Yesterday I attended the final sewing class in celebration of the Colonial Williamsburg Costume Design Center’s 75th anniversary!
18th century banter from the tavern keeper attendees
Two of us were guests while the other attendees were employees, 3 of whom portray Christiana Campbell of Christiana Campbell’s Tavern, her daughter Molly, and Jane Vobe of the King’s Arms Tavern.
Sitting together, they bantered in character during the class…which made me feel like we were on the streets of the historic area. They are so funny!
I’ve a feeling that none of the CW interpreters ever abandon their interpretations in their free time, bickering among themselves about their tavern rivalries, then really getting into old colonial gossip. 😉
It was mentioned that is precisely what a lot of ladies did while they sewed.
What are pinballs?
This time we were introduced to pinballs, or18th century pin cushions created from a variety of techniques.
After a discussion of the types of pinballs in the Colonial Williamsburg collection, and the various attachments to a seamstress’ waist, it was time to try our hand at some decorative techniques.
On my historic area shopping list is the silver pinball ring.
Learning the Queen Stitch
First, we did the most difficult stitch of the class, the Queen stitch, on the largest type cross stitch fabric, 11-count Aida cloth with ethereal silk thread.
Although I easily cross stitch, I struggled learning the Queen stitch which entails pulling several stitches packed into a tight space to create decorative holes.
As hard as I pulled, I barely accomplished a thing.
The instructors kept cheering me on: Pull tighter! Tighter!
After several attempts, I started understanding where the overlapping and underlapping stitches went.
That meant it was time to proceed to the Hardanger which takes eenier-weenier teenier-tinier stitches.
Is there a magnifying glass on the supply table?
Struggling primarily because of my vision issues, I know work arounds I can use at home, so there is hope for me yet! 😉
Learning the Irish Stitch
Next, we used wool thread and a lamb’s wool cloth to practice cross stitch (left) and Irish stitching (right).
Learning the satin stitch
Although I’ve embroidered the satin stitch numerous times with cotton yarn or embroidery floss, this was the first time I used silk thread on silk fabric, which was challenging due to its fineness and slippery nature.
This is as far as I got by the end of class…
Homework to learn the pieced pinball
Although we ran out of time to stitch the pieced pinball, we have the supplies and the directions to do this at home.
The striped fabric is from a Martha Washington dress, of which I think I have in my fabric stash.
Choosing a pinball kit to complete at home
In the header photo is the fully detailed instruction book of seven types of decorative pin balls, all of which were taught in this class, and a few others.
Of those seven types, we were given a choice of one of the pre-packed complete kits to take home.
Although the pinball with the initials, MW for Martha Washington is my favorite, I have no idea how to knit. (see the pinball collection photo, above)
Deliberating over the others, I chose the embroidery kit which included all the required silk fabrics, silk threads, and wool, kindly donated by the Colonial Williamsburg sheep.
After we received our kits, we looked at their fascinating array of period sewing accessories.
I attended all 9 sewing classes
Class 1 – I learned the key to historically accurate fabric and hand stitching.
Class 2 – I learned how to wrap Dorset buttons and Death Head buttons.
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.
Class 9 – Pinballs, the unique pin cushions from the 18th century for a historic sewing room.
I learned a lot!
I’m so grateful I got to take these classes, where I’ve attained a greater appreciation and understanding for the costumes in the historic area, a deeper understanding of history, how to sew many 18th century elements of period clothing, how to dissect historic prints to gain clues into accurate historical sewing, and met incredible people behind the scenes who help to bring history alive in the historic area through historical clothing!
