At the end of 2008 I posted my to-do list for stuff that needed to get done for 2009. I thought now would be as good a time as any to check in, see how I’m doing on my list.
Here is the original list, with my updated comments below each line:
· Sew a hunting frock for Kris
This never happened, I started one, got bored of it and ended up buying Kris one from Townsend. At least he has one now!
· Sew 2 new shirts for Kris, one with white linen and the other with green check fabric
Ummm yeah …. not so much on this one, guess it will be on my 2010 list.
· Change the ties on my red skirt to Dutch Linen Tape
Yay! One down! I did complete this one!
· Sew a new skirt with Green fabric
I am not going to do this one, I ended up not liking the fabric, so I am removing it from my to-do list.
· Sew a new skirt for myself with some beautiful wool I found
Yup, still need to do this …. hmmm good in-camp project ….
· Sew a new apron with Green fabric
Not going to do this one either, it was the same green fabric as the skirt, and I’m just not feeling it. Though I do need a new apron, so I will do this, just with a different fabric choice.
· Sew another new skirt with Silk fabric I found on sale
This has been put on the back burner, I have no need for a fancy dress right now, so I probably won’t get to this until after next year’s season.
· Buy a Robe D’Anglais Pattern
I ended up taking a gown making class, so I have no need for this anymore.
· Sew a Robe D’Anglais with a simple linen fabric (need to buy)
This is done from the class I took, well I need to finish a few things on it, but it’s pretty much complete.
· Sew a Robe D’Anglais with Green silk fabric (need to buy)
This is the same as the silk skirt, I will do this after next year, though I missed out on the green silk, so I will need to find something new.
· Finish decorating straw hat
Done!! Yay!
· Sew a special camera bag for Kris
Ooops, Kris is still asking for this.
· Attach the buttons to Kris’ long Gaiters
Probably not going to happen ….. sorry Kris …..
· Sew 3 new shirts for Kolby
I ended up having enough shirts, so no need to do this this year, but most likely I will need to next year.
· Sew a wool shirt for Kolby
The old one still fit this year, so I didn’t have to do a new one.
· Sew (or have made, cause I’m not sure I can sew them) 3 pants for Kolby
Again, I ended up with enough, so no need to do this, I probably won’t have to do this next year either, it looks like I will still have enough.
Well it looks like I get a big huge fail for RevWar housewife of the year!! I only completed 2.5 things on my list. Oh well, there’s always next year right??
Posted 2 years, 6 months ago. 1 comment
So my second season of reenacting has come to a close. It was an incredible year, yet it was not without it’s ups (the awesome view of the Hubbardton Battlefield from our camp) and downs (gas prices … need I say more?). Overall it was an exciting summer and we had some really great events that we attended. I am pumped for the coming season, but also a little overwhelmed with the projects I have lined up. I think I would give just about anything to be the wife of a businessman in the 18th century (I’m thinking my husband would print and bind books, did they make a lot of money?) and all I had to do all day was chat with friends, and work on projects. But then again, if that were really me, that would mean I would be forced to live without running water as we know it today. And really who wants to carry water around the house in buckets? Not me. Of course if we were rich, maybe I could have a maid to do that for me … ah a girl can dream.
As it stands, my husband is not a wealthy merchant and I cannot stay home all day and work on projects. I guess that’s what I get for wanting my running water. So I am going to make a list of all the projects I have in mind here. And as I work on them, I will put up a post marking my progress. Hopefully this will force me to become accountable for all the things I have to do!
These will be completed in no particular order:
· Sew a hunting frock for Kris
· Sew 2 new shirts for Kris, one with white linen and the other with green check fabric
· Change the ties on my red skirt to Dutch Linen Tape
· Sew a new skirt with Green fabric
· Sew a new skirt for myself with some beautiful wool I found
· Sew a new apron with Green fabric
· Sew another new skirt with Silk fabric I found on sale
· Buy a Robe D’Anglais Pattern
· Sew a Robe D’Anglais with a simple linen fabric (need to buy)
· Sew a Robe D’Anglais with Green silk fabric (need to buy)
· Finish decorating straw hat
· Sew a special camera bag for Kris
· Attach the buttons to Kris’ long Gaiters
· Sew 3 new shirts for Kolby
· Sew a wool shirt for Kolby
· Sew (or have made, cause I’m not sure I can sew them) 3 pants for Kolby
Whew that’s a lot of projects!! I guess I have my work cut out for me! Most likely I won’t get through all of these before next year, but some of them, like Kolby’s clothes need to be done or else I may need to change his persona to a wild Indian child we found and adopted on our travels. Then I could just stick him in a loin cloth and call it a day … hmmm … that may not be such a bad idea!
In addition to the things I need to make. I also have a few things I need to buy. Luckily this list is not nearly as long.
· New shoes for Kolby
· New socks for me and Kolby
· New shoes for me
· Linen for Robe D’Anglais
· Green silk for Robe D’Anglais
· Dutch Linen Tape
Wow! That list is really short! That’s a very good thing. Well I better not stick around here too long; I have some projects calling my name!! I am already almost done with Kris’ hunting frock, so I will get that post and some pictures up for you shortly (ya know, in my spare time).
Posted 3 years, 3 months ago. Add a comment
I kind of skimmed over children’s clothes in this blog because frankly I haven’t had to do too much with that. I was lucky enough to have gotten clothes from other people in the regiment that had been used by their kids. But here is a great article written by Karen from my regiment. She wrote it in 1995 for the continental line, but the information contained is still very useful.
Greetings to the column! This article is focusing on the smallest clothes in the hobby: children’s garments.
I recently have received several compliments on the authenticity of my children’s re-enactment clothing. It seems that in the “hobby.” kids are the last ones to be dressed correctly. (OK, so there are a few holdouts from the grand and glorious Bicentennial Days.) The reasons are usually that, 1. “they grow too fast anyway” and 2. “there are no good sources for children’s clothes.”
In defense of the majority of sutlers, let’s face it. Reason number one prevents most parents from spending very much on kids clothes and so, it may no seem like a lucrative business. And on the other end, moms and dads who work full time are not looking forward to endless hours of sewing. (By the way, keeping house and raising children IS full time work.)
Here are a few suggestions for getting more mileage out of those clothes.
1. In the eighteenth century, girl and boy babies were dressed alike. Open shirts, gowns, and caps (even with lace!) can be shared by brothers and sisters. (We did it.)
2. Toddlers should still be wearing dresses or frock coats. Skirts and breeches just don’t stay on!
3. Boys being “breeched” doesn’t have to be taken literally. A few sizes larger “breeches” can be used like overalls. You can leave the legs plain and finish them later as the child grows. A larger waist gusset that allows you to pull it in a little more can work wonders.
4. Girls can wear those great dresses with extra pleats in the back and hem to be let out later. (See Tidings from the 18th Century by Beth Gilgun.) Also, adding ruffles to the sleeves can stretch it out. Lacing can naturally be let out to accommodate growth, or you can use a bigger overlap with hooks and eyes and just move them out later.
5. Shirts and shifts are supposed to be roomy. Don’t skimp on the material!
6. It may sound obvious, but share kids clothes within your unit, or look for someone else who might need your kids’ outgrown outfits.
There is some really good information there!! We want our kids to look authentic, but we don’t want to have to be spending money every year for them. Last year I found a really good sale on shoes at Wal-Mart that would work fine for Kolby, and I bought his size at the time and one size up so I could use them for 2 years. I just bought soccer socks for him, and we got him a simple hat (though he needs a new one this year!). So keep the kids as authentic as possible, but also use a few of these tricks to also keep it cheap.
Here is another good link that discusses children’s clothing:
http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/children.htm
Believe me yours faithfully,
Rachel
Posted 3 years, 10 months ago. Add a comment
