What is a snood?

What is a snood? I get asked this question a lot. I suppose if you aren't familiar with the medieval crafting world, then you probably don't know the word. I didn't know what it was until I wanted to make one.

Here is what the internet says:
"[A] simple net used to cover headgear. Adornments such as pearls and jewels added in 15th century."
"A lacy-looking, knitted or crocheted ‘net’ that holds the hair back"
"A band for the hair, once worn by unmarried women in Scotland as the badge of virginity; an ornamental hairnet supporting the back of a woman's hair ..."
"Snood is a puzzle video game created in 1996 by David M. Dobson. "

...okay, maybe the last one doesn't apply to my kind of snood. :)

My snoods are crocheted. Technically, crocheted snoods aren't "period" because crochet didn't really exist until the 19th century. They would have been made out of cloth or knitted.

Snoods are very useful, even in modern settings. Sometimes I try on a snood for size and find myself wearing it for a few hours because it keeps my hair out of my face better than a ponytail would. Snoods work well with short hair, because they make it look like you have longer hair, but at the same time they can do wonders for long hair and keeping it out of your way.

Even though they were mostly worn in "ancient times," you can still see them around...

Women from a Naval Air Base in 1942

A friend at a Renaissance event.

And we mustn't forget the dog snood. Though looking at this picture, I do ask myself "why?"

I haven't updated all week! I promise I haven't forgotten. This blog has been in the back of my mind for a while now, but everything else keeps pushing to the front before it. :)

I have been crocheting, though. Most of it has been for Etsy. Since joining Etsy, it seems to be eating away my time, with little given in return. Everyone on the site says that summer is a slow time, and that things pick back up in September, but it has been a month and I have only made one sale.

I did, however, receive an amazing request. A girl apparently found my shop and now wants me to make her a crocheted version of a lace mantilla, similar to this:

The idea I have is to make the middle part a simple mesh design, and the edges be complex and lacy. We've exchanged a few messages and she agrees that that is what she wants. I'm waiting to hear back from her on the size and material...so many choices, and all could be so beautiful! I will definitely update when I get started on this project. A lot of it will be testing out patterns, which I find exciting.

Wrist warmers are the item as of late. I should be making felted bags, but instead I am making wrist warmers. The pair I'm working on right now is made from Lorna's Laces, rainbow colored. It was part of the yarn that came with my free batch of Noro. The wrist warmers are beautiful...and nearly finished. I really hope someone buys them on etsy, or else I might be tempted to keep them for myself!

Happy Hooking!