Ladies' Coifs

These coifs display a cross-section of the wide variety of embroidery techniques popular at the end of the 16th century.

Blackwork embroidery was used in many forms on a variety of different garments. This gallery is intended to assist costumers in looking at ways of incorporat ing blackwork embroidery into Renaissanc e-era costume. Links to portraits and to examples in museums.

Comparing the sizes of 16th century coifs.

A selection of late 16th and early 17th century women's coifs on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

In defining the basic components of French Hoods, I have attempted to use standard terms, beginning at the innermost layer, which would lie directly over the wearer&#39 ; ;s hair, and working outward. Variations in the number of layers and constructi on methods are evident throughout the historical record, but for the most part are fairly consistent .

The basic Elizabethan (16th-early 17th Century) coif pattern is pretty simple, but there are differing opinions on how the coif was worn.

Pattern and instructions for making a simple coif.