Colonial Williamsburg’s Costume Design Center celebrated their 75th anniversary with an open house that we attended yesterday!
Remembering us from last year’s open house and the nine sewing classes I took with them this year, they gave us excited greetings and hugs!
The debut sale of their own historical patterns made this Costume Design Center tour unique from last year’s great tour!
RESEARCHING UPCOMING SEWING PROJECTS
When I started asking about regimentals, I was directed to the military costume expert.
When I sewed the first Lafayette regimental for my son and then my second, I used very cheap materials while improving the look.
With the second Lafayette coat outgrown, a third one is at hand.
With proper wool samples at hand from the director of the Costume Design Center who told me to make a most proper regimental for my son after hearing about coats #1 and #2, I’ve purchased the proper fabric.
My son is ecstatic about the Lafayette regimental #3!!!
Now that I’ve learned quite a bit about historical sewing, I understood more this year from the tips than I did last year.
When I inquired if the CDC patterns available for sale could be reasonably adapted for the Lafayette coat, I was directed to the fitter, who was also the knowledge base of military costuming.
FITTING MY SON FOR A REGIMENTAL COAT AND WAISTCOAT
Putting a muslin coat on my son, she pinned excess fabric, then sketched the alterations for my son’s size on a mockup pattern, exactly as she always does for the Fife and Drum Corps, comprised of school age kids.
After the fitter got a muslin with the proper cut for a Lafayette waistcoat, she pinned for alterations.
Then the muslin coat went back on over the muslin waistcoat and she pinned the alterations on that.
Then she measured all the changes and sketched that onto the pattern mockup.
As I asked lots of questions about specifics on sewing the Lafayette coat, one of the other ladies got a senior fife and drum corps coat for me to see, which the fitter had my son try on!
She had no idea that my son plays the fife in his free time, so this was a thrill for him.
FITTING ME FOR A LADIES’ JACKET
After paying for my son’s new coat and waistcoat patterns from the Costume Design Center, I asked if I should purchase the ladies’ jacket pattern for myself. Why not?
My son fussed later, “But Mom, it ties in front! That would make you a middling sort!”
Well, it’s easy and would be fast, since it’s impossible for me to drape and fit myself.
A gown takes far longer and when do I have time to sew for me when he is always outgrowing the historical clothes I sew for him????
My son really wants me to start on my costumes, because he says he’d have so much more fun if we were all dressed up.
I told him it would be my starter costume, while taking more time to fiddle with draping myself.
Agreeing that was a good idea, the staff measured me and put me into a mockup.
Wow, that was my first time wearing an 18th century style item and I could feel the difference.
CLOAK WITH VEST
Then I saw this stunning red cloak with a vest that the Costume Design Center reproduced from one in the CW collection!
Spending quite a bit of time analyzing it, I want to replicate two of these, one for my daughter and one for me .
RESEARCHING ACCESSORIES
When my daughter asked questions of the staff about hat pins, I was amazed at how much she has come out of her shell at Colonial Williamsburg!!
Meanwhile my son and I were studying military stuff!
After drooling over the sword handles, we focused on military stocks.
Wanting me to take a picture of him with the stock against his neck, he wanted to ensure that the one I made for him was the proper size.
Since the historically accurate horsehair version cost $200 a yard, I made one with polyester silk with felt sandwiched in for thickness.
Since it attaches with Velcro, which my son does not like, I purchased a buckle from Burnley and Trowbridge, she agreed that would be appropriate, and gave me tips for attaching the buckle to the fabric.
Along with all the embroidery and gowns, some of my personal favorites of the day include these gorgeous hats for the gents, which we deeply researched last year for my son’s most proper Lafayette hat.
PATTERNS IN THE MAIL
Too soon, it was time for the Costume Design Center to close before we conquered all the historical attire we wanted to see.
However, we did learn a lot, so I took a lot of notes!
Meanwhile the Costume Design Center will print out the proper sizes and snail mail them to me.
I am really thrilled about the patterns that will soon arrive!
