A substantial number of lives were interrupted during the dark days of the American Civil War. Not only was it necessary for approximately two million men enter into United States military service, but there were also countless civilians who travelled for work resulting from the war or to even find refuge from hostilities. To keep soldiers and civilians comfortable as they endured cold temperatures while away from home, instructions for an “Impromptu Handkerchief Night-Cap” were printed in the January 1862 issue of the American Agriculturalist.
After coming across these instructions while researching a period mitten pattern, Civil War Patterns created this blog post with annotated historic sequences on how to easily create a handkerchief night-cap for a museum exhibit mannequin, an actor, or a historic site living history interpreter.
The introduction for the historic instructions began with:
“Night-caps should be worn when sleeping in a draft of air, but not otherwise. A very good and effective head covering may be made in half a minute [emphasis in original] by any person obliged to sit or sleep in a draft of air in a room, or while traveling in cars, or elsewhere, if he have [sic] a fair sized pocket handkerchief, or piece of cloth.”
Step One:
“Spread it flat and fold as shown. Bring two edges together and then turn on edge back even with the fold.”
[Lay a handkerchief flat and fold the bottom half of the handkerchief up to where the bottom edge touches the top edge. Then, take what is now the top layer of fabric, and fold it back on itself]
Step Two:
“Seize the folded part in the two hands, and turn the handkerchief directly over from you. Then bring the two upper corners over towards you.”
[Hold on to the left and right sides of the folded part of the handkerchief, pull lightly in opposite directions to keep it taunt, and then flip the handkerchief over so that the folded part is now facing down, with your hands on the upper corners. Then without removing your hands, fold the corners back towards you and line them up the edges with the bottom (the part closest to you). It will look like a triangle of sorts as seen in this image.]
Step Three:
“Commencing at the side next to you, roll up the edge…so as to bring in and fasten the two ends of the fold.
[Take hold of the left and right lower corners and begin to roll up the bottom edge away from you. How far to roll, depends on the size of both the handkerchief and the wearer’s head.]
Step Four:
“Raise the hands up, and a bagging portion will drop down, which is to be placed over the forehead. Bring the rolled part back over the head and around the neck, tying under the chin as seen.”
[While pulling lightly in opposite directions to keep the handkerchief taunt, lift up your hands from the surface you are folding the handkerchief on. A small “bag” of sorts will then emerge on the underside of the handkerchief. Place the top of the head into this bag with the forehead pressing against the bottom edge of the “bag” that was formed from the handkerchief. Bring the rolled part over the head so they rest on the back of the neck and pull the ends to the front of the neck. Tie it in under the chin as depicted in the illustration.]
The author of the historic instructions concludes with the following:
“Our artist seems to have caught sight of one of the ‘Zouaves’ soldiers in the Park Barracks [New York City], while making the sketch. Or more probably he wished especially to attract the attention of soldiers, for they of all others will find this a most convenient arrangement.”