Take a Deep Breath...

As you may remember, I had decided awhile back to tackle a project to recreate false braids ala the 16th C in Germany. These items, known as 'Zopfe' in Nürnberg, were frequent items in the dress indices of the period of study covered by Jutta Zander-Seidel's research in the "Textiler Hausrat".

I actually started with an attempt at a reconstruction back in 2010, only to put it aside in favor of other projects. I got as far as making and stuffing a number of mock-up 'tubes' for the basic braid forms, but no farther. Then, this past June I decided to resurrect the project as something to work on while I was at an event for my birthday. I grabbed the stuffed forms (muslin sausages with synthetic batting for fill - hey! - they were mock ups!) and some left over silk from flag making and got to work. 

The resulting items would NOT work in my hair (which is thin and was only just past my shoulders at the time). But they did OK in a friends much more copious locks:



*psst*  vanagnessayem That is my version of your hat I am wearing there...

So, the size was bad. Going back to the 'Textiler Hausrat' image of the gentleman holding what Mrs. Zander-Seidel believes to be Zopfe, it was clear that my scale was *way* off. So I started over. 

( Here Be Pictures... )

Honestly, I couldn't be happier with the results! I now have some amazing (and period!) Punk Rock hair accessories to have fun with for feasts. I look forward to finding reasons and opportunities to wear them in 2012! ;)

OK, so I just talked sstormwatch  into helping out with some photo demos' of possible layer combinations for making up a Steuchlein. (*HUGS* Thank you!)

There are a few different styles I would like to try and recreate, clearly they all involve ‘similar’ layers, worn in a variety of ways. The layers as I see them are as follows:

False braids - Zopfe (*not everyone would need these, but I am going to try them out)
Understructure – Wulst
Cap – Wulsthaube
Veils – Schleiertuch
Chinband – Kinnbinde

For these parts, I am going to assemble the following pieces:

False braids
One pair of Zopfe - which appear to require about ‘one ell’ and then some of fabric (around 45” – 50” at a width of about 25”), plus stuffing.

Understructures
One curved ‘crescent’ Wulst
One rounded ‘roll’ Wulst

Caps
*One under-Wulst-cap/Wulsthaube based on this style  - having worn my other versions of a Steuchlein a few times, I know that having something under all those other layers that help keep them clean is a good plan.
*Two over-Wulst-cap/Wulsthaube based on this style in two different colors

Veils
Two basic Schleiertuch in linen in two different colors
One basic Schleiertuch in silk
One extended Schleiertuch in silk based on this model

Chinband
Two Kinnbinde in two different colors


Why two colors you ask? I am interested in showing how the layers interact in a variety of combinations.

( The following images demonstrate the styles I would like to attempt to recreate.  )