Women’s Knitted Tudor Cap

This is a project I have been wanting to make for a long time. Until more recently, I was concerned, my knitting skills were not up to par for this kind of work. Although one does not necessarily do something because they already know how to do it sometimes you have to challenge yourself. And while I looked at the directions that are in the Typical Tudor book. I realize those directions were for a very family lace weight yarn, which is not what I happen to have. While it’s single ply, it is definitely a bit thicker and has some variation in the thickness. Just like the example picture I have above this is from 1534 by Hans Holbein the younger. The young lady will cap you see over her linen is what I am trying to re-create. These tend to be made out of wool that is white. Although that does not necessarily mean, they could not have been made in other colors of dyed wool or natural sheep colors like grey or brown.

 

This time around, I’m going to be making them in three different colors; a darker blue, moss green and  goldenrod yellow. As you can see the example image to the right. They were not always in white. Even though this image is pencil drawing we can tell the beret like hat is a darker color. I currently have this type of hat in a different style that was made during the Artisan exchange. In black with red embroidery see picture below. I am hoping after I knit and full these caps, that I can either to embroider, appliqué or both type of designs to make them unique.

Also looking to see about making the linen under caps, decorated shirts, and partlets as well, to better enhance the garb I have and the more I plan on making in the coming months. All good things and feeling motivated to create despite life being busy. 

For this project it could be done on 4 or 5 double ended needles or a set of connected needles. I decided knitting in the round for all three hats made the most sense for me and how I knit. Having a hat made of wool fabric that is not knit still is useful for a size that I know fits my head. For these knitting projects am using a US size 6 round needles and 100% wool Lion Brand yarn, each skein has 299 yards of single ply sport weight wool. I have three sets of needles one for each color so I can get the different ones started. 

Am proud of my consistency it has take years to get my rows to look nice and neat without going nuts on tension. This is a really lovely wool yarn for being a commercially produced, although sustainably done according to the label. 

Which is also very important. According to the label, it says it is a medium weight yarn compared to the lace weight that was used with directions from the book. I obtained two skeins of each color, just in case I decided to attempt other projects with the yarn. Definitely could make a beautiful set of sleeves with this weight and they could be fulled since it’s a single ply.

Update!  here is one of the three hats that is completed. I was having issues reducing so I gathered the center me like the star pucker. This still needs fulled and blocked so some of that may smooth out with that finishing process. The other two women’s knitted flat caps are still on needles and are at the halfway mark or more. Also with the finishing process am wondering what will happen with the shrinking in hot water, this cap is larger than my head so hoping it gathers in to the size you see in the picture off the black one. 

Also working on a Wool and silk blended shawl I like the first miniature picture in this post. That is in a thin white two ply lace weight wool but wanting to see can be done  in the same yarn for these to have matching shawls. Things to consider, yes I know less matchy matchy in the period but it’s my preference. Also as a person would order or make items their preferences would be in their selection so there is that influence of the individual in wardrobe choices. 

Knitting away,

Maureen