Kristen: Jane Austen's Birthday Party!

Let me preface this post with the following statement: I need sleep. If at times my text is confusing, I apologize! Within the past week I've participated in a Civil War Christmas "party," Jane Austen's birthday party complete with Regency dress and underpinnings, wrote /edited a 15 page paper, and finished a website for class (http://18thcenturyclothing.weebly.com/). Yet it was all worth it! You've already read my post here about my Civil War party...now for Jane Austen's birthday!

 I am a proud member of JASNA, the Jane Austen Society of North America. This fall I went to a tea party/book discussion that I mentioned in a previous post. I was ecstatic to be invited to a birthday celebration for Ms. Austen with such a lovely group of women, and at the Inn at St. John's, a former seminary!

The chapel itself was gorgeous! I was one of only a few women who dressed in Regency attire, so there was a *gasp* when I walked into the room! After a short blessing we headed down to the banquet room, where a party was set to honor Jane Austen's birthday!

We first started with a toast...and since I didn't have my license (left in the car) they wouldn't serve me champagne! My 26th birthday in one week, and I toasted with sparkling grape juice! Everyone at the table had a good laugh at that one...After our meal, we sang "Happy Birthday" and ate some cake.

Our host had little prizes for the tables if we could answer enough trivia about Pride and Prejudice without the use of modern devices. One of the women at my table could nearly quote the book! We didn't win, but I did learn A LOT about the text itself, and that I truly was in a room of Austenites! They also had a little lending library and games that we could admire. Did you know Jane Austen has an action figure????

Did I mention that everyone kept snapping pictures of me? I was quite a novelty; one women even commented that I looked like dear Jane herself! I take pride in the time/research that I invested in this ensemble. 

Finally, I had to return home. Along the way I stopped at my Aunt's house to hem my cousin's choir dress. I made her take a few pictures, since the lighting at the party was difficult. I'm reminded of how well everything fell together. Seven yards of light yellow cotton voile fabric, several feet of embroidered leaves, a set of short stays, a sleeveless chemise, white stockings, dainty black slippers, perfectly curled hair with grecian hair band, my own teardrop pearl earrings, reproduction ring, and a silk/wool shawl imported from India...so many pieces had to fall together *just so* in order to make this work. I'm glad it did! As my first Regency wardrobe, it certainly displays the advancement of my sewing skills.

It has finally happened...I am an Austenite! It's not enough to read her writing...I needed to spend some time in "her clothing" to truly understand her. 

Now I shall SLEEP! That is, until I start sewing for The Historical Sew Fortnightly...more on that later, you nosy reader you...

~Kristen

Becky: Completed embroidered braces with tutorial

I've been working on my dad's braces for a while. In fact, they were supposed to be a Christmas gift last year or even the year before! This week I was finishing them at the sewing party. I'm happy another project is crossed off my list and dad is happy to be able to wear awesome braces for his wedding.

Embroidery comes easy for me, but I'd love to show you my technique!

1) Trace your pattern on parchment paper with a pencil

2) Place the tracing on the braces or on the latest work to continue.

3) Embroider through the fabric and paper

4) Finally remove paper by streaming paper and tearing.

I'm now working on a custom dress someone asked me to make and finish my 

corset.

I need your help deciding on which colors to use for my first Rev war dress!

Should I go with the pink jacket with a blue shirt or blue jacket with pink skirt?

With Love,
            Becky!

The First Post: Kristen, Carrie, and Becky Sew

For out first post, we have decided to meet and start with a few different projects. Here, Carrie is finishing up a chemise...

 

 Don't thread your finger!

Carrie, who is at the beginner level of sewing, today accomplished the following:

1. Learned how to thread a bobbin

2. Sewed together yoke

3. Felled a seam

4. Made gathers on the yoke of the chemise

 

 Carrie's accomplished gathers

Carrie's quote of the day? "I'm confused." Luckily, Becky is a talented seamstress (and Kristen is talented at not being a good helper...)

I don't get it!

Much of Becky's work included helping Carrie and I with smaller projects, but she did manage to work on a pair of braces for her father. They have been a two year project, but will look amazing at the next Civil War reenactment!

  I wish I had daughters to sew for me!

Becky has made it very clear that Carrie MUST finish the chemise before she leaves, even if it takes until the wee hours of the morning! Unfortunately I am not as dedicated to my sewing, and Becky does complete beautiful work!

 Becky modeling the latest design from Paris...

As for myself, I started working on an embroidered cross design. A fellow English teacher at the school I work at asked me to create a communion stole and banner for his son. I had planned on using a basic felt design, but found it to be lacking in...something. So I jumped on board the embroidery bandwagon!

 I look more tired than I feel!

Crosses seem fairly easy, but I found it difficult to focus on keeping lines straight. I suppose that will come with experience!

 Note the Celtic design; they're Irish!

Our next meeting is planned for February 16th, which will take place at my house with the 21st Michigan. I have not planned a group sewing event before, but based on my experience, it has been quite fun! 

In the meantime, Carrie, Becky, and I plan on contributing to the blog at least once a week. Since we are all working on our own projects, you will see a beginner, novice, and experienced seamstress' perspective of things!