Vintage Tatted Bonnet

Yesterday, a vintage tatted bonnet I purchased arrived and I am so pleased with it.  At first though, I was a little nervous about it.  It had a blue fabric liner in it, which was stained, and the blue ribbons had seen much better days. The liner was hand whipped on which made it easy to remove and the ribbons also were removed and replaced.  The bonnet had been stored flat and a crease had formed down the center of it.  Here are some before pictures: 

The inside out view:

    

The changes I made were really quite simple.  I removed the liner and replaced the blue ribbon with new ecru ribbon. Liners in tatted bonnets are a personal preference.  They are helpful in making the bonnet warmer in cold weather.  I preferred to leave it without one.  The fold crease ironed out easily.  Here are the after pictures:

     

I recently purchased the pattern for this bonnet on eBay and I look forward to one day recreating this bonnet.  It is such a lovely design and is tatted in two separate pieces. The scalloped front ruffle is actually tatted separately and then hand whipped on to the bonnet itself. 

My hope is to design and make a christening dress to match this extraordinary bonnet.  Until then, this bonnet is available separately at $125.