Hair Handkerchiefs

I have read stories in period magazines where ladies would cover their hair with old silk handkerchiefs while they were cleaning the house. I had not given much thought to it until my daughter wanted to do the same. That is, wear a handkerchief on her hair, not clean the house. Here is an example of a working class/rural girl with a handkerchief on her head. She is sitting by water with a little boy who is fishing. They have a picnic basket with them.

Woodcut entitled The Fishing Party from Godey's 1858