Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Give Me My Yellow Hose Again: HSM 2017 challenge #5: Literature



"Remember who commended thy yellow stockings and wished to see thee ever cross-gartered..."

Literature is the theme for this month, and my mind immediately sprang to Shakespeare. I first saw Twelfth Night on the big screen when I was 10, but my production of choice is the all-male version at the Globe Theater with Stephen Fry as Malvolio. It's not my favorite Shakespeare play (that would be Much Ado About Nothing,) but it's up in my top five and so I chose Malvolio's yellow stockings as a quick and easy entry. Good thing too, as between the last few weekends of faire and a terrible cold, I was left with very little time to make them.

I'm no knitter, so I was very happy to find a pair of blue wool pieced hose that I could pattern. 

And here's the finished pair!

  • Historical Sew Monthly 2017 thedreamstress.com

The Challenge: Literature
Material: Yellow Linen
Pattern: From and existing piece of costuming
Year: 1500's
Notions: Thread
How historically accurate is it? Machine and hand sewn
Hours to complete: 72
First worn: Not yet
Total cost: $5.00

Monday, May 1, 2017

HSM 2017 Challenge # 4: Circles, Squares and Rectangles

April's challenge is Circles, Squares and Rectangles and so my entry is a straight paneled wool skirt! I meant to finish it before Faire started, but some last-minute commission work (and an unexpected maid's uniform) pushed it to the back of the queue.
I purchased the wool from a vendor at Old Fort MacArthur days in San Pedro and there was just enough material for one piece of clothing. The skirt is two rectangles sewn together at the selvages and pleated to a waistband with a finished hem.

The photos don't do the color justice. In real life, it's bright, nearly electric blue with flecks of purple.  It's extremely lightweight too, nearly handkerchief weight!


I faced the hem with Bias tape made from cotton duck canvas. It gives the fabric a little protection from the ground and helps to keep the hem from tangling around my ankles.

And finally, I decided to sew on lacing rings to give me a little flexibility on days when I'm not feeling 100%.


  • Historical Sew Monthly 2017 thedreamstress.com

The Challenge: Circles, Squares and Rectangles
Material: Bright blue wool
Pattern: Um, no.
Year: Multi-era, but currently being worn in 1572
Notions: Thread, brass lacing rings and cotton duck bias tape
How historically accurate is it?  Machine sewn
Hours to complete: 80
First worn: April 29th
Total cost: $0