I felt like quilting today. One and a half slippers are quilted. The silk’s weave is very tight. So, it was slow going.
Quilted Slippers Project
I finally got around to cutting out my slippers. I figured, if I put them on my fair entry form, I should start them. Right?
Here are the must have inspiration slippers from the Buffalo, Erie Historical Society:
This is the fabulous tealy-green I’ll be making this first pair from (yes, I will make a red pair too):
(Goal – post photos at each stage)
Fanciful Utility is released!
ESC Publishing and I are very excited to bring you…
Fanciful Utility: Victorian Sewing Cases & Needle-books!
This book is packed full of detailed instructions for making historically accurate sewing accessories. Each one is based on an extant example or nineteenth century directions. The 180 pages contains 117 illustrations, templates and numerous project variations, over 68 variations actually.
Millinery Ribbon Talk
I’ll be talking about millinery ribbons and displaying ribbons from my collection this Saturday, August 25th, at the Genesee Country Village for the “Wrapped Up in Silk” event. I’ll be in the Romulus Seminary on the village square in the morning. Stop in to see the ribbons and say “hi”.
Fanciful Utility Pre-Orders in July!!!!
Fanciful Utility will be ready for pre-sales in July!! Please visit the Sewing Academy for a video preview and to order.
Some updates from the Publisher:
1: I need to have the last details from the bindery on the final price, but it won’t be more than Dressmaker’s Guide ($30), and includes all the projects and templates and techniques, plus you’ll gain the skills you need to design your own project from imagination or an extant example, so it will be a very valuable book for dozens of projects to come.
2: When we get that final pricing back, we’ll finish coding the shopping cart, and open full reservations immediately. If using a credit/debit card, your information will process about a week before the book ships. We’ll add cover shots and such when that shopping card goes live. The book has black & white illustrations, templates, and a color photo section of the gorgeous samples Anna made for the book project.
2.5: We are looking at the probability of offering two different binding options: normal perfect bound (softcover with spine) and spiral spine.
3: We’ll be able to process credit and debit cards with Visa, MasterCard, and Amex logos, and yes, we’re pleased to be adding a PayPal option as well!
4: Books will be shipping by the end of July, if not sooner (this is based on the binding house schedule; they usually try to push us up the line toward the top, because they’re lovely!).
5: You’ll be able to reserve and pay for your copy at http://www.thesewingacademy.com… and don’t worry, we’ll have the announcement and link put up LARGE on the front. 🙂
We can’t wait to see snapshots of what everyone will make with the book! You’ll all be thanking Anna for making this great resource available.
Regards,
Elizabeth Clark
Embroidered Shawl update
The shawl’s embroidery now has more detail in he cone and two of the major vines started. There is a little more needed for the outer curve of the right hand vine and the left hand vines. Then it is time to focus on the flowers. I have an idea of how I’m going to do them for the vines. The flowers that go in between the blue fir stitch an the brighter green still need to be determined.
Wandering Findings
Here are two pretties we saw yesterday. (I’m not yet sure how to rearrange the photos on my phone.) This first is a dress tagged 1880-90s. I thought folks would be interested in the print.
This next is the wool shawl I wanted but had no price on the tag. I have to laugh at the no price bit because that happened to Dad all the time and now seems to happen to me. Based on the size and embroidery, I would say it is 1840s. Somewhere in my image notes for my embroidered shawl project (which I will get back to soon) is a shawl I remember being similar. I’m hoping the seller (this was a co-op store) will call with a nice price.
Shawls on Etsy!
Only a few months behind where I planned, I finally have the first batch of shawls up on Etsy for sale. Each of these shawls are 100% wool in sizes common to the mid-century and Civil War era.
Currently available (left to right)
A natural white shawl of light weight 100% wool, measuring 60″ square.
A brown and blue plaid shawl of light weight 100% wool, measuring 59″ square.
A semi-sheer white shawl of very light weight 100% wool, measuring 61″ square.
A dark blue shawl of light weight 100% wool, measuring 58″ square .
A red shawl of light weight 100% wool, measuring 59″ square.
During the mid-19th century, most shawls fit a within a standard size range:
• Square shawls were in the range of 55 inches to 70 inches square with 64 inches square being standard.
• Long shawls are double squares, sometimes called plaids, which were 55 inches wide by 110 inches long to 70 inches wide by 140 inches long with 64 inches wide by 128 inches long being the most common.
• Three-quarter shawls are 3/4ths the width and 3/4ths length of a standard double square shawl. A three-quarter shawl would be 48 inches wide by 96 inches long.
• Scarves are much longer than they are wide. A shawl 3 feet by 9 feet would be considered a scarf. These were more popular earlier in the 19th century.
The exceptions to these standard sizes include lace, knit or crochet shawls.
Pulling from one of my shawl databases I can give you an idea of how sizes were distributed. In the 1850s, 25% of shawls in the database were under 55″ square or 55″ by 110″, 63% were between 55″ and 65″ square (or 55″x110″ to 65″x130″) and 13% were larger than 65″ square. Between 1860 and 1865, 23% of shawls in the database were under 55″ square or 55″ by 110″, 46% were between 55″ and 65″ square (or 55″x110″ to 65″x130″) and 31% were larger than 65″ square.
My Sewing To-Do List
I skimped the traditional posting of a full “To Do List” at the beginning of the year by posting the swatch book version. Now, I’m finding I am inundated with fabric and mental lists of what needs to be made or remade. So… here it goes….
- Pink Lawn dress (me)
- Plaid cotton dress (me)
- Alter or make sheer dress (me)
- Wash dress (Lily)
- Corset (Lily)
- Second Chemise & drawer set (Lily)
- Cage (Lily)
- find shoes/boots (Lily)
- New wrapper (me)
- Possibly a wrapper (Lily)
- Wool apron (Lily for cooking)
- Bonnet (Lily)
- Undersleeves x 2 or 3 (me)
- Dancing dress? (both Lily and I)
- Civilian pants (Dan)
- Shirts (Dan)
- Replace drawers (Dan)
- Vest alteration (Dan)
- Civilian Vest (Dan)
- Covers for cots x 2 I think
- Black and red stripey quilt
- Multi-color stripey quilt
- Carpet bag for Lily
- Find parasols in storage – See about repairing and covering the one still waiting
- Green coat for next fall
- Green wool dress for next fall?
- Multiple modern garments
Mind you, this does not include anything I plan to make for Etsy.
Time for a Vote on Embroidery
I have yet to pick an embroidery for my shawl. I need some opinions. Right now it is too tempting to leave it simply fringed because it is so pretty as is. The base is the creamy off white with narrow fringe (right now).
I am thinking about this border – simple and doable.
Here are the corner designs I am pondering. Please vote for your favorite in the comments section. Info on why will be helpful.
1
2
3
4
5
6 
7
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 