2019 Projects Outlook

Alrighty, here we are; into another new year- A MONTH AND A HALF INTO ANOTHER ONE. It’s so bright and shiny and entices one to make new goals for themselves. These goals don’t always stick (as you saw from my last post) but honestly, it’s goals like these that keep me going. Also, I’m a huge “list person”- so we might as well document all this and see how we do:

Over-arching Goals
Finish “Must Do List”
Focus on Stash Busting
Go to Costume College
Host fun events in Ohio
Do more Historical Sew Monthly Challenges.

Let’s look at the year:

January

**HSF CHALLENGE: “Dressed to the 9’s”
For this I’m entering in my new Silk Mantle: based on sketches and fashion prints from 1778 & 1779
**Prepare for Mini Market
**Black Wool 1770s Gown
EVENTs: JASNA Dayton Twelfthnight Ball – Jan 12 Event postponed to March!

February

**HSF CHALLENGE: Linen- I may make a new pair of stays out of linen for this one
**Orange Silk Pet en L’air– At least get a start on it!
**Linen Gardening Smock- Modern sewing, but I really need one, so I’ll do it on my birthday!

I’m so excited about this…

EVENTS: Mini Market – Feb 2

March

**HSF CHALLENGE: Sewing Kit– I really need an 18th century “huswife” or sewing kit in general so I might put that together for myself
**Finish Orange Silk Pet en l’Air
**18th Century Toddler Stays

EVENTS:
Postponed JASNA Dayton Twelfth Night Ball, March 9
18th Century Fancy Dinner- March 30 (Tickets on sale until 2/20!!!! GET THEM SOON!)

April:

**HSF CHALLENGE: “Upping Your Game”-
For this challenge I think I’m going to start my venture into Edwardian clothing- It’ll probably have something to do with lace insertion. HOWEVER- this may change

**Finish Trim on Silk Ikat Saque Back Gown

May:

**HSF CHALLENGE: Florals
I plan to tambour embroider/reproduce a version of a sleeveless spencer [allegedly] belonging to Josephine Bonaparte!

**White and Gold 1802 Dress
**Finish Green Corded Bonnet

June

**HSF CHALLENGE: Favorite Technique
This is going to be a hard one to decide on… totally not sure yet
**Navy Charmeuse 1920’s Dress Repro from The Southeast Ohio History Center Collections

July

**HSF CHALLENGE: Unexpected
I desperately want to make an 1880’s Maternity Corset

Maternity and Nursing Corset from Kelvington Grove

EVENTS:
Jane Austen Festival- July 12-14 (I’ll be teaching classes again! Yay!)
Costume College- July 25-29

August

**HSF CHALLENGE: Out of a Portrait
There are a LOT to choose from. Oy. I might do something for Anne, like an Edwardian children’s dress? I don’t know. This one is almost too broad for me-HA!
**Edwardian Ensemble for September Luncheon

September

**HSF CHALLENGE: Everyday
18th Century Quilted Petticoat- I didn’t get around to this one this year but I’d really like to get working on it!
**18th Century Kid’s Market Bonnet
EVENTS:
Fair at New Boston- Labor Day Weekend
Edwardian Croquet Luncheon (More Details to come!

October

**HSF CHALLENGE: Details- another not sure yet- I might focus my energies on the little details of 1830’s Children’s clothes
**1830’s Men’s Coat
EVENTS:
Schoenbrunn Village Market Fair- Date TBD
Locust Grove 18th Century Market Fair- October 26-27

November
**HSF CHALLENGE: Above the Belt
I’ll likely enter an 1830’s Bonnet or wired cap in preparation for the Dicken’s Village!
**1836 Gown

December

**HSF CHALLENGE: On a Shoestring
For this one I might do an up-cycle project that’s been languishing in my rip-apart box. Not sure what it’ll be though.
**Christmas Presents CRAM
EVENTS: 
Ohio History Connection Dickens Village

 

Are there any events I should know about and add to my list? It seems a little bare to me…

2018 “In Review”

Geesh! This year has proven to me that I’m not in control of time (or anything for that matter) in any way. I can’t believe the year is almost over… there were so many things that I had intended/scheduled to make but absolutely did not. I don’t know about anyone else, but this year kicked my butt. In terms of “upping my game”- in terms of quality events- in terms of meeting new people- in terms of turning my life upside down. It was a lot to cram in there.

Surprisingly, I’m alive. *CHECK*

This year, I had made a “resolution” to follow the “Must Do List” and to keep up with the Historical Sew Monthly. That went well for about 4 months. Then I tanked HARD. Moving really disrupted everything. I mean, my husband’s job was terminated at the beginning of January, so it’s been an entire year of upheaval- now that I look back on it. We’re finally getting into a “groove” in our new little town and I’m so excited to have some stability. I have an awesome friend who watches Anne once a week so I can get a solid day’s work in and the commission waitlist is getting smaller for Virgil’s Fine Goods. I know that once I get to where I feel I have a handle on things it’ll all go topsy-turvy but for now I’ll enjoy the little bit of routine we’ve got goin’ on.

Anyway, back to this year…. How did I do? On a scale of 1-10 (10 being best) I would say I fall around 4 or 5. I kept up with work stuff but personal projects didn’t go as planned in any way… If I were being graded at school, I would qualify it all as a D, but I’m getting close to 30 so I don’t even know why I would think in terms of that….

I still haven’t made my birthday apron yet- adlkfjahkdljahfdh- but I guess that’s the trade-off when I want to garden, do canning and craftting while having a kid under 2. It’s going to happen next year though. IT MUST.

The Must-Do List (2017) Progress

Finish Yellow 19th Century Ball Gown– Now I need to blog about it
Add more trim to Green Check 19th Century Gown
Finish Regency Stays- Busk Pocket, add real straps
Add Buttons to Black Regency Gown
Fasten Straps to Regency Petticoat
Re-Make Wool 18th Century Petticoat
Trim White 18th Century Petticoat–
Trim Pierrot Jacket– Now I need to blog about it
Hem Ian’s 19th Century Shirt

Wellllllll that’s not great. BUT I did make some fun things this year:

Finished Personal Projects:

(a lot of these will get their own blog post soon, I just have such a hard time getting nice photos to use!)

The 1908 Purple Dress
1908 Corset
1810 Yellow Silk Evening Gown
1760s-1770s Small Hoop
1760s-1770s Chine Saque Gown
Anne’s 18th century kit (cloak, mitts, gown, cap)
Anne’s 19th century dresses (3 dresses and corded cap)
1800-1805 White Ikat Crossover Gown
1787 Silk Cap
1810 Trimmed Straw Bonnet
1919 Christmas Dress for Anne
Late-1770s Linen Dress for Felicity

Unfinished Personal Projects (These will be added to next year’s “Must-Do” List)

1805 French Blue Bonnet- I just need to hem the ties!
1800 Green Corded Bonnet Repro- Add brim and trim
Felicity’s Rose Garden Dress Redo

All in all it was an alright year for historical clothing but next year is gonna be wayyyyyy better!

 

All The Purple Wool…

It’s everywhere. In my thoughts before bed. In my mind when I wake up. On my computer screen. When I talk to my mom. On my cutting table. On my dress form.

AHHHH!!! I can’t escape!

The title of this post should really be “1908 Gown Progress: Post 1” but I thought that was too boring. This week I did a pattern draft, mockup, and fitting for the gown I’m making my mom. The dress has to be finished by Jan 26th so I’m wasting no time working on it.

Secession portrait, around 1905. The portrayed: Bezdek Teréz. Photographer: Bergtraun Dezső. Losonc, Vasuti utca 10. Hungary (Today Slovakia, Lučenec)

The fabric was cut last night and will be hanging out” on the form for a couple days since most of the pattern is on the bias (at least that was the only way I could figure out how to drape it!) For your information: 5yards x60″ is juuuuussst the right amount for a princess line Edwardian gown IF you’re less than 5’4″…..the more you know!

The next step of this will be to sew up the gown, let it hang again, alter if needed then add the fancy bits- I’m doing my own decorative pattern since I suspect a lot of those motifs are relevant to something that I’m unaware of. My mom chose this lovely lilac soutache to go with the purple wool and I can’t wait to do up the design.

This gown has a few techniques I’ve never used before:
Bias.
Soutache Braid.
Reinforced seams.
Super fitted.
A design I did not choose.
^^^ All of these could be my undoing. Wish me luck!

In other news, when y’all are looking at my instagram and see this:

This is also happening on the sidelines.

Don’t worry, she loves it in there.

Our house is slowly being taken over by large baby-related things! AHHH!

(nearly) Finished 1780 Stays!

Rouge-y

Well people, I’ve done it. I finished these puppies in just over 2 weeks (nevermind the extra week to blog about it)and way early for the Historical Sew Fortnightly Challenge #12 (Due July 1st!) Handsewing everything is definitely way more time consuming, but they’re done! They fit perfectly and feel very secure. I’ve not lined them, as it’s not necessary and since I’m on short time.

Here are the specs in Historical Sew Fortnightly fashion:

The Challenge: (early entry) #12 Shape and Support

Fabric: Red Worsted Wool, Linen Canvas, Linen, Leather

Pattern: Altered from Jill Salen, Corsets, 1780 Brown Linen Stays (p.15)

Year: 1780

Notions: Linen Thread, Leather binding, Cane/reed boning, steel boning (for laces)

How historically accurate is it? Everything is accurate, except for the steels I put in the CB. Garment is entirely hand stitched. Because of tight lacing I didn’t want the cane to break, steel is safer.

Hours to complete: around 65 hours

First worn: Will be worn for the Italian Gown Workshop in late June.

Total cost: $55, all items purchased specifically for project   

Overall, I’m happy with the result, there are just tweaky things I’ll have to change for the next pair. There was some widging around which has turned the stays slightly askew when I put them on. Also, white stitching isn’t forgiving. BUT They do their job and pull my waist to a comfortable measurement (24.5ish)

 

When I’ve not eaten so much for dinner, these should close up all the way….

Working on a Tight Schedule

I’m so excited about this summer! I have so many things going on and work (Habitat for Humanity) is going great!

One of the most recent additions to my already busy summer is the Italian Gown Workshop put on by Burnley and Trowbridge! I’m lucky enough to have great friends who can pick me up on the way and we’ll have a splendid time. Well, since we’ll be in Colonial Williamsburg and I’ll be attending a clothing-making-workshop, I have to make some actually accurate garments…

The kicker is, it’s only 5 weeks away. And I need:

1 Pair of Stays (mine are falling apart)
1 Shift
1 Under petticoat
1 Petticoat
1 Bedgown
1 Hat
1 Cap
1 Neckerchief
1 bumroll
….and I’d like a new jacket…

Even RDJ agrees!

Geesh! That’s a lot!