Follow this blog with bloglovin

Follow on Bloglovin

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Historical Sew Monthly January Finished Item

The Challenge: Mend, Reshape, Refashion
Material: Silk crepe with a peached finish
Pattern: Mrs DePew #2023; 
Year: 1930's tap pants
Notions: Thread and hooks and eyes
How historically accurate is it? 95%; the fabric is probably good, the beads are glass so ok too, and the pattern is a reprint of an original, only the thread is polyester and I machine sewed everything.
Hours to complete: 6?
First worn: Only tried on so far
Total cost: All recycled so nothing really.

I made a 1920's 1 hour dress a couple of years ago and I've never worn it, but I loved the beading I did on it so wanted to repurpose it. This required me to seam the fabric back together to make one cohesive piece, but it's worked and I'm much happier with the new item of clothing; this will actually get worn (when it's not 30 degrees celcius though)


See, it's a sack; lovely fabric, great embellishment, but still a sack

Worn over shorts here, too hot to try on otherwise; I'm much happier with this finished item, it may even possibly be flattering!

and a closer view of the actual construction; that seam on the left is where I pieced the fabric back together before cutting out the bias front.
 In other news I've been gardening, transplanting a swan plant or three into the garden since it had outgrown its pot.
being very careful not to disturb its occupant.
I've been knitting, I'm now on the border for my shrug, and have only had to undo part of one row.  This proves to me my brain is still not quite right from surgery yet, but it's getting better!
Just before starting the border
And I've finished my mat for the studio!  
Really, really happy with this; it's just the right size and all my best colours.
So I've now done sewing, knitting and weaving since surgery, just have to do some spinning now and get the other loom fully set up. I can use it as is, but I want to sort its tendency to spew too much warp at me when I release the brake.  I could just get up and release it from the side, but I want to be able to do it from the front and I will not be beaten by a bunch of wood and metal!

Sunday, January 07, 2018

Plans for the year

I've got a number of plans.  There are knits I want to make, weaving I want to do and sewing as well.

On the knitting side I have some cardigans I want to make as I currently only have jerseys and I love me a good cardigan.  I already have Dew Point on the needles in black and Fox Crossing, though the latter needs my brain to be working properly to work out their short rows which currently make no sense to me at all.  I may have to change the technique used to something else once my brain has come back.
I am also planning a Timely, a Penrith and a Wrap Cardigan (I have the kit for the latter, bought by my beloved some years back).

On weaving I'm currently working on a floor rug on the 4-shaft loom which will go  on the studio floor and likely be the final piece on that loom before I sell her on.  I also need to make something on the 8-shaft before I sell the other one to make sure she will do what I want.  There's still some more work to do on the 8-shaft before she's completely ready for the next project but I have high hopes that she'll be exactly what I need after that is done.  That project will likely be a table runner using a cotton/linen blend I picked up from Colourmart.

On the sewing front there will be another dress like my Christmas one, sans waist ties as well as a top from the same pattern since it fit me so well.  More undies, more clothes for the kids and all going well some historical costuming too.  My middle is feeling better so I think it's time to revisit that.

So, I now need to decide what projects I'll do to fit in with the Historical Sew Monthly (this is a closed group on Facebook). 

January: Mend, Reshape, Refashion: Mend or re-shape one of your previously made historical clothing items, or refashion a new one out of something not originally intended as sewing fabric.

I'm thinking for this I might make a suitable 18th century cap from one of the old sheets in my stash; now that my hair is short I have to disguise it somehow.

Feb: Under: Make something that goes under the other layers.

Just had a thought on this one, a bum pad to go under the skirt so I have an earlier shape for my 18th century gear.

March: Comfort at Home: Make something to wear around the (historical) house.

For this I think I'll make a more casual 18th century skirt; think Outlander style for wear when working in the dispensary rather than going to a ball.

April: Buttons and Fastenings: Create an item where the closures are the star of the show.

I wonder if I have time to make a stomacher; these are highly embroidered and you pin your gown to them over the stays.

May: Specific to a Time [of Day or Year]: Historically, some garments were worn year round, and for a range of events. Others were exclusively for certain times of year, or specific times of day. Make one of the latter.

Might be time to make the fur muff I bought 2 goat skins for a few years ago; I have the stuff and it's winter by then.

June: Rebellion and Counter-Culture: Create an item that pays homage to fashion rebels and clothes that flaunt their place on the fringes of standard sartorial society, or that was signature to a rebelling cause.

This requires some research, I'm thinking something that might support the Jacobean cause before Culloden, maybe something with tartan cloth.

July: Sleeves: There are some amazing examples of historical sleeves styles out there. Put the focus on the arms and shoulders in your creation for this challenge.

Time for a ballgown?  I've got the American Duchess pattern coming.

August: Extant Originals: Copy an extant historical garment as closely as possible.

Not sure on this, might have to peruse Pinterest

September: Hands and Feet: Create a fabulous accessory for your hands or feet.

Linen mitts, embroidery a must.

October: Fabric Manipulation: Take fabric to the next level with any kind of historical embellishment or manipulation: smocking, shirring, embroidering, beading, pinking, ruching, printing, painting, dyeing etc.

Pinking was all the rage for trims in the 18th century, just got to decide what to make

November: Purses and Bags: You’ve got your arms covered in July, your hands in September, now make something amazing to dangle from them.

A pocket?  Normally in the 18th century women didn't carry bags or purses, but they used pockets inside their dresses instead; these could also be embroidered.

December: Neglected Challenge: Was there a challenge this year (or, if you’ve been doing the HSM for a while, in a previous year) you missed? Or didn’t create quite what you’d wanted for? This is your chance to make it up!

I have a hankering for a Bergere (sp?), have to find a suitable straw hat to turn into one though.

Being realistic of course I won't get all of these done, but even if I make a start and get a dress/outfit that fits then I'll be happy.

Monday, January 01, 2018

New Years Resolutions?

Not as such.  I'm feeling much better now so my plan for the new year involves movement, good food and creativity.  Today as an example involved woodworking on the loom which was movement and creativity and dinner included beans, zucchini and peas from our garden.

I'm planning more weaving, first project is on the outside loom (sort of), waiting for some yarn to arrive for the inside loom, but it is coming from the UK and of course has to fight upstream for the holiday mail season. 

There will be knitting too, and reading and some Xbox with Dh.  I'm also planning on going back to the eighteenth century.  I suspect I may need a new set of undergarments since I'm going earlier in the century and since I've lost weight, I'm hoping not as I love the stays I already have and the shape should work for 1745 as well.  I guess we'll have to wait and see.  I have the Outlander pattern from Simplicity and I love the idea of a more casual or work-friendly outfit.

On the knitting front I've got started on a Dew Point in black Bohemia Sport yarn by Outlaw Yarn since my brain isn't up to the version of short rows used in the cardigan I was working on; once it is up to it I think I'll change the short rows to the ones I normally use.

Current sock project

Dew Point and yarn

An out-take from a very windy Christmas day; me wearing my new dress

Blog Archive