Completed: Folkwear 209 Walking Skirt/HSM Oct. ’22

Happy December! It is that time of year, time for Victorian Stroll! After missing several years because of Covid and being away at school I was determined to go, which meant I would need a new outfit because I no longer had access to the pieces I used for my crinoline era look (nor the…

Completed: Folkwear 203 Edwardian Petticoat/HSM Dec. ’22

The December Historical Sew Monthly Challenge theme was "New Era" and while I've sewn some late Victorian/Early Edwardian costumes before they were always for the theater, not for myself. It is exciting to expand my historical wardrobe into a new time period, especially one that I have loved ever since I was very young. Photo…

WIP: Edwardian Underthings

I have been working steadily on my Edwardian undergarments from Folkwear 203. Since starting it I added a bustle pad to my To Sew for Victorian Stroll list. I looked at several pattern and went with the one from Black Snail because it has size option, and uses batting instead of stuffing which I already…

HSM Sep/Dec ’22: Folkwear 203 Edwardian Underthings

Photo by author. I have had this copy of Folkwear 203, which is the original early 1980s print run, for years and years. I pulled it out a few weeks ago because I need it for my outfit I am working on the annual Victorian Stroll. I had originally planned to do a bustle era…

Completed: Laughing Moon 115 Chemise/HSM May ’22

For the May Historical Sew Monthly challenge the theme was "Protection." I decided to tackle this theme literally and make a new chemise (mostly because I really needed a new one and it was the only challenge that seemed to fit when I made up my list!) Chemises/shifts protected the body from chafing from the…

Completed: Black Snail 0119 Regency Gown for HSM June ’22

Photo by author. June Challenge Theme "At the Museum: Be inspired by the items and research available in museums and archives." Fabric from extant gown. Image from Augusta Auctions. My object of inspiration was the textile in this gown, which was previously part of the Suddon-Cleaver Costume Collection. Below you can see the gown in…

HSM July ’22: Regency Bodiced Petticoat Research

For the Historical Sew Monthly July challenge I am making a bodiced petticoat. The challenge's theme is "geometry." I had already started this garment as part of my ongoing thesis research, but I will need it for an event later this month to go under my newest regency gown. Having this type of deadline is…

Black Snail 0119 WIP Update 2

Amazingly, it will have only taken me just over a month to nearly complete this project! I'm pretty slow at sewing, even by machine, so I wasn't feeling too positive about hand-sewing this. Fortunately I'd already made my mock-up last year, but I did have to do another fitting. What I didn't anticipate was that…

Progress on Black Snail 0119 Regency Dress

In my last post I introduced my newest project for the Historical Sew Monthly's June challenge. (It doesn't actually matter in what order you do the challenges.) The cutting out, as usual was the most difficult and time consuming step. I did cut one sleeve wrong, and I accidentally cut the skirt with the train,…

HSM June ’22: At the Museum

I've just begun my entry for the June HSM challenge and thought I'd go ahead and give some background on how this project came to be. My plan is to finish it by mid-August to wear at my JASNA region's annual retreat. I've splurged and will be staying over for the retreat along with some…