I had cut this out the week before my wedding figuring I’d add a piece to my outfit. I wanted to take off the gown and throw on the jacket to head home that night. After cutting it out I decided to enjoy the time with my family before the wedding instead of more sewing. Recently I found it floating around my workroom missing one piece!! *grr* I searched and then gave up but decided to pursue finishing the project nonetheless. I had enough fabric to tweak out a new piece. (more…)

Remember this fabric, I found what it has to be made into.

“A LADY’S BODICE OF BLUE SILK BROCADE
POSSIBLY DUTCH, FIRST HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY “

I’m hoping I’ll have enough for this bodice since it looks very simple but still have enough yardage to be able to make a later style 18th century jacket to go over my blue quilted petticoat. I’m hoping they will have more photosif I buy the auction catalog. Maybe not…

The silk kirtle seen here is made by this lovely young Kentwell participant. She asked to pair her 16th century kirtle with my 18th century pocket hoops and matching bow. I think she might be the only person alive able to pull off this look – isn’t it too adorable. So much pink around I”m tempted to do more pink. My next Italian gown is rose pink I think.

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The first hour we looked at fashion plates and a study piece:

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I wore my jacket closed through class on Saturday and then decided to fold it back and wear with my peach quilted stomacher. It was fun to get two looks out of one garment.

In the hotel room:

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I traded a blue and white duvet cover for this hand block printed cotton fabric. The pattern itself is too dense but some of the elements remind me of 18th century fabrics. I’ll have to splurge at some point and get something more historically correct but it worked for the trial run. It has a nice texture as well as pretty browns & blues together (one of my all time favorite combos).

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This is the beginning of a corset incorporating elements from 18th century stays but without tabbing at the hip section. The bottom will be solid panels more like a Victorian corset. However, we decided for this one to keep more of the 18th century boning pattern details even with the solid hip. I’m liking the look so far. I can’t wait to be done with the fittings so I can cut into the beautiful silk. This is a good way to get the shaping of a pair of stays without the hassle of binding all those tabs. Not that I don’t love binding tabs. I’m becoming rather fond of them actually.

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The day started slowly with the realization that a lot more was closed in Colonial Williamsburg than expected. Not a single tavern was open this winter. Winter programming started Jan. 1st. and a lot of repairs and construction were happening in the “off season”. There was plenty to do in one day though! I’m so glad I made it down there while out on the east coast. (more…)

Nov. 7

We were able to take non-flash photographs at the Sibbert which I very much enjoyed. I’m going to put up a preview of a couple garments from the museum. I took up to 8 or 9 raw images of each garment that will be stitched together for more resolution for looking at details. These are a few of the full or partial shots I liked that weren’t taken for detail study purposes.

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