Tutorial: How to Sew a Cap for Victorian Bathing Costumes CERISE and ALDA

 An essential accessory to complete the look of the Victorian bathing costumes CERISE and ALDA: the bathing cap! This tutorial will guide you step by step through creating this simple yet elegant complement.

Materials Needed

• Coordinating fabric (around 1 meter for the base and 0,6 meters for the decoration) 
• Matching trim tall around 3 mm
• Free pattern with decorative elements (available here)
• Elastic ribbon
• Matching thread

This cap is meant for a starting head of around 57 cm circumference, please take into account also the hairstyle you wish to have under the cap ( and how much big your hair will be). For me this cap works pretty well with my edwardian hairstyle- 

Instructions

Preparation: Cut x2 fabric circles approximately 57 cm in diameter and the decoration wheel (x1) included in the pattern. Eventally cut a third circle in light canvas to interline the base on the side where you will add the decoration.

Turn the decoration INNER seam allowances hidden on the wrong side and iron them flat.

Apply it to one of the two circles, with a seam at around 1 mm from the decoration inner edge and around 1 cm from the outer edge .

Assembly: Add if you wish matching ribbon trims on the decoration! Place the two circles right sides together and sew them together, leaving an opening for turning. Turn right side out and press well. Leave the opening as is for now!

Casing: Create the elastic casing by sewing two parallel lines of stitching approximately 6 cm from the cap edge (where there is the elastic channel area in the pattern). The stitching lines should be about 1 cm apart.

Insert the elastic ribbon into the casing and sew it closed. The elastic should be sliglty shorter that your head circumference. 

And now time to finish it! Close the remaining opening with an invisible hand stitch.

Historical Note

The bathing cap wasn't just a decorative accessory, but served an important practical function in Victorian bathing costumes: protecting hair from salt water and keeping hairstyles neat and tidy.

Free pattern available here