COLORS AVAILABLE: (I have used the Aunt Lydia and DMC thread lists of color names to find the closest named shade.)
WHITE, OFF-WHITE AND CREAM: (Aunt Lydia) White, antique white, natural, cream, ecru, white with gold metallic thread, white with silver metallic thread. (DMC) White, ecru, snow white. off-white, cream. Most in regular and fine thread,. Cream, egg-shell, bone, linen, parchment, ivory. Some colors available in fine thread.
YELLOW: ( Aunt Lydia) Maize, goldenrod (fine thread), golden yellow., metallic and natural gold (DMC) Lemon (regular and fine thread), dark lemon, golden yellow, dark old gold very dark topaz.
ORANGE & PEACH: (Aunt Lydia) Russet (regular and heavy thread). (DMC) Alizarin, peach, salmon, dark red copper.
RED (Aunt Lydia) Victory red, cardinal red, burgundy. (DMC) Bright red, dark garnet, very dark mauve.
PINK: (Aunt Lydia) Light peach pink (regular, rayon and fine thread) French rose (heavy thread), shaded pink, coral pink and white boucle thread. (DMC) Very light carnation pink, medium plum, light rose, dusty rose, coral, salmon pink in cotton and in rayon thread, flamingo pink in fine thread and thick thread.
PURPLE: (Aunt Lydia) Purple (heavy thread) wood violet, (regular and fine thread). (DMC) Eggplant, medium blue violet, light blue violet, light violet, medium blue violet ( rayon and fine thread), grape, lavender, heather lavender in regular and fine thread, lilac.
BLUE: (Aunt Lydia) Aqua, peacock, dark royal, Delft blue, blue Hawaii, bridal blue (DMC) very dark cornflower blue, light blue, dark blue, medium electric blue, dark bright turquoise, baby blue, light blue green.
GREEN: (Aunt Lydia) Olive, Kerry green, light mint green, forest green, myrtle green, wasabi green (DMC) Medium yellow aquamarine (rayon or cotton), parrot green (fine thread), medium yellow green, medium pine green.
BROWN: (Aunt Lydia) Fudge brown, russet. (DMC) Black brown, wood brown, brunette brown, mocha brown, dark old gold.
GRAY: (Aunt Lydia) Silver. (DMC) White tin, tin, dark shell gray, light beaver gray, pewter gray, light steel gray, metallic silver, dark charcoal.
BLACK.
VARIEGATED AND MULTI-COLORED: (Aunt Lydia) Shaded pinks, ocean (pink, lavender, mint green and lavender), pastels ombre (blue, turquoise, lavender and peach). Other: Green shades to cream. Seahawks navy blue and bright green double thread, blue and white double thread.
HAIR NET/SNOOD HISTORY: The word snood was first recorded in Old English from some time around 725. It was widely used in the Middle Ages for a variety of cloth or net head coverings, including what we would today call hairbands and cauls, as well as versions similar to a modern net snood. Snoods continued in use in later periods, especially for women working or at home. In Scotland and parts of the North of England, a silken ribbon about an inch wide (called a snood) was worn specifically by unmarried women, as an indicator of their status, until the late 19th or early 20th century. It was usually braided into the hair.
Snoods came back into fashion in the 1860s, although the term "snood" remained a European name, and Americans called the item simply a "hairnet" until some time after they went out of fashion in the 1870s. These hairnets were frequently made of very fine material to match the wearer's natural hair color , and worn over styled hair.
These snoods were different from those of the 1940s. They became popular again in Europe during World War II during which there was strict rationing of the amount of material used in clothing, by the British government. Headgear was not rationed. Snoods were favored in order to show one's commitment to the war effort and to keep "Rosie the Riveter's" hair safely out of the way.
HAIRNETS IN THE 1800'S Styled hair was often further confined in decorative hairnets, especially by younger women. (NOTE: Though many modern reenactors refer to this garment as a "SNOOD" it is not a period term for this article of clothing; snoods were something else entirely.) These hairnets were frequently made of very fine material to match the wearer's natural hair color, but occasionally more elaborate versions were made of thin strips of velvet or chenille (sometimes decorated with beads).
Whether plain or resplendent, many hairnets were edged with ruchings of ribbon that would serve to adorn the crown of the wearer's head. "Nets are still as popular as ever, and made of high-colored chenille, gold cord, narrow black velvet, with a gold or pearl bead at each crossing." Godey's Lady's Book, December 1860. "Small nets are now made for waterfalls which are of a very fine silk, either black or the color of the hair. Indeed nets of any kind are still in vogue, some very highly trimmed with flowers, lace, or ribbon, for dinner or small companies, some of bright colors, forming the Scottish plaids." Godey's Lady's Book, December 1864.
Hair nets were not confined to the 1850's and 60's. Peterson's Magazine shows a net as late as December 1876. It is described as "a new-fashioned net for the hair, now so popular. It is made of wide braid, in large meshes, and of any color which may be preferred, although that of the hair is generally adopted. The ribbon can either e of the color of the net, or if desired, of some fancy color."
THE CARE AND FEEDING OF YOUR HAIRNET This hair net has been carefully hand crafted from an 1856 pattern, of fine yarn or thread. It will serve you for many years with care and gentle handling. The easiest way to put on your hair net is: gather your hair into a pony tail with one hand. Bend the hair mass in half and shove it into the bag of the hair net, then pull the net forward onto your head. Tuck in stray tails of hair and slide the band back onto your head just above the ears. Fluff you hair in the bag of the net to fill the net. Nets may be gently hand washed in Woolite or baby shampoo using lukewarm water, lukewarm rinse. (Cold water wash and rinse for wool nets.) Block the net to its original bag shape and air dry, flat on an absorbent towel.
Cotton nets may be dyed quite successfully to a darker shade with any good commercial dye. The elastic may be replaced with a ribbon, but I find that the round elastic, (which was available the 1860’s) holds the hair in place best. If the elastic seems too loose, it may be retied a bit tighter. If it loses its elasticity, it may be replaced with new “Round Elastic”, which is available at fabric or craft stores. Period illustrations show the hair was “dressed”, that is, the hair was properly combed, pinned and arranged before being covered with the net.
Short haired ladies, please, do not wear an empty snood hanging off of the back or your head. It does not disguise the fact of your short hair, it just looks silly! Inexpensive hair pieces, switches, even doll wigs can be pinned to your own natural hair, inside the hair net, to give the look of long hair.
I hope you will enjoy your hair net. I offer a lifetime guarantee. If the net comes un-stitched or has any flaw, I will replace it. I am happy to take special orders to match your new gown or as a gift for a special friend. Nets may be beaded, tasseled or made of fancy yarns as you wish. I have many colors of thread in 100% cotton (also in silk, wool and rayon) as well as with a rainbow of bead options.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Thanks for looking and Happy eBaying!