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historical costume projects & resources

Winter Break Is Upon Us

Which means it’s time for the sewing room to get cleaned and used!  I’ve been knitting a lot lately — it’s cold and I’m lazy, and knitting requires no getting up off the couch.  I’ve finished one mitt, from a very modern pattern, that will be used for 18th century, but now that I have almost two weeks off, I need to get more ambitious.

My early 2010 docket looks like this:

A medieval and/or Pre-Raphaelite dress, for a Pre-Raphaelite event.  I’m torn between doing something very historically accurate so that I can use it for SCA purposes, or going all Waterhouse-y because hey, no one’s going to kick me out of an SCA event for not being historically accurate!  I have some silk damask drapery sheer fabric (it’s weird, you can’t tell that it’s sheer until you hold it up to the light) that I’m thinking I’ll use, lined with linen.  I’m going to hire Sarah to drape the dress on me because it needs to be draped on the body, and my arms aren’t that long.

A man’s Elizabethan outfit — shirt, trunkhose & canions, doublet, and hat.  Sit down for this one – my husband is going to get gussied up for a 16th century event!  Oh, and HE chose the puffy pants option over Venetians!  Color me shocked! I’ve ordered the Tudor Tailor pattern as hello, boy clothes are not my forte, but until it shows up I can’t do much except for the shirt.

Those are the two things I NEED to make before May, and is probably more than enough!  So I won’t continue to ponder new 16th century and 18th century outfits for myself.  I am debating whether I want to make a machine-made version of my new 18th century stays, as the handsewn-outfit-from-hell Maja project is going to get pushed back to summer/fall.  I did start hand sewing a new 18th century shift, then realized halfway through that it was ridiculous to hand sew a new shift when I desperately need one NOW, and it will get a lot of heavy wear & machine washing.  So I finished it on the machine!  I’ll make the handsewn one once the Maja dress is actually made.

8 thoughts on “Winter Break Is Upon Us

  1. Trystan – well, there’s other stuff I’d LIKE to make, it’s just that that is the HAVE to make list!

  2. I was pondering my to-do list the entire drive from San Jose to Sacramento this morning. I’ve got an 18th c. banyan for Francis which is my only OMG-I-HAVE-TO-SEW-IT-IF-I-WANT-NEW-18TH-CENTURY-SHOES project (we have an agreement that neither one of us does sewing for the other without a fair trade). But I also want a new 16th c. gown because all of current ones are too heavy, and maybe finish my cross-over-bodice for the 18th c. thing, and a Turkish outfit for lounging… AAAAAHHHHH!

  3. Sarah – oh god, don’t get me started on the what-I-WANT-to-sew list!!! I totally want a new 16th c. gown — something English. And of course something new that’s 18th century — I think the red & white chintz polonaise. But I’m going to try to be good and cross off the have-to-sew list first!

  4. I have no motivation! I’m trying to force myself to sew, but it’s not exactly happening. I mean, how am I supposed to keep myself in the style to which I’m accustomed if I can’t make myself sew? ARGH!

  5. Word. I just wrapped presents, and now am beat. So much for sewing tonight! Sarah – if you need forced motivation and want to trek, you’re welcome to come over and I’ll put an awl to your head!

  6. To do lists!!!

    Eek – mine just constantly gets longer.

    There are going to be WAY more Victorian’s on my list than I expected. Certainly an 18th century Francaise (curse you for bringing me to the dark side!!! – Not that I really mind at all!).

    I also have to finish my sister’s medieval, make my Mum’s medieval, would like to make a new medieval for me plus finish the sideless surcoat and also need to make a regency ensemble for my sister (at least I get pretty jewellery for those!!).

    Plus a new Tudor and I hope my Edwardian walking gown that has been planned for what feels like centuries.

    Waterhouse-y medieval would be SOOOOO pretty. MUST show you the DVD I have of Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shallot”.

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