Babies
The fine cotton knitted and beaded baby’s bonnet dates from ca 1840.
Many of the clothes worn by babies and children would have been made at home in the 19th century, although knitting and crochet were mostly used for caps, socks and bootees rather than larger items.
Children
The Guild Collection includes a boy’s dress from the 1850s made from heavy cotton with a panel of crochet and embroidery.
Until the twentieth century children under five were regarded as sexless ‘infants’ and dressed in garments which allowed easy toilet training. In more affluent families boys’ dresses were different from girls.
Crocheted edgings and insertions were used on all kinds of clothing and household items.
