This morning my daughter and I took another sewing class with the Colonial Williamsburg Costume Design Center.
TAVERN OWNERS TAKE CLASS WITH US
Making the class more fun, Martha Washington, herself, attended our class.
Actually, it was the historical interpreter who portrays her as well as the King’s Arm tavern owner, Jane Vobe.
The historical interpreters who portray Christiana Campbell and her daughter also attended.
It was a hoot!
Those three sat together, across from us, making side comments as if they were in character as their tavern personas!
We were cracking up!
So, what did we learn apart from tavern humor? 😉
MARTHA WASHINGTON SEWING KIT HISTORY
Unlike the other classes, this one was not based on an 18th century product.
As the story goes, this early 19th century sewing kit was made from silk gowns that Martha Washington wore while her husband was president.
You can see a picture of it in the Linda Baumgartner book, Costume Close-up.
The actual piece is in the Colonial Williamsburg collection.
OUR 18TH CENTURY SUPPLIES
The instructor endeavored to find fabrics as close as possible to the actual sewing case.
She did a great job keeping the feel of the original.
Additionally meaningful was the fact that these are remnant silks that were used to make silk gowns for the ladies and silk suits for the gentlemen that interpret in the historic area of Colonial Williamsburg.
It makes me want to walk around town trying to match fabrics between my sewing kit and interpreters’ costumes.
The peach, cream and green striped silk fabric, used in the center, is fabric from a gown that the Colonial Williamsburg actress, who portrays Martha Washington, wears.
I even have some of this silk in my fabric stash!
We were also provided wool with many thanks from the sheep of Colonial Williamsburg.
The print shop provided historically accurate pocket dividers, formed with proper 18th century glue.
Perhaps even more meaningful, the traditional gift as the seamstresses retire from the Costume Design Center, is one of these sewing kits, of course using silk fabrics from the many gowns and suits they’ve sewn over the years.
I’m looking forward to finishing it because it will be quite handy!
LEARNING LOTS IN THESE CLASSES
Now that I have three 18th century sewing classes down, I have greatly expanded my ability to create a historical wardrobe.
Class 1 – I learned the key to historically accurate fabric and hand stitching. (Wow! I can do that!)
Class 2 – I learned how to wrap Dorset buttons and Death Head buttons. (Wow! I can even do those now!)
Class 3 – I learned how to create various types of bags to create accessories for the historical clothing I’m sewing.
Class 4 – I learned how to create historically accurate adornment for ladies’ gowns.
Class 5 – I learned how to trim hats to accessorize gowns for myself and my daughter!
Class 6 – Now I’ve gleaned new valuable tips for the problematic gown sewing.
Class 7 – I’ve learned embellishments for a popular lady’s accessory in the 18th century.
Class 8 – Now I’ve learned how to create a historically accurate sewing case, to handily use while sewing all our historic clothing.
One more class to go while I improve my historical sewing.
Stay tuned!
EPILOGUE
A few months later, I finished hand stitching all the parts!
See header photo for the inside of the completed sewing case.
The thimble was gifted to me many years ago from my grandmother, a seamstress who taught me how to embroider, crochet, and sewed dresses for me.
The thimble had belonged to her mother, so I’m not sure how far back it dates.
