 
Antique laces have so much detail and intricacy. Today, few laces are made with the cordonnet outline threads, the elaborate patterns and the variety ofbackground textures that you find in so many antiques.
If you are fortunate enough to have custody of some of these pieces, deciding how best to use them is often a dilemma. After purchasing several yards of a gorgeous, French, ecru galoon, I chose to use some for a baby bonnet. My goal was to make an heirloom piece that would not see heavy use, though the lace is very sound. One of my vintage McCall’s layette patterns was used, chosen for its simplicity.
Only 3 1/2″ wide, the lace was too narrow to meet the required width from front edge to the horseshoe back. So the shortage was made up with 1 1/2″ French ribbon inserted between the body of the bonnet and the front ruffle.
A 25″ length of the lace was cut for the body of the bonnet. The scallops on either side were gentle enough that the lace galoon was treated like an insertion. Gathering threads were stitched on both sides, with the front edge gathered up to 13″. This gathered edge overlapped a 13″ length of French ribbon by 1/4″.
Another 25″ length of the lace galoon was trimmed down to 1 3/4″. The cut edge was gathered to the same 13″ measurement and stitched to the ribbon, in the same manner as the wider piece of lace. Leftover was a piece 25″ x 2″ for another project.
Ten inches of the galoon were used to cut the horseshoe shaped back and its lining. The gathered back edge of the lace was inserted between the two pieces.
A second piece of ribbon, 25″ long, was stitched to the bottom piece of lace, enclosing the gathered edges of the lace. The excess length was folded up in a 2″ and 1″ pleat on either side. Two lengths of peach colored 1/4″ satin ribbon, to serve as ties, were tucked between the two pieces of French ribbon.
This and several other heirloom bonnets were made in anticipation of a granddaughter. When she finally arrived, I was initially disappointed that her mother had an aversion to bonnets for fear that the ties posed a threat. So Laurel never wore this. But after she was born, I was so enchanted with my first grandchild that I didn’t care if she wore a Cat in the Hat hat.
Now if Rebecca has a daughter, this bonnet and others will be put to good use.
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