Historical Hats

As part of recent museum education project I was looking at historical costume to inspire schoolchildren whilst on an outdoor trail around Abergavenny Castle. I think I may have had more fun than I ought! A very local piece of historical clothing I discovered was the Monmouth Cap or as it was also known, Statute Cap.

Apparently the statute or law was passed during Tudor times as a way of ensuring people bought caps made of wool from England and Wales to help keep the indiginous wool trade alive. Men, women and children over the age of six were to wear a woollen cap at all times and they had to be made from wool from this country. Many of the knitters were from Monmouth, and interestingly, men. As Monmouth is near to Abergavenny it seemed appropriate to include some itchy wool hats for trying on.

I managed to locate a knitting pattern from the web which was based on an example of the Monmouth Cap on display in Monmouth Museum. The wool was from the Rown Purelife British Sheep Breeds range which they rather brilliantly produce in Black Welsh! Also known as cochddu meaning brownish, which it is and wonderfully hairy! I tried felting a couple and left the others unfelted as a contrast. Having now knitted six I think  have had enough of that pattern for a while.

I am now quite intrigued about historical knitted headwear, or even hats in general, and wonder if I could engage in some research. Guessing the best place to start is the V&A?

The loop at the top could be used for hanging the hat to up to dry - I had to learn how to make an i-cord on double-ended needles, which is a bit like french knitting (using a cotton reel and four nails and making endless lengths of knitted tubing!). The alternative was to sew on a small knitted button.