Martha Washington White House Gowns Sewing Kit Finis
According to a label attached to the case, the fabrics for Martha Washington’s sewing kit came from the gowns she wore in the White House from 1789 to 1797.
Historical Sewing and Time Travels
According to a label attached to the case, the fabrics for Martha Washington’s sewing kit came from the gowns she wore in the White House from 1789 to 1797.
Since my son outgrew his regimental waistcoat, I took the opportunity to sew a more historically accurate version, sewn completely by hand.
Now that I’m caught up, at the present, with sewing historically accurate costumes for my kids, I wanted to do some research for me.
When we visited the Colonial Williamsburg Costume Design Center Open House last year, my son and I held a military stock in our hands.
My son’s eyes shone!
After our last trip down to Colonial Williamsburg which turned snowy, my daughter asked for mitts to keep her arms warm!
I followed the instructions for item #21 in the book, Costume Close-Up by Linda Baumgartner, based on examples from the Colonial Williamsburg collection.
As the sun began to set in the late afternoon, the chill of the air caused my kids to don their winter cloaks, sadly of the 19th century.
This new coat is completely hand sewn, with twenty-two fabric covered buttons, another first for me to complete for an outfit.
When I told the tailor that I messed up the new frock coat I sewed for my son from a drafted pattern in Costume-Close Up, he asked what I was talking about.
Then I looked at frock coats in Costume Close-up: Clothing Construction and Pattern 1750-11790, written by Colonial Williamsburg’s Linda Baumgartner.