Grand Duchesses' Headdresses: Can I make one?

[Vive_HIH_Aleksey]

Hi guys,
I did not think any topic had been posted here for this and I thought it was most appropriate here. I'm wondering about the headdresses the Grand Duchesses wore with their court dresses. Either that, or their tiaras.

Are there any sort of instructions online on how to make one of those headdresses? I'd love to be able to make one!

Thanks so much in advance!

[historyfan]

I did a quick Google search and only came up with one half-decent site, but the piece shown did not look like the ones the Grand Duchesses wore.

They're called kokoshniks, and perhaps you could search Youtube? Or you could Google it a little more in-depth than I did and perhaps you'd find something better.

Good luck!

[Vive_HIH_Aleksey]

Thanks for trying. I was under the impression that they were kokoshniks too but apparently not, since they weren't in use after the 1800s and worn only by married women. I did search google first, and since I couldn't find anything of use I came here.

[GrandDuchessAndrea]

I have made a kokoshnik/OTMA court headress before, but it was so long ago (3 years I think) I can't really remember how I did it. I know I made it from sparkly white stiff felt and I sewed a string of pearls onto the top. I cut it in the general shape of a kokoshnik and tied ribbons on the ends which I tied under my hair. I hope this helps! (If you like I could take a picture of it and post it.)

[TimM]

Are there any sort of instructions online on how to make one of those headdresses? I'd love to be able to make one!

Let us know how it turns out.

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

Well, there are several shapes of kokoshniks (some are harder to design than others), I've made many of different shapes for my dolls, but well, here I want to share one that was inspired in OTMA's 1911 photo session:

I cut three pieces of cardboard, the frontal one (a bit like the shape of  a crescent moon), and two "rectangles" for the sides. Then I cut some white satin and sparkling lace of the same shape than cardboard, and covered the cardboard sewing both things over it. Then I joined all and between the parts of the side I added a spring for adapting to the size of the doll's head. Over the spring I sewed a golden bow made with golden ribbon. I also sewed some golden trimms as well as "pearls" on the edge.

Here some photos:

Side view and frontal view

Hope it helps, I expect to make one in real size soon.    

[rosieposie]

Yelena your head piece for the doll is goregous

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

Yelena your head piece for the doll is goregous

Thank you!! Glad you like it!!