If I Had My Own Blue Box:

Now available in my Etsy shop….

This beautiful quilted hood is copied directly for an original mid-nineteeth century winter hood in my collection. 

The outside is a stunning emerald green silk with a tiny jacquard design with black stripes and green dots. 

The interior is hand quilted gold silk with cotton batting inside. It ties closed with a golden brown double faced satin ribbon. 

Ideal for a snowy winter day, the brim can fold forward to protect the face from the snow and wind. 


The pattern for this hood is also available in my Etsy shop.

Sometimes we find merchants with materials we love, that are absolutely perfect. Sometimes those merchants just vanish off the face of the earth. Okay, maybe I am exaggerating. But, that is what it feels like. Then there is this gap… and a big question: “Now what?” 

Luckily, in this case, I found another fabulous merchandise with even more perfect strawberry caps! 

When I opened these, just a few hours ago, I was so pleased with what was inside the envelope. I immediately got out the strawberries awaiting their caps and finished them. 

Love them!

They have just the right mid-Victorian look in a beautiful metal. 

I have two sizes I will have available. The emery size is just over an inch tall. The walnut filled pin cushion size finishes between 1.5″ and 2″. I will be ordering more caps as soon as I sell a couple strawberries. 

By the way, strawberries are a little challenging to photograph. I will be making a little stand to change them from. In the meantime, I played with some spools/bobbins as stands. Now, I think I’ll make a little ring stand too. 

I have three pink strawberries currently available in my Etsy shop. 

Favorite things 

(There was an order to these. Was) 

In January I had quite the list of things to make for this year’s fair. The list included a sewn rug using an early chenille technique, a silk crazy quilt in Clara size, an embroidered net veil, and a beaded pence jug. There were also some smaller items on the list too. 

Well, with the great medical distraction of the year, none of those items were finished. Only two were even started. 

This year’s entries had to be picked from what I had made in the past year. To be completely honest, I feel as un-thrilled about this group of entries as I do about my accomplishments of the year. 

Here are the two winter hoods and sunbonnet I did enter. The wool hood placed, but I don’t feel like it should have placed over another piece in the category. I’ll show you that part 2. I also entered two of the crochet pieces I’ve been making as part of my evening relaxation. They were just to make the form feel more complete. I am not a good crocheter. I can not follow directions. Likely the stitch I used isn’t even a real stitch. Buy, the Christmas hat for Dan has a matching one for Clara. 

I did display one of the upcoming projects I will be featuring on my blog. These are spool holders. 

I also displayed the pin cushions we will be making in my Sunday workshop during this year’s Symposium. Attendees will get a chance to make strawberry, acorn, walnut, and seashell pin cushions.

Mom entered an assortment of cooking and canning items:

Does it mean I am overly tired when thinking about night-caps dreamily?

The directions for most caps seem to be written with the assumption that night caps are so common place that readers already know how to make them in their sleep. Well, that is a bit of a challenge for us a century and a half later. Ladies periodicals show night-caps that are sewn, crochet, and knit.

For me, I think of a night cap when I want to be warm, or, in the modern world when I hav a migrainFrom experience (of a rather mobile sleeper), you want to use materials that will not slide off your head, nor do you want to use materials that cause hair to knot. Some descriptions mention cambric for a fabric. This early 19th century night cap (top right) at the MET uses what looks similar to a crochet cotton. The one on the top left is a little fuzzy making me think it has some wool in it.

Additional night caps (nightcap):

• Knit cotton at the MET
• Sewn linen at the MET (1868 in a very simple construction)
• Simple cotton construction that uses wavey braid (ric-rak)
• Woven plaid cotton with deep tucks.
• Netted cotton (rather open)
• I suspect this may be a night cap as well.

This is a very simple sewn cap I made up previously. I found it to be comfortable and warm to sleep in.

Peterson’s Magazine—1859

Night-Cap

By Emily H. May

Accordingly we give in this number, the pattern for a night-cap, accompanied with the usual diagram. With the aid of these, any lady can cut out and make up this indispensable article, trimming it afterward as in the pattern differently if her taste prefers a different style of trimming.

This fanchon night cap doesn’t appear to have directions accompanying it. But, there is just something about it. Don’t be surprised if a draft for this appears in the future.

An assortment of caps:

Peterson’s Magazine—1860

Lady’s Night-Cap in Crochet

By Mrs. Jane Weaver

This is a comparatively easy pattern, and requires no description; for any lady, accustom to crocheting, can work the cap from the cuts. In order to still further simplify the working, we give a separate pattern of the crown of the cap.

——-

———

Peterson’s Magazine 1861

Pattern for Night-Cap

By Emily H. May

We give, in this number by way of variety, a pattern for a Night-Cap. This Night-Cap is made of spotted muslin, and trimmed with lace and narrow satin ribbon. Fifteen inches of muslin, six yards of lace one inch wide, six yards of narrow satin ribbon, and three-quarters of a yard of ribbon one inch wide, will be required to make one cap. Of course, if five or six were made, so much muslin would not be required in proportion, as the material could be cut to better advantage. Cut out the crown to the exact size of the pattern, and cut our the head-piece allowing sufficient turnings for a broad hem down the front. This hem should be quite half of an inch. Gather the crown from where the fullness commences (which will be seen in the illustration), fun that and the head-piece together, letting the raw edge come on the right side, and then lay a very find cording over the join.

Cut out the strings, join them on the head-piece, and then carry one row of lace all round the cap and strings, putting it quite plain on the latter except round the ends. Put the other three rows of lace on, the last row being run on close to the cording, and so hiding the raw edges. A narrow piece of muslin should be run on the head-piece behind from string to string to form a runner, into which the broad ribbon should be placed to draw the cap in to the size required. Cut the narrow ribbon into lengths of rather more than two inches, and arrange the bows in the lace about one inch apart.

Winter is coming once again. Locally, I am hearing this could be quite the winter. 

Just so you know, I am not a fan of cold and ice and snow. But, one thing I do like is historic winter wear, from quilted petticoats to quilted bonnets. There is something about the comfort of soft fluffiness. 

I am all stocked up on beautiful silks and some lovely wools for this season. Sara, from Ensembles of the Past (check out her Etsy shop) and I had fun picking out this array of silks: 

I was smitten with this pink plaid. 

When I saw this green, with its tiny jacquard, I knew it had to be a hood, or two. 

Don’t worry, I have plenty of black silk as well. I have an ivory wool coming to goo with the black wool already here. 

I will be making a couple different styles of winter bonnets and hoods based on originals in my collection. That collection had some notable additions this year including a private collection I have the honor of giving a continued home. 

Look for warm winter wear soon. Or, should I say Warm Winter Wear? 

It has been a while since I’ve hosted a game. This one should be especially fun. 

I just listed this sewing box in my Etsy shop. ***To make this more fun, I will be adjusting the price each time I add something new!*** There will still be shipping. 

I will be “filling” the sewing box with goodies, at least once a day, sometimes much more often. “Filling” is in quotes because as I get going, not everything will fit in the box. I will post the new additions here. I may also post about them on Facebook as time allows. 

The box can be purchased at any time during the game. The purchaser gets the box and everything that has been added up to that point! 

About the box: This handsewn box has been one of the most popular items in my Etsy shop. At 4″ long, it travels easily while holding your sewing essentials. The fabric is a green cotton with pretty pink Paisleys. It ties closed with silk ribbon. 

The first additions! 

Every sewing box needs a pair of scissors. This pair of scissors is nearly identical in design to an original pair I have. Of course, if you have scissors, you need a scissors case to protect the point. This is a handsewn wool case.

Next addition! (8pm Thursday) 

What is a sewing box without needles?! Here are two vintage packets of needles. 

Good morning! 

If you are going to have a sewing box, you are going to need something to sew. This morning I am add-in this starter roll of fabrics. Each piece of cotton fabric is in a period appropriate print, excellent for FanU projects, a little quilt, or a search book. 

This afternoon I’ve added black tailor’s chalk. This is the waxy kind. Tailor’s chalk is incredibly useful for marking fabric for cutting. You never have to worry about breaking a pencil tip! Plus, I’ve decided to added to the fun by changing the box price each time I add something! 

Saturday day morning’s addition is a vintage spool of thread. This white spool is big. 

Saturday evening’s addition is a must have for your thread. This little wax star was made by me. It will help you keep your thread from tangling. 

I’ve decided to add two items this morning. First is a plaid wool pin ball. This is a versatile yet compact pin cushion. Second is a vintage bodkin. Bodkins make running cords and drawstrings so much easier. 

The box is now full. Inside is:

• A Vintage Bodkin
• Plaid Wool Pin Ball
• A Star Wax
• A Vintage Spool of Thread
• 2 Black Tailor’s Chalks
• A Roll of Cotton Prints, period correct of course 
• 2 Vintage Needle Packets
• A Pair of Scissors in a Wool Holder
• Of course the Box! 

This fashionable spoon bonnet is made with a pale straw. It will fit an average to smaller head best. 

Find this bonnet in my Etsy shop. 

The Genesee Country Village & Museum is hosting its Domestic Skills Symposium November 10th through the 12th. 

 Saturday, November 11th is filled with exceptional lectures covering 18th and 19th century domestic topics:

• “Manuscript Cookbooks as Documents of Social and Family History,” by Peter G.Rose, author and food historian at http://www.peterrose.com, South Salem, NY
• “Street Foods of the Late 18th and 19th Century,” by Nancy Webster, Curator of National Friends Historical Association
•  “Store it, Cook it, Eat it. The Potter Made it All.” by Mark Presher, Master Potter at Genesee Country Village & Museum, Mumford, NY
•  “Calico Capers” by Patricia Tice, Curator, John L. Wehle Gallery, Genesee Country Village & Museum, Mumford, NY

On Friday and Sunday, a wide selection of workshops are offered. I will be teaching both days this year! 

On Friday: Exploring the Work-box: Tools and Trims 

Explore tools and techniques used to create the trims, finishes and special touches on nineteenth century garments and accessories. During this workshop, attendees will discover the techniques used on original garments and how to reproduce the look while developing their own sample book. Both antique and eproduction tools will be available to use. Some types of trims we will explore: ruching, pleating, pinking with pinking dies and pinking machines.

On Sunday: A Sampler of Pincushions 
Make two or three small period styles of pincushions. All 
materials for your chosen designs will be provided and instructions for all 
designs will be given to each attendee. Participants should bring: a sewing 
basket with scissors, thimble, pins, needle, seam ripper, marking 
pencil/pen and a notepad. 

 
 Visit www.gcv.org to learn all about the Domestic Skills Symposium and Register!!!

Btw – I am totally giddy that my photo heads the Symposium page!