 Barrister's Wig

[atherleisure]

I made a silly hood from a pattern published in 1890 and called a "barrister's wig."







The pattern calls for single Berlin for the gray and double Berlin for the blue. I used fingering weight wool for both and held it double for the blue. It's an easy pattern but not a mindless one. The puffs are made by doing double yarnovers and then dropping them in the next row. The pattern calls for two yards of light blue ribbon, but I didn't like the shade of blue I had against it so I substituted a navy blue which I thought looked nice. I ended up using three yards instead of two, and my bows still seem skimpier than the illustration.

This hood won't keep the cheeks warm, but it does cover the ears.

Comments

[marianme]

It totally looks like a barrister wig. The double bow on top with extra tails is cute

[atherleisure]

It does, rather, doesn't it? The Victorians don't seem to have been too concerned with the tail to loop ratio in a bow so I figured I could fill in the gaps with extra tails.

[danabren]

This is adorable and baffling. Why was this worn?

[atherleisure]

I think it's just meant to be a novelty in hoods. It's basically the same shape as other hood patterns I've seen.

[danabren]

The Victorian equivalent of chibi Pokemon hoods, I suppose.

I love it.

[mala_14]

What a fantastic pattern! It's so unexpected and unusual (because it really does look like a barrister's wig), but still pretty, especially with the bows, which look great.

[atherleisure]

Right?!? You look at it and say "Why is there a pattern for a hood shaped like a barrister's wig?" and you answer yourself "I don't know, but I want one!"

[mala_14]

Yes! Exactly!

[koshka_the_cat]

This is bizarre and fantastic!

[atherleisure]

That was my response when I first saw it a few years ago, followed by wanting to make it. When I actually bought the book last year, it went on the list.

[hiraimi]

I love it! It's so fun.

[atherleisure]

Thanks! It was fun to make too. And quick - only about ten hours of knitting and another couple of hours of crochet.

[motorharp]

This is utterly delightful!

[atherleisure]

Thank you.

[mandie_rw]

That is a hilarious and delightful hood! WHY a barrister's wig? Who knows, but it's great!

[atherleisure]

Thanks. I'm looking forward to wearing this...some day. I have no idea where I'll wear it, but I'll find something someday. Maybe at the same time I actually get to wear the knitted petticoat.

It is a British publication which makes the barrister's wig slightly less bizarre but only slightly. They also have pincushions shaped like roosters so who knows.

[mandie_rw]

Pincushion roosters LOL, I love it.