For my daughter’s birthday she wore her new costume to Colonial Williamsburg.
The next day she attended a sewing class with the Costume Design Center with me.
She was so ecstatic to enjoy spring, a colonial gown, and a historic sewing class all for her birthday.
Class three of nine: market bags, pockets, and work bags
The third of a series of nine classes for their 75th anniversary celebration, we were going to sew a variety of 18th century bags.
Usually taking the classes at Bruton Heights, this time we took the class at the Costume Design Center so that we could use their sewing machines!
Wow! It was incredible sitting at the very sewing tables that produce the historic clothing for the Colonial Williamsburg interpreters, many of which were on display around us.
Machine-stitching the inside seams of the historic costume occurs at the Costume Design Center for the economics of time due to a massive production schedule to keep up with the clothing needs for hundreds of employees.
Outside stitches are sewn by hand.
We followed this same practice in this class, due to the same need to economize time.
Since it was a four-hour class, with three key projects to sew, we excitedly got to work.
While sitting at the sewing machine, the instructor invited us to choose a spool of thread in the drawer of our desks.
Opening the drawer I discovered a rainbow of colored thread, to perfectly match with our fabrics!
Also amazing were all the CDC seamstresses available to help us as needed.
How could a sewing class be more wonderful than this?
Displays of 18th century maket wallets, pockets, and workbags
The class began around a worktable with displays of the examples we’d be making: market wallets, pockets, and workbags.
This class is more than how to sew, or even how to sew historically. It is also a history lesson!
After learning the history behind each of the items we saw, we were able to closely look at the samples, and peruse the many amazing resources and reference books.
It is amazing how I feel a stronger sense of history and an appreciation for seamstresses of yore and for those who wore the products, when I leave these classes.
We were also given an information packet about the history of these bags, paintings featuring them, and instructions, along with instructions for each of our projects.
The seamstress teaching the class, N, was thrilled that there was one non-seamstress in the class, my daughter!
This opportunity helped drive her point about sewing skills and techniques in the 18th century that have uneven stitches and seams.
My daughter, who struggles with Sensory Integration Disorder, struggles with sewing machines.
The instructor happily promised to help her while encouraging all of us not to worry about imperfect stitches, since even that is historically accurate.
This was my daughter’s first time successfully using a machine, which she picked up better from N. than she has from me in the past.
After all my efforts to teach my daughter to sew, she got it because of N!
Sewing Market Wallets
First we made market wallets, large rectangular bags slung over the shoulder to carry items home from market.
The wives of reenactors, who attended the class, were especially interested in making these.
My daughter and I each began one for my son, which we plan to gift my son.
Because of the long length of fabric, we expedited our time by machine-sewing the initial seams running down the length of fabric.
Our hand-sewing focused on learning more intricate stitches to strengthen sections that would endure stress while using the market wallet.
Even though we didn’t finish, our instruction packets would help us complete the market wallet at home.
Sewing pockets
Finally we did pockets, where ladies kept their few possessions.
Worn under petticoats, they are never seen.
Looking at the examples on the display table, we learned they come in array of simplicity to elaborate embroidery.
Choosing fabric from the fabric stash, we drafted an assymetrical pocket.
N. explained many uneven pockets are in the Colonial Williamsburg collection, so we didn’t have to be perfect either as we were learning this new skill.
Obviously, I like curves!
After I machine sewed my pocket with a French seam, a new skill to me, hand-sewed the luscious silk binding.
I love the gorgeous chintz fabric for the front, the luscious silk for the back and lining, and the pop or luscious blue silk for the binding.
After my daughter selected her favorite fabric for her pocket project, she realized it wasn’t enough to create a pocket, unless she pieced it.
Again, N. was thrilled when this happened, because in the 18th century they were frugal with fabric, often piecing small pieces together when they ran out of large pieces.
Colonial Williamsburg has a pieced-pocket in their collection, proving this point.
Sewing work bags for a lady’s sewing kit
Next, we made work bags, a sad name for such a piece of loveliness.
These decorated bags displayed the seamstress’ handiwork, while practically storing knotting supplies for making fancy trims.
Here is an example of one from the 17th century, made by a 10 year old girl!
We had two options for beginning our work bags.
Our printed directions were for machine-sewing, which I’ve done before.
I decided to take the hand-sewing challenge, which has a different sequence of events.
My workbag has a sage green silk fabric for the outside and a cream silk for the lining.
Again, we didn’t finish, but with all the knowledge behind us, and the directions to take home, this will be an easy project to pick up later to complete.
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.
Six more classes to go while I improve my historical sewing.
Stay tuned!
