Bonnet in a Day

Name: Bonnet in a Day
Start: 2026-08-22T15:00:00-04:00
Location: 323 N. Lee St. , Salisbury, NC, United States, North Carolina 28144

Schedule

Sat, 22 Aug, 2026 at 03:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

323 N. Lee St. , Salisbury, NC, United States, North Carolina 28144 | Salisbury, NC

Have you ever wondered how those delightful and elaborate bonnets from the Victorian era were made? Now is your chance to find out. Our resident amateur milliner, Nancy of Nanci's Fancies, is going to spend Saturday, August 22 making a silk bonnet from the inside out.
Starting with building the frame to finishing with making her own trim, Nancy will build a bonnet and answer questions. This all day venture will (hopefully) have a display of the various stages of making a bonnet so whenever you drop by you can see the process from beginning to end. We'll also have out samples of the materials used for you to examine and for the truly adventurous, we'll have the materials for you to make a simplified small doll's bonnet to take home.
This whole venture is a fundraiser for the Rowan Museum here in Salisbury that has the task of preserving the history of Rowan County. To celebrate the museum, the bonnet will be a style common in the 1850s, which is when the old courthouse housing the museum was built.
There is no fee for coming by and watching and participating, but we suggest a minimum donation of $5 to the museum. As added incentive, for every $5 you donate, you will get an entry in the drawing at the end of the day where we will give the bonnet away. A handmade bonnet of this kind would usually cost you $175 to $350 according to what materials were used and how fancy it is. We're going for silk, and making it as fancy as possible. So why not donate $20 or $30 or more to get more chances to win this bonnet.
Don't have time to come down and watch the work in progress but still want a chance to win the bonnet? You can make your donation over the phone that day.
Support local history and learn about the art of millinery, one of the few professions dominated by women at that time. Come down and join us on August 22.