Cording a Corset

Since my last entry, I've definitely neglected my plan to blog more often. I think grandiose plans are often easier said than done. Regardless, this lack of blogging has meant more productivity in terms of sewing (as well as lots of time going to work). In my recent sewing endeavor, I managed to crank out the remainder of one of my many UFOs (unfinished objects) or as I like to call them, UFPs (unfinished projects).

This particular project started back in the fall of 2012, when I made the decision to sew a complete regency outfit for my graduation ceremony in the spring of 2014. I figured that I would complete it a year ahead of time and be super organized. Long story short, I purchased the fabric, got it all cut out and marked, and then got lost in other projects that were less daunting. I think it was also forgotten at home when I moved to Michigan for 6 months after college graduation. When I moved back to Massachusetts, I eventually came to the conclusion that I wanted to volunteer in August at Old Sturbridge Village's Textile Weekend, thus making this a perfect project to complete and wear.

Make it Blue!

After quite a bit of finagling, I finally completed the first of my many projects for the Battle Road reenactment I plan on attending in April (I still have too many to go!). This project was chosen completely out of a need for certain things for a reenacting kit, but I later realized it would fit in well with the Historical Sew Monthly's challenges for the year.

Now on to the specifics:

Summer of 1774

Within the last couple of months (okay, maybe the last year), I've made headway on a number of new projects, and like most sewers, the majority of them are half finished. The majority of these projects stemmed from my work this past summer as a historical interpreter at 1770's fort in northern Michigan. Over those six months, I "lived" as a 1770s british woman, dressing in the appropriate clothing and answering visitors questions, all while cooking over a hearth or working in the gardens. With the need for appropriate clothing 5 days a week (with most of the supplied options not well fitting to my petite frame), I made the decision to make a jacket of my own that I could wear at work, as well as bring home with me to Massachusetts for future reenactments.

To make the jacket, I borrowed the forts copy of JP Ryan's 18th century jacket pattern

and ordered 2 yards of historically correct fabric from Williamsburg (which ended up taking nearly a month to reach me since Williamsburg doesn't ship to PO boxes...). What I later realized was that this particular fabric was printed from a jacket that they have in their collection.

For those of you that know me, you'll realize that decisions are not my strong suit, but I really love this fabric. Two yards ended up being just enough fabric to make a jacket with a shorter peplum, not following the cutting layout in the pattern. With the leftover, I made a simple pinked trim for the neckline. 

Not my favorite photo, but one of the few I have 

an action shot a photographer took one of the days I was tying lavender sachets

With this jacket (and the petticoat, cap, and kerchiefs I made this summer), I'm hoping to get involved with some local reenacting groups and attend Battle Road (or the reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord) this spring. I have a couple more projects in the works for April, so keep your eyes peeled! 

There and back again

I realize it's been nearly 3 years since this blog has been updated, but there's this thing called college that gets in the way of blogging and time for myself. But since 2012, I have graduated and am back on my feet with a reasonably steady post-grad job (I work at a toy store which has its perks), plus I have time for more projects. Since my last post, my sewing skills have gotten much stronger and I've completed a whole bunch of projects. I'm also in the middle of a pretty cool (small) project which I'll post soon, but in the meantime I'll post some photos of my older projects below the cut.