Hem & H.A*
(Historically Adequate)

A long overdue NorCal update! Back in early September I made my second ever trip to the Northern California Renaissance Faire. I really enjoyed my first visit --the location, with it's larger more northern trees, reminded me of Canadian Faires-- and I was really looking forward to going again. Hoping for a cooler event (compared to the SoCal Faire) I added a couple of layers to my waistcoat ensemble and drove the 5 hours north!

So...I'm waffling a bit. Not on a loose gown.  No...the pattern is scaled up, the mockup is made (more or less), and the fabric is purchased.  I'm definitely making a loose gown. But after re-examining some of the images, I'm not as sure as I was that it actually is a loose gown that I'm seeing in my inspiration portraits.

Riiiiiiight....so, remember when I said I was going to start my fitted gown project? Well, this time it only took me --what?-- 4 weeks to abandon it again? (Even less, because I actually bought the fabric for this new project 3 weeks ago). But I just couldn't help myself, and here's why...

 I've been planning an English fitted gown based on the patterns from the Tudor Tailor.  I've changed the design somewhat from my initial sketches...

I had a week off work before the last weekend of this year's SoCal Faire, so I was able to make some new pieces to wear with my waistcoat for a much posher look.

(Note: This post was compiled before I realized that Blogger had a secret "enhance" feature that it automatically applied to all your photos.  I've since figured out how to turn it off, but I apologize for the crazy saturation and vignetting on some of the photos below.) Phew!!! So I finally finished the blue Elizabethan/Jacobean waistcoat I started planning...what? Three years ago? Yikes.

My take on the Pfalzgrafin Dorothea Sabina von Neuburg corset/bodies (below), but with the waist tabs left off and adapted for front lacing. This corset basically started life as a glorified belt.

The red linen petticoat is now finished and hemmed to walking length (not as pretty but considerably more practical).

My first attempt at historical sewing: A petticoat in heavyweight, red linen.  It still needs to be hemmed, not to mention a good iron! It's a bit of a hodge - podge as far as the design and construction goes. I followed the instructions (up to a point) for an 18 th century petticoat found on the Fashionable Frolick blog. However I changed the pleating pattern for a more 16 th century look.

Welcome to The Wardrobe : A compilation of all the outfits and accessories I've made to date. They are listed roughly in order --from newest to oldest-- with links the original Dress Diaries as well followups where applicable.  Accessories and undergarments are grouped towards the end. (Hopefully this will be easier to navigate than the "labels" list in the sidebar.)