Super Ultra Bonnet Geeks

Mandy and I got together today to work on bonnets.  While she was here, I decided to pull out a couple of original bonnets that she hadn't seen yet.  During our examination, we discussed our decision to move from single layer to double layer buckram forms.  We pulled out the handy dandy microscope and compared single layer (left), double layer (center), and extant (right) buckram.  The differences in the weave and density are rather obvious in the photographs.  The double layer is significantly better creating a studier form.  (Don't worry mid-19th century folks! Our brims for 1855-1865 are made of stiff cotton netting. Just the crowns are buckram.)