Maroon Balzo

 I recently finished this balzo. It was an easy make, but sewing all the little beads on took quite a long time.

Construction is relatively simple; make a long fabric tube big enough to go around your head and allow ease and add about an inch/2.5cm extra on each end (this is to allow for the end to be turned under).

Stuff the tube with fibrefill or pillow stuffing until it is moderately stiff but still flexible enough to bend around your head.

Turn the end of one end of the tube under and pin it over the other end, creating a donut shape. Pin securely. Try it on to make sure it fits. Adjust if necessary, and hand sew the opening securely closed.

Next, you are going to use the donut as a pattern for the lid. There are hats like this which are just the donut shape, but I prefer the covered sort to protect from scalp sunburn.

Using a large piece of wrapping paper or old sheet etc, cut out the rough shape of the donut leaving about 5cm extra all the way around. We are aiming to cut out a lid shape.

Put the lid shape toile over the donut to make sure it will fit, and that there is enough fabric to turn a hem under. Make any adjustments necessary and then cut out your fashion fabric.

Hand sew the 'lid' onto the donut, turning a hem under as you go. You don't want it drum tight; there should be a little bit of ease as the lid will sit against the back of your head/hair.

Add trims as desired.

This particular balzo was inspired by this portrait below:

'Portrait of a Lady with a G*psy' by the Italian School, 15th C

Image from: ://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/PORTRAIT-OF-A-LADY-WITH-A-GYPSY/05D83263A5F30FD8

Italian School, 15th Century | PORTRAIT OF A LADY WITH A GYPSY | MutualArt

But there are many similar ones to be seen in portraiture from the sixteenth century, including this one: 

Vincenzo Pagani (1490-1568) - Annunciation (1532) - Palazzo Ducale Urbino - Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, image found via: //au.pinterest.com/pin/1337074878802655/

Brown Velvet Padded Roll Italian Hat

You may remember that I recently made a padded roll style hat
(http://broidermebethan.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/italian-padded-roll-with-seed-beads.html). I had another on the go since last year that I originally intended to be a covered balzo, but it was so comfortable as a roll that I decided not to add the covering piece.

It is a tube of brown velveteen stuffed with Fibrefill. In period, rags, sawdust or horsehair would probably have been used, but Fibrefill is readily available and light to wear. Braid and velvet ribbon have been stitched to the roll, and two metal discs have been sewn on the front and anchored with beads. I sewed baroque freshwater pearls onto the velvet ribbon; white on the front and pale green on the sides.

All it needs now is another piece of velvet ribbon to cover the seam at the back.

Some examples of similar headwear:

Portrait of a Woman and Child by Paris Bordone

(This may be a Balzo)

Image from: http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/wardrobe/BordoneBambino.jpg

 

Image from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/59883870020743031/

Picture by Maestro Palanquinos c. 1480
Image from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/59883870020860497/

Unattributed Image from ppp. 10-11 in "What Life Was Like At The Rebirth of Genius" by Time Life Books, ISBN: 0-7835 5461-3