At long last, it happened. My son had a costume explosion.
THREADBARE BREECHES AT RISK
In the last month that I’ve been ironing his linen breeches, I found the beginnings of bare spots.
Oh no! Not now!
I want to wait until November to sew a third pair of breeches in 1.5 years.
Why sew an average pair of breeches today when I have the potential to sew an incredible pair in November?
Even though the basics of my son’s breeches are spot on, the details need fine tuning.
I am registered for my first ever workshop with the Colonial Williamsburg tailors through Burnley and Trowbridge in November!
Surely, surely, these breeches can hang on for a few more months.
The bare spots, thankfully, are in spots that are always hidden by the frock coat and waistcoat.
I could easily add more linen to patch things up while on the go, if needed.
MANLY ROUGHHOUSING
So, of course my son enjoyed Colonial Williamsburg to the fullest..
Despite a lady’s genteel and constant pleadings, we go unheeded as the male temperament is determined to brazen through with that indomitable will that is destined to be passed on from father to son.
If not conquering armies…if not at war…the male spirit must express itself in peacetime through self-imposed good old-fashioned rough housing.
Of course, this force descends when the lady unwittingly believes that all is well, under control and at peace, so that she can safely turn her back to tend to other responsibilities.
R-I-I-I-I-I-I-P
Saturday morning laughter turned to deep groans of utter dismay from everyone in the room.
My frustrated son showed me his breeches with a huge 6″ rip across the top of the knee area.
Earlier in the morning my son showed me 2 dangling buttons, one near the knee and the other at the pocket which my son “fixed” with a straight pin that he found from my daughter’s gown bodice hanging in the closet.
FROM GENTLEMAN TO SOLDIER
Having portrayed a gentleman yesterday, before the troops arrived for Prelude to Victory, my son now looked more like a tattered soldier, much to his dismay.
I knew that for my son, telling him to pretend to be a Continental soldier with tattered clothing in 1781 (which was period accurate) was not what he wanted to hear, since he was not wearing regimentals.
To tell him to pretend to be a 1781 resident with no means of having snazzy garments after the long war (which was also period accurate) was not what he wanted to hear, but he didn’t want to look disheveled in a gentleman’s outfit, his only costume with us for the weekend.
Since I regrettably left my sewing kit at home, we secured supplies then arrived at the Courthouse in time to witness the arrival of the Continental Army.
PATCHING WHILE SURROUNDED BY CONTINENTAL ARMY
After the generals left the Courthouse for the Wythe house, we found a bench where I could sit and patch.
I had my son stretch out his leg across mine so I could best access the rip.
When my son exclaimed how quickly I mended it, I told him that speed comes from lots of practice!
Boys always provide plenty of practice. 😉
As I sat there sewing, my son happily exclaimed, “Hey this is period accurate, Mom!”
I quipped that if the soldiers see me fixing his rip, they might form a line so I can fix all their rips and I might not ever get to the Wythe house.
Warning my son not to properly tighten his knee strap, I explained it would cause more rips.
He concurred.
En route to the Wythe house to visit the officers planning the siege on Yorktown, we were glad that one mission was accomplished…until the next explosion.
