quilting | If I Had My Own Blue Box:

The Easiest Quilted Winter Hood (of the 19th century)

I am excited to announce my newest pattern is now available!!!

My newest quilted winter hood exemplifies how a garment can be historically accurate and functional, yet still be pretty and easy to make. When worked in tissue weight silk taffeta and soft wool batting, this winter hood is snuggly warm with a brim that can be folded back framing the face or turned forward to protect from the wintery elements.

I truly believe this is the easiest to make 19th century winter hood I’ve examined, making it ideal for less experienced sewers. At the same time, the quilting can be enhanced to a more challenging design for the more advanced sewer. If buying new, a single yard of 60″ wide light weight or tissue taffeta all that is needed along with batting and ribbon ties. In keeping with the economical nature of the original, I would love to see people make this hood from their stash, piecing the interior and exterior silk layers.

This pattern publication includes two parts in PDF: A 12 page booklet with a brief(ish) story of the original quilted hood and detailed directions for making your own, and a set of printable pattern pieces.

As a bonus, I’ve included a separate PDF for making a doll size quilted winter hood.

On a modern aside: This is one of the hoods I think would make up well with modern fleece for everyday use. I previously made my Lappet Style Hood up in a nearly Pepto-pink fleece for the frigid early mornings. The fit of this hood is so comfortable for me, I can see it worked in fleece to wear while clearing the car and maybe even driving.

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on November 29, 2024 at 10:01 am Leave a Comment
Tags: hoods, patterns, quilting, sewing, winter

Patchwork Whimsy: A Victorian Stitch Guide

If you know me in person or have been following me for a while, you likely know I am stubborn, I can’t stand not doing something, and I will push myself when I really should be resting. To make a long story short, I fell on my way into work on Wednesday, turning my ankle, smashing my knees, and jamming my hands/wrists. I’ve attempted to ice, elevate, rest, all those things. I find I can not sew, at least not the way I hyper-focus sew. As such, I have a pile of patchwork pincushions waiting for their embroidery, sitting here mocking me.

I decided if I can’t sew them, I can write about sewing them. Thus, a new mini-publication, primarily written and layed out with my left hand and small fingers.

Patchwork Whimsy: A Victorian Stitch Guide pulls from three late nineteenth century fancy work manuals with the intent to inspire your fancy patchwork, what we more commonly call “crazy quilts” now. It is 22 pages, with many illustrations of stitches and sample projects (not directions for doing the projects.) I did include my patchwork cat template because I put it on the cover.