I got some sewing done!

Not the coat yet, but I'm blaming my son for this delay.  He bought Far Cry 5 for me on the Xbox so I've been running round the wilds of Montana shooting Peggies instead of sewing.  It's been fun though!

I have however managed to get my loom heddles threaded with the next project and I've sewn 2 things in the last few days.

This is the early 18th century vest I've made for Dh

 It's silk brocade on the fronts from very deep stash and the back is a silk/wool blend fabric I bought at The Fabric Store here in Christchurch. 15 buttons and buttonholes.  There is a small amount of non HA fabric lining the back as the silk/wool was a bit too stiff to use as lining as well as the outer; there is one layer of that lining the front and another narrow piece behind the button areas since I refused to fully interface the front pieces.

and this is my gorgeous muff.  The inner is separate and made from slightly felted wool coating (a remnant) and stuffed with mohair roving from the stash.  The outer is a goat fur and will look amazing with the dress when I make it as that is a slightly pinky red shade of silk.

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And now back to the studio to do some more sewing and maybe read the book on my warping up the loom as well.

Challenge 4: Gender Bender

The idea with this challenge was to make something either for a member of the opposite sex, or something for yourself that was inspired by clothing for the opposite sex.  An example of that latter would be a riding habit with military inspired trim.   I had originally intended to make myself something, but with George needing the cowboy outfit I decided to make him a vest in the style that was worn in 1870ish.

Leather vest

What the item is:  A lined leather cowboy vest

The Challenge:  Gender Bender

Fabric/Materials:  Leather from stash and a very incorrect piece of polyester for the lining and back

Pattern:  Burda 9812 altered to be more period correct (removing darts for a start)

Year:  Somewhere in the late 1870's to 1880's

Notions:   thread

How historically accurate is it?  From what I've seen the pattern probably isn't far off, George didn't want it to fasten or to have the faux pockets which may mean it's less accurate than it could be.

Hours to complete:  Probably about 6 hours to cut and sew, another 2 to trace and adapt the pattern.

First worn:  Will be worn next weekend at Scout camp along with the chaps I made last week.

Total cost:  The lining fabric is ancient and the leather was the third of a set of 3 skins that cost me around $20, so probably around $10 total?

So that's my next Historical Sew Monthly item finished, the next one is May's holes challenge.

Knitting:

I'm working on my Sock Madness starting pair, needs to be finished by midnight on the 14th (not NZ time, so I have longer) and I'm less than 40 rows off being done at this point, hoping to get close to finished tonight 

The yarn is Vintage Purls in the colours from  my mitts that I finished not that long ago and the pattern is exclusive to Sock Madness at the moment.

Once the socks are finished I'll get the shawl Missandei finished, I'm over halfway through the knitted on border so it shouldn't take long.

See, almost done!

On the recovery front I went backwards slightly due to overdoing things (I don't learn apparently) so have taken some time out from exercise to let things improve again.  I'll start biking again this week, 5k rides for the week and then work up again.

Protection Challenge

What the item is:

A pair of leather chaps for horse riding through the bush like American cowboys wear from the 1870's to 1890's which is when this particular style was popular

The Challenge: Protection.

Fabric/Materials: 2 lambskin skins, real ones would be made from cowhide but lamb is what I had in stash and eldest won't actually be doing rough stuff in them, it's a costume for Scouts camp.

Pattern: drafted by me

Year: 1870 ish.

Notions: Polyester thread

How historically accurate is it?

Hard to know, I had to approximate a pattern from images on the net and I think many were fastened rather than sewn but I couldn't get a good enough look at them so went with sewing.

Hours to complete: Probably about 4 hours

First worn: Will be worn 3rd weekend of this month for the last night at Scout camp, costume is required and the theme is cowboys this time.

Total cost: I think I paid about $20 for the skins on Trademe, they certainly aren't great quality but for the job at hand they did fine.

Tucks and Pleating

The Challenge:  Tucks and Pleating
 
Materials:  An old sheet from Gran's stash, some bobbin lace from stash, some weaving cotton used to make the ties.  I may have to redo the under bust tie, it's not quite long enough despite allowing a heap of extra length!

Pattern: From Janet Arnold's Patterns Of Fashion 1; it's the first Chemisette on the page.

Year: 1810

Notions:  Polyester thread

How historically accurate is it?  The pattern is 100%, I've made some changes though, no mushroom pleats, instead I used lace and pleated that on.  Added some pleats to the neck too, not mentioned in the description, but the pattern looks like they're there and it wouldn't fit the neckband without them.   My fabric I suspect may have some poly content going by how it acted under a hot iron and the lace looks more like crochet than would have been available then so I'd say maybe 60%.  My cords are all hand-braided.

Hours to complete:  I don't know, but it took a couple of weeks from cutting out to being finished due to my procrastination skills.

First worn:  Not yet, I can't wear my corset yet due to the remaining swelly belly from my surgery, it could be up to another 8 months before I can get into it.

Total cost: Everything was from stash, much of it from a very long time ago.  Maybe $10 for the lace as that came from China (I think).

My next project for the Protection challenge is likely to be a pair of leather chaps for my son to wear at Scouts for their next camp; they're supposed to be cowboys and a costume is required.  I can't find a free pattern so I'll be following an approximate tutorial and keeping my fingers crossed.  Chaps have been worn by cowboys since colonial times in the US so it's definitely in keeping.

In other news I've got 2 hoods cut out to add to the boys school raincoats, still can't believe the uniform rainjacket doesn't have a hood!
I've also got a decent amount through the test knit, I'm about halfway through the second to last chart at the moment.

We've put a new fridge on HP, the old one wasn't really big enough and had some issues with bits breaking, it's been bought by a trader and is now gone.

I got this one from Harvey Norman's clearance centre which meant is was quite a bit cheaper as it was an ex display one.

And I've been exercising, either doing housework or riding my bike or walking most days.  I managed 10.2km on the bike yesterday!  Now to stop the sugar, which won't happen while there's a partial tub of Tip Top Hokey Pokey icecream in the new freezer.

Mojo Hat

My new handspun hat, I'm not good at selfies but I like the hat

Feeling better today, doing a fair bit of wandering around the house and have started taking magnesium as I suspect I'm low in that (I'm also taking iron as I know I'm low in that after bloods).  Got the restless leg thing going on which is a sign and also the leg pain could be related.

In other news I'm thinking about next year's Historical Sew Monthly plans

• January –  Procrastination – finish a garment you have been putting off finishing (a UFO or PHD) or make something you have been avoiding starting.
  
  Not sure on this one, I have a KAL to do with a UFO, but it's not really historical.   Might do some research to find out if fingerless mitts were around in the suitably distant past.
  ETA:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knitted-mitten-and-bracelet is proof that they did exist and although my pattern is modern it wouldn't be out of place.
  
  
• February – Tucks & Pleating – make a garment that features tucks and pleating for the shape or decoration
  
  I've got the bits for an 1810's bonnet so I think this might work for thisChange of plan, cos SQUIRREL!  I'm now making a chemisette and the tucks will be in the lace on the neckline


• March – Protection – make something to protect yourself (from weather or injury) or your clothes (from soiling etc.)
  
  I do need an apron for my 1810's dressAnother change, eldest needs a cowboy outfit for his Scout camp, so I'm going to see if I can make him a pair of chaps; they were in use in the 1870's for cowboys so will fit well.
  
  
• April – Gender-Bender – make an item for the opposite gender, or make an item with elements inspired by the fashions of the opposite gender
  
  I'd love to make something for my husband, but don't know that he'd wear it.  Might go with making a military inspired coat for my 1810's outfit instead
• May – Holes – sometimes the spaces between stuff are what makes a garment special.  Make a garment that is about holes, whether it is lace, slashing, eyelets, etc.
  
  Hmm, another hard one, might go back to the 18th century for this and start my 1745 outfit based on the Outlander series
• June – Travel – make a garment for travelling, or inspired by travel.
  
  I really want to make a tartan skirt for 18th century, I think this would be a good practical travel skirt too.
• July – Monochrome – make a garment in black, white, or any shade of grey in between.
  
  My socks for 18th century in grey Perendale handspun.
• August – Pattern – make something in pattern, the bolder and wilder the better.
  
  Will have to investigate the stash before making a decision, or the fallback would be mitts or a pocket with embroidery in the Oriental style.
• September – Historicism – Make a historical garment that was itself inspired by the fashions of another historical period.
  
  Will have to think about this one.
• October – Heroes – Make a garment inspired by your historical hero, or your historical costuming hero.
  
  Something else for the 1745 Outlander outfit
• November – Red – Make something in any shade of red.
  
  This is easy, I have (hopefully) enough boiled wool to make an 18th century hooded cape, this will also cross over to my 1810's outfit.
• December – Special Occasion: make something for a special event or a specific occasion, or that would have been worn to special event of specific occasion historically.
  
  1775 red silk Robe d'Anglaise, I have the fabric and the pattern (Larkin)