A couple of years ago I sewed this ruffled blue silk taffeta short cloak with ruffles, interlined with black wool left over from my son’s cloak, to wear my first spring in costume.
Although I furiously stitched away, I never got it done in time for me to wear.
That autumn, I finished sewing it and gave it to my daughter to wear in Colonial Williamsburg, to stay warm in the autumnal chill.
Although she loved it very much, so did one of the horses, who slobbered all over it while she was petting him.
Full of white fur (guess which horse 😉) and such, I put the cloak in the sewing basket to give it new life, yet all it did was sit there.
Since my daughter is busy with college, she only visits the historic area in the summer or winter, so the short cloak is no longer needed.
Now that I’m quite chilly on Virginia spring and autumn mornings, I removed the damaged taffeta and finished sewing it to wear it as a black wool short cloak for myself.
I’m even planning on wearing it as an additional layer under my long red cloak on a blustery winter day!
Using a Kannik Korner pattern dated 1750-1800, I hand sewed this 100% broadcloth wool.
Quite noticeable is all the piecing, which is historically accurate.
Since fabric cost more than labor, piecing was popular.
My dress form, which has my latest silk 18th century gown in the works, models the cloak.
