1770s Sewing Journal

1770s Sewing Journal

For our first Independence Day since moving to Virginia from Texas, we visited Colonial Williamsburg, which was amazing!

My favorite holiday at my favorite place that I’ve loved ever since I first saw it on tv as a little girl.

I was so happy that my kids were catching my enthusiasm…yet completely shocked me with a stunning request.

Mom, we need more historically accurate clothing, and you do, too. Would you sew them for us so we can be an 18th century family in Colonial Williamsburg? And you have to sew for yourself, too, so it will be more fun to be a real family!

When I expressed my doubts as to my capability to actually sew historically accurate clothing, my son told the tailor of his desires and my concerns.

As a result, the tailor encouraged my son’s dream…and soon all the other tailors in town followed suit!

With their encouragement and guidance, I learned how to love sewing again!

And yes, experiencing the historic area as a family with my kids was too much fun!

Below this vignette is my picture diary of my sewing, with links to my blog posts of our journey.

In typical blog manner, I posted them with the newest project first.

Costume Vignettes Collage

18th Century Pudding Cap for my granddaughter

Sewing 18th century pudding cap for my granddaughter

Embroidered 1786 Wedding Pocket

Embroidered 1786 Wedding Pocket

18th Century Needlecase

18th century Needlecase in counted cross stitch

1770s Lady’s Cap trimmed in Purple Satin for my daughter

1770s lady's cap with purple ribbon

Underpinning Dilemma for my new Silk Robe à l’anglaise Gown Part II

2014-6-28_8 rump pad_cream petticoat_blue slate striped gown_cream petticoat_draped Burnley Trowbridge

1770s lady’s jacket, in pink floral on blue, for my daughter

pink floral on blue jacket drafted from Costume Close Up

1770s Pink and White Striped Robe à l’anglaise Gown for my daughter

draped pink 1770s gown

Silk Hat with Organdy and Pearls for my new Silk Gown

2013-9-23_5 organza pearl silk covered hat_blue slate striped gown_draped Burnley Trowbridge

Auditioning my new silk Robe à l’anglaisegown, new stays, new bum roll…do they look right? Part I

2013-9-8_6 bum roll_cream petticoat_blue slate striped gown_draped Burnley Trowbridge

Men’s shirt #3, with bigger ruffles, for my son

laundry marking for 18th century shirt #3

Rococo Trimmed Silk Work Bag from Colonial Williamsburg Sewing Class

2013-6-3 completed workbag from 18th century sewing class at Costume Design Center in Colonial Williamsburg

1770s Lavender Stays nearly finished – Burnley and Trowbridge Workshop with Colonial Williamsburg Tailor Mark Hutter

2013-2-10 my Burnley and Trowbridge stays outside finis!

1750-1800 Black wool lady’s short cloak

2013-1-22_1 handsewn_black wool short cloak_Kannik Korner pattern

Blue on White Lady’s Short Gown

2012-8-29_2 blue on white_short gown

1775 Black Cockade for my son’s Tricorn Hat

Fifer - Revolution 18th century Becoming History presentation

Peacock Blue Silk Petticoat for my Chintz Gown

dancing the minuet - Revolution 18th century Becoming History presentation

1770s Hunting Frock for my son

Without a pattern, I handsewed this 1770s hunting frock

Linen Breaches #4 for my son…with creative 18th century letters to tell our story

2012-6-22_2 buttonholes_sewing breeches #4 buff linen

1700s Lady’s Cap with Sage Ribbon for me

2012-3-13_3 Sage green ribbon_Round Eared Lady's Cap_18th century

Lady’s red wool cloak, muff, and trimmed hat for me

2012-1-9_1 Scarlet Cloak, Muff, Ribboned Hat 18th century_snow

Proper brass buttons for Lafayette Regimental #3

My son dressed as Lafayette at Colonial Williamsburg in the Snow

Wool Breeches for my son

2011-12-31_1 handsewn_wool breeches_JP Ryan pattern_BT CW tailors techniques

1770s Yellow and White Striped Robe à l’anglaise Gown for me

draped handsewn yellow white stripe robe a la anglaise

Patching breeches all day long while out and about in Colonial Williamsburg for my son…r-r-i-i-p-p!

2011-12-7_1 patched decommissioned linen breeches #2

Learning with Stays #2 for me

2012-4-11_2 snipped tabs alteration_stays_green floral_JP Ryan pattern

Light blue ruffled short cloak interfaced with wool for my daughter

blue handsewn 18th century short cloak

1770s Lady’s Lavendar Floral Jacket for my daughter

handsewn lavender on lavender floral toile 18th century lady's jacket from Costume Close Up

White Floral on Blue Robe à l’anglaise Gown for my daughter

draped and hand stitched white floral on blue robe anglaise 18th century gown for my daughter

Embellishments for a Chintz Robe à l’anglaise Gown for me

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61072334@N08/6036568305/in/album-72157627295421477

1770s Blue Waistcoat for my son

2011-8-8_4 waistcoat_handstitched_18th century

Men’s shirt #2 for my son

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61072334@N08/13315392343/in/album-72157634839361138

Chintz Robe à l’anglaise Gown for me

draped and handsewn Robe a la Anglaise gown with reproduction vines fabric based on gown in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg

18th Century Lady’s Pocket from Colonial Williamsburg Sewing Class

completed drafted assymetrical pocket from 18th century sewing class at Costume Design Center in Colonial Williamsburg

Refashhioned Blue Rococo Trim with Green Ruched Ribbon Hat for me

my trimmed 18th century hat - blue rococo trim with green ribbon ruching

1770s Blue on White Chintz Jacket for me

my handsewn blue on white 18th century chintz lady's jacket

Planning a silk robe à l’anglaise gown for me

2011-4-6 New sage green silk fabric for a gown, to pair with pearls and trimmed hat from sewing class with Costume Design Center at Colonial Williamsburg

Blue Rococo Trim with Green Bow Hat from Colonial Williamsburg Sewing Class

Blue rococo trim and green bow for an 18th century hat

Martha Washington Sewing Case from Colonial Williamsburg Sewing Class

my completed Martha Washington Sewing Case Class at the Costume Design Center in Colonial Williamsburg

1770s Buff Linen Regimental Waistcoat for my son

I hand sewed this regimental waistcoat of the 1770s

Crafting a military stock for my son

military stock for my son

Red Wool Mitts for my daughter

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61072334@N08/53924280064/in/album-72157627295421477

Men’s Black Wool Cloak for my son

snowy Christmas season in Colonial Williamsburg

Lady’s Red Wool Cloak for my daughter

Mann Page and George Washington on horseback for Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg

Lafayette Coat #3 debuts to my son’s delight

My son at the Tucker House in Colonial Williamsburg

My first drafted 1770s Green Linen Frock Coat for my son
Paper doll frock coat from the Colonial Williamsburg tailor
Take a deep breath and draft a frock coat pattern

costume vignette at Colonial Williamsburg

Market Wallet from Colonial Williamsburg Sewing Class for my son
My first handsewn and properly fitted Breeches for my son
My first draped Robe à l’anglaise Gown for my daughter

historical vignette in Colonial Williamsburg

Silk Covered Hat from Colonial Williamsburg Sewing Class

sage silk covered hat with cream organza trim with pearls homework from Costume Design Center hat trimming class in Colonial Williamsburg

Mom, I need a more accurate Lafayette coat – Lafayette coat #2
Colonial Williamsburg Costume Design Center encourages me to sew a Lafayette Coat #3
My historical sewing journey begins

canal bridge at the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg

My son seeks the perfect Lafayette hat in Colonial Williamsburg
Creating a French-American Alliance Cockade for my son’s bespoke Lafayette hat
My son inspires Lafayette hat availability in Colonial Williamsburg shop

my son's Lafayette Hat with French American Alliance Cockade

Mom, we need historically accurate clothing. You do, too.

my kids are asked for their loyalty papers to the king at Under the Redcoat in Colonial Williamsburg

Once home in Texas from Colonial Williamsburg, my son asks: Can I be Lafayette? – Lafayette Costume #1

My son's first Lafayette costume

Daughter: Mom, will you sew an 18th century gown for me?
Son: I don’t want to be Lafayette.

Thomas Jefferson at Merchant's Square in Colonial Williamsburg

For more photos of us out and about in our historical attire, check my Flickr set.