The plaits are sewed partly by hand and in a special sewing-machine, and the hats or bonnets are finished by stiffening with gelatin size and blocking into shape with the aid of heat and powerful pressure, according to the dictates of fashion.
Many substances besides straw are worked into plaits and braids for bonnets.
This is compared with an alternative approach using diamond abrasives bound onto flexible carriers attached to the bonnets.
The men and boys were given black woolen hats and the women and girls coarse straw bonnets " .
In the summer they had white tippets and cottage bonnets with brown ribbon across and tied under the chin.