Wednesday, February 26, 2014

February update

It has been almost a month since I posted last. College has kept me very busy and I haven't found much time for sewing lately. As you may remember, in January I posted a list of things I hoped to get done over the year. It took me until February, but I finished something on the list:

Another flannel petticoat!
 I don't care for hemming, so instead I scalloped the bottom edge of it. I have no idea if that was a period correct way for finishing period undergarment hems or not, but no one will see it anyways. ;)

Another project I've been working on lately (also not on my list) is a skirt for modern wear.


I have found that in our cold winter this year, a skirt and four petticoats will keep you even warmer than a pair of pants will. In reality, the skirt is a shade or two darker than in the picture. This skirt is paused at the hemming stage.

In January, I also finished a good portion of a new pair of split drawers for reenacting. 


There are three pairs of tucks on the legs - two decorative and one functional. I need to look up how to hand stitch buttonholes because the waistband on them is thick and I don't want to risk damaging my machine. Plus, I would just like to learn. 

Recently, I purchased a new dress! It has short sleeves, with detachable long sleeves. I'm planning on first wearing it to the Kalamazoo Living History show in March.


The second picture better shows the color of it. It has mother of pearl buttons down the front which are non-functional, a hook and eye closure and cute little puff sleeves! I'm excited to wear it.

That's about all that's new with me. While college has kept me busy, I am finding it interesting. One of the required books to read is Copper Country Journal, by Henry Hobart, a schoolteacher in Michigan's Upper Peninsula during the Civil War. While he doesn't talk overly about events happening in the war, it's a good look at life then. I highly recommend it.

I hope you are all well. Is anyone planning on going to the Living History show in Kalamazoo, March 15th and 16th?