Catch up, not Katchup

Hello stranger!

It was Summer, I had no time nor ambition to post. That's all there is to it.
Here are some of the things that I was up to earlier this year.

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This past year I have started volunteering at the High Desert Museum in the living history department (if you read my blog you should know this already...)
I have one skirt and a bodice. only.. one.. bodice...

This would not last long.
I found this fabric at JoAnn's. and I love it so much I can't even tell you.

I had no pattern that I liked enough for this fabric and what I had in mind.

So I drafted my own pattern.

Here is the finished product.

 

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A little foundation...

For...

....A cordedpetty coat!

At reenactments I have found that I hate having to wear a ridiculous hoop skirt. That I am constantly bumping into things, knocking things over, nearly catching myself on fire.

So this year I made a cordedpetty coat.

It is about two panels in width.

Instead of using cord by the yard witch can cost up to and beyond $3.99...A yard.. I took a cue from a good friend and used cotton cloths line instead! it took two 100 yard bundles at $4.99 apiece.

The only down side that I have with this petticoat would have to be the sheer weight of it. When wearing it (with all my other layers as well.) I am a good ten pounds heavier. I'm not kidding.

So to combat this (literal) pain in the back I did a few different things. First- the butt pad. Not only does it give me that lovely hour glass shape, but it helps support the skirt. Second- a WIDE waist band.

Despite the fact that it is rather heavy ( By the end of the day you can't really feel the weight anymore. It's not that bad.. )

I LOVE this pettycoat!!! I did not even wear my hoop for most of  the events!

I may never wear a hoop out to a reenactment again, in fact!

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Before each event I had to put a little TLC into  the petticoat, IE- Iron and starch the heck out of that thing!!!

when packing for McIver ( our last event of the year:( ) I found that after just two events and three starchings your petticoat WILL in fact stand by it's self!

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Croquette dress and matching shirt for my Father.
( Gotta love the looks on our face's )

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Hats

I love hats.

Here are some hats that I made this year for reenacting.

My porkpie.

My all time favorite hat.

It is made of royal blue velvet over a buckram base.

It is just a plain, round, flat top hat.

My Glengery.

Made of dark red empress velvet over a cotton and soft felt base.

I especially like the swallow tail back..

Can we please bring hats back into fashion?

I hate that I can't wear these hats for another nine months..
Cue sad face.

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Some repair work.

I finally gave in this year and got a pair of Toms

And I don't know why I waited so long, they are SO comfy!

Well this summer I wore them pretty hard.

So in September, when I looked down and saw that my toe was about to pop through the end if I wasn't careful.

 I was rather upset!

They are not the cheapest shoes out there and I was not about to throw them out when they DID get a hole!

The lining had a hole already and my toenail was now working on the outer layer.

So I thought. I can sew! why not just put a patch on them?!

Found some fabric in my mothers stash.

Cut out the bits I wanted, pined them onto the shoes...

Then sewed it on. And POOF they are like brand new shoes again!

They are a bit dirty in this photo as I had worn them to McIver set up day,

and it had rained so it was very wet.

I am glad that I was able to pump some more life into them!

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And there are some of the things that I have been up to earlier this year!

Happy Catch up~

Kacie



Right, or Wrong. that is the question....

I am in need of your opinion.
So please, don't be shy to give it!!!

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After ten years of having the same cape for reenacting I have finally decided that my disgust for, said cape has finally come to fruition.
I am ready to move on.

The cape, is one of those first sewing projects that all reenactors have jammed in the back of there closets.

The thing that was made from an unauthentic pattern, polyester lining, uncomfortable, what-have-you.

The cape is one of these things.

It works fine when it is cold, or raining cats and dogs but never a joy to wear.

( Plus I always feel that when starting the fire when wearing the cape I will some how light it on fire and Kacie would cease to be...)

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So, After Willamette ( Pictures coming "soon" )

I started to come up with a pattern for a new cloak/coat.

baste off of Traveling coats.

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This is where I need YOUR help.

The coat that I designed is basically a cape with sleeves.

The thing I do like about cape's is that they have hoods.

So I put a hood on my mock-up, I have not seen a picture of a coat with hood during or before the 1860's so my question to you is-

Does the hood make it look to modern?

Should I just go for a coat with no hood and just put a collar on it?

PLEASE HELP!!!

I am torn between wanting a hood and wanting an authentic piece of clothing.
once again,
PLEASE HELP!

Happy Helping~
Kacie

Wandering.

As I promised in my last post

this one would be about some ( not all ) of the things that I have been doing during my hiatus.

This is my none historical post. That I am saving for the NEXT one...

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#1.

Here fishy, fishy.

A beaded sperm whale pin.

The beads are sewn onto dark blue felt.

Since it is on felt this means it is very flexible...

#2.

There she blows!

Finally finished my whale wall hanging!

I am rather please with how it came out.

It has already come in handy many times.

#3.

I got to go to the coast!

#4.

Duplicates..

Do you know what these are?

 

That is right! they are a teeny,tiny working corset busk.
At this point you may be thinking- What do you need a tiny working corset busk for Kacie?

The answer would be

 a miniature replica of my 1902 corset for my doll, of course!

 

Yes, I made an almost exact replica of my corset, for my doll.

Whoops.

One to many eyelets on the left side....

#5.

I had a Birthday!

My Mom and Dad got me a new sewing machine a few months back.

( which I have already posted about.)

But my Mom thought that she would give me something ON my birthday.

Since I am ALWAYS "stealing" her Quilting ruler, she decided that it was time I had one of my own :)

It has already seen much use. 

#6.

More pattern drafting.

This time for modern clothing.

#7.

The most exciting thing.

I got my Wedding ring quilt in the quilting frame!!!!!

It took about two tries getting the layers all basted but I got it done!......

Well. Not DONE, just in the frame....But still!!!

I can almost see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel!

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The next few posts shall be about all my historical projects that I have been working on...

 

Happy Wanderings~

Kacie

1904 Waist

Well.
Yes I know I haven't blogged for a long time.
Life being far to busy plus the up loader on this thing makes it to where it takes all day to upload one post. I will try to be better in the future.
:)

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1904 waist #1.
I finished the bodice a few months ago, and have worn it many times.
I can't remember what pattern I used....sorry, if I remember I will put it up.
The fabric is cotton calico, light brown with green print.

It turned out OK. The thing I don't like the most about this bodice

is the fact that the arm holes are far to small. After wearing it all day, when I take it off I have chaffing around my shoulders and arms...This can easily be fixed on my next bodice.

Got to love that great S curve.

I did the more authentic way of putting the lining in with the waist band.

since the skirt goes over the bodice, I had to think of a way to make so the skirt would still be supported and the "puff" in the front would stay all day even after running around playing games.

I solved this problem by going the authentic way. Fancy that, they knew what they where doing!

In my next post I will be doing a recape of all I have been doing while being lazy and not posting anything up in the past month...

Happy Sewing~

Kacie