HSF 2014: Thoughts and Plans

I really want to be more organized and focused with Historical Sew Fortnightly this year. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I'm going to make it to Costume College this summer so I've decided to focus most of my costuming efforts on Elizabethan things I can wear to the Ohio Renaissance Festival.

I really want to focus on a wardrobe of pieces that I can mix and match to form different looks for different days with different weather conditions. Here in the great state of Ohio, it can range from 90F to 50F for the high during the Renaissance Festival so I really do need a bit of everything!

As I've already posted about before, my court dress needs some work. I've actually finished the new bodice for Challenge #1 but I'm a bad blogger and haven't got pictures of it yet. (I blame the bad weather.) It's going to need new trim but I'm going to save that for another challenge.

The Ren Faire Prep Check List:

1. Retrim Court dress

2. Remove lacing rings from red peasant kirtle and do eyelets instead

3. New shift

I have two shifts, both cotton and neither of which fit well. I'd love one with a ruff and cuffs (and maybe blackwork.

3. Aprons

Ideally, I'd like two-a more basic one for my peasant ensemble and a blackwork one for my middle class impression.

4. More black work projects

I'm thinking an embroidered coif and partlet set would be fabulous.

5. Linen jacket

I'm quite in love with the linen waistcoat from the Tudor Tailor. Lauren of American Duchess made the jacket on the right which I am quite in love with.

6. A fitted English gown

Also in the Tudor Tailor. I'd really love to do one of these in velvet, but I'll probably end up doing a wool one first and do a velvet one once I've had more practice. Lots of people do black ones but I've seen some more fun colored ones in period sources so I think I might go that route.

7. More kirtles

Now that I've "cracked the code" so to speak on kirtles, I want to make more! I have a few yards of wool in my stash that I originally bought to make a suit with but I'm not sure it's really the best fabric for the original pattern. It may end up as a pretty kirtle instead.

8. Gold Bullion Embroidery Muff

I started this last year at Costume College and actually got pretty far on the embroidery before I ran out of one of the threads and it ended up back in the UFO pile. Really want to finish this one up

I'm sure I'll also throw in plenty of 40s projects too. Actually, the next two challenges are going to be early 40s. But these are easier and need less planning.

Unseasonable Attire

I know it's the middle of winter but everyone loves a novelty print so I opted to wear my BBQ dress for day two of the expo.

I love love this dress! I paired it with my American Duchess 23skidoos. Love these shoes but I wish I'd gotten some squishy inserts for them because that concrete floor was HARD.

I realized this weekend that I have a huge wardrobe gap- no red hat! Seriously! How did that happen? Giant white hair flower to the rescue.

I miss summer and picnics and sunshine!

Ah, well, at least I got to pretend for one day!

Sunshine, Daisies, Butter Mellow

This weekend, the hubby and I were at a huge 2 day bridal expo. I didn't get awesome photos because we had way too much stuff to lug around with out adding a camera on top of it all. So iPhone photos it was. This outfit was just too cute not to share!

I rocked out my cherry print Bernie Dexter dress with pops of red and a great yellow hat. This hat is so fabulous! You can't see but there is a yellow swirly ribbon and some great pearl details on it!

P.S. Extra nerd points to anyone who knows where the title for this post came from.

On My Sewing Table

Just a few things I'm working on right now....

Wearing History's Dahlia Blouse in a gorgeous red rayon

A 3/4 circle skirt waiting to be hemmed.

And my birdies! They cannot stay away from my sewing things. Recently, Rachel (left) has decided she loves my sewing machine. She'll climb up the power chord up to get to my sewing table and then sweet talk to my machine. Silly bird!

Knit For Victory

Despite the fact that I wasn't able to get started on my Knit for Victory project until Thanksgiving, I got my first project finished!

It's Warm Jumper from A Stitch In Time Vol. 2. I was initially put off by this pattern because it looked boring but it knit up really quickly and is going to be a great basic!

I knit up the smallest size which the pattern notes is very short waisted. It worked out great for me since I am a bit short waisted and plan on wearing this only with vintage styles. The sleeves also came out a bit long so I think I'll knit them 1/2" to 1" shorter next go around.

I paired them with my brand new Freddies of Pinewood Norma Jeans which I snagged on sale over Christmas. They are super high waisted and I love them. They are a smidge big at the waist and I may need to take them in a bit but I'm going to see how a belt does first.

I opted for a bold red shirt for under the sweater to break up a bit of the blue of the rest of the outfit.

Overall it was a great comfy outfit for a chilly damp day.

I am really happy with this project and can't wait to finish my next Knit for Victory project!

Happy Christmas to Me!

I thought I'd share a few of the vintage goodies I got for Christmas / graduation this year. Some are gifts and some I picked out myself with gift money. I was very lucky in my goodies this year. Aside from a nice fabric haul, I got some great stuff!

Vintage patterns galore! Can't wait for early 40s sewing this year!

Simplicity 3523, Simplicity 3468, Simplicity 3424

Simplicity 3702, Simplicity 4413

Simplicity 3457, Simplicity 3301

Wearing History's Deliah 1940s blouse and 1930s Day or Evening blouse and skirt pattern

 A Complete 1950s Guide to Vintage Makeup, Hairstyling & Beauty Techniques and Beauty, Glamour & Personality A Complete 1940s Guide to Vintage Makeup, Hairstyling and Elegance

I also got a new pair of Freddies on sale! :D

Did you get vintage lovelies for Christmas?

Classic Casual

I do a really bad job of capturing my more casual outfits and I want to do a better job of that this year.

For a chilly, rainy, gray day, sometimes a pretty dress just doesn't cut it! I paired a vintage Pendleton style plaid jacket with Freddies jeans and saddle shoes for a comfortable, cozy look!

This style of wool jacket tends to be rather boxy so I opted to belt it to show off my shape.

I got this jacket for a great price since it has a few moth chews but I couldn't pass up the gorgeous color combo! I really need more of these jackets in my wardrobe!

I love these brown on brown saddle shoes! I feel like the white and black/brown color combo can look costume-y if you're not careful. I don't wear these shoes much which is a shame because they are so cute!

Thanks to everyone who commented on my hair decision post a few weeks ago! I went back and forth a couple of times but ultimately decided to go for short again! Love it! This is my original hair cut but I've since tweeked it a bit since the bang section was still a bit long but it feels so nice now.

What is your favorite comfy casual vintage outfit?