Paletots and Cloaks

    I'm researching cloaks instead of writing a paper for class. Of course. I'm the world's worst procrastinator. But I'd rather research historical patterns than write a paper on the textual analysis and audience response to gender in media. Or write another chapter for my novel. I'm pretty burned out on writing right now... anyways:

    The Naim Cloak!!! 

     This is the pattern I'm looking at for my reenacting 'cloak' (the name is a little misleading. It's not a cloak at all!). I found it in my handy-dandy 60 Civil War-Era Fashion Patterns by Kristina Seleshanko. I noticed that every other paletot or cloak pattern was made with velvet or silk. As a laundress, a silk or velvet paletot would be pretty impractical, and women wouldn't make a 'fancy' paletot in a plainer cloth. It just wasn't done. This pattern calls for "cloth, velvet or thick silk". Wool suiting is cloth. I'm going with it. 

     I really like the more fitted styles, since the only figure-flattering area is the waist (and especially on me: I have wide shoulders and a long torso, so I like the definition), but these women are wearing loose paletots. 

       Something like the illustration below would be great. It is an 1864 pattern, but I think it would be permissible to take in the paletot a little bit (shh, don't tell).

     And now that I'm looking at outerwear, I've stumbled upon a mid-19th century hood on Romantic History Historical Clothing. 

       

Sarah Jane provides the pattern on her blog, and I think I'm going to make one out of a couple of wool skirts given to me. The skirts don't fit, but the wool is soft and pretty, so I've been holding on to them for a while. 

     Well, dinner is ready, and I really do have to work on that paper (or research 17th-century New England for my novel...), so I'll write again soon. Hopefully I'll have made some sewing/ pattern progress by then! 

     Cheers!

New Projects

Finally! I can breathe. All of my crazy hectic plans have been completed.
So, of course, I'd like to stress myself out again :)
It's really more like starting now before I stress myself out the last week of August, really.
My unit is going to the Huntington Beach Civil War Reenactment the first weekend in September, and I've things to make. Specifically: A third set of split drawers and a paletot.
I'm going to hand sew the drawers, since the machine I use is at the shop, and I'll probably machine most of the paletot. I'll do topstitching and trim for the paletot by hand.
The drawers (and maybe another chemise, actually. It's really humid and gross in H.B. at this event) will be made out of lightweight muslin. I have a 50% off coupon for Joann's, so I'm pretty ecstatic about it.
I have a nice wool suiting that I purchased in L.A. for the paletot, but no lining. So this week(end?) I'm going to the $2 fabric store nearby to pick up a lining fabric. They have some pretty nice twills, three yards of which I bought to line stays, corsets, etc. I'd use that, but it's tan, and my wool suiting is a hunter green/ black check.
Wish me luck!

(History-Con pt.2) Sambuca and Fort MacArthur...

both have the spirit and allure of a Roman night. Or Sunday afternoon. A Roman Sunday afternoon.

From left to right: Lisa, Kevin (brother), Alex, Ron, Me, Kristen, Kevin W. , Faith, Jason

I must hand it to those Romans, they sure knew how to dress. Corsets, petticoats, stockings, hats? What are those? I mean, they had hats, but whatever. Not mandatory bonnets whose strings choke you in the wind.

Latin for "camp [something]". My search results came up with  nil. It probably means "awesome". I don't know why I look these things up, that's definitely what it means.

Roman Camp.

Brother looking fierce. 

But not as fierce as Faith. 

Kevin W. seems unsure of this madness. 

Picnicking. What a strange word. Extra 'k'. Unnecessary.

Looming demonstration. She's weaving a plaid to use as an actual plaid. Amazing craftsmanship. 

Who doesn't love goats? Especially when they're owned by pirates. Legitimate historical pirates. 

Faith and Kevin W. at the Korean Bell of Friendship. 

Faith jogs along on our constitutional. I'm probably yelling at her to  put her skirts down. 

The Korean Bell of Friendship. Which has a sign that reads: "Do Not Touch!!!!!!" . Faith is a rebel.  And she's showing a nice stretch of leg.

History-Con (Fort MacArthur Days) was the highlight of my ridiculously busy summer. Tomorrow I start a summer class, so it was the perfect timing. And Alex and my brother are probably going to sign up with the local Napoleonic War regiment. Which sounds silly when you say it out loud. But it means Regency dresses. And an opportunity to make some regency stays, which I will use in my dream impression: Incroyables et Merveilleuse. Alex would look amazing in a pigeon-breasted coat and a cravat that covers his chin. Maybe not the chin, he has a nice chin. 

Now to help my friend, Caitlin, with her Comic-Con outfit. That she needs done by Friday. 

Will post soon!

History-Con...

...would be more apt a title for the Fort MacArthur Days event in San Pedro. It was amazing. And windy. So windy, in fact, that my boyfriend, Alex, was able to hold his hat on his stomach for the 20 minutes (literally two) it took my brother to take a picture.

He's a wizard.

But, oh, the perils of costuming with wind!!! Modern half-moon bangs look a little silly falling out of their pins. 

That's me.

Alex, Me, and Kristen before being swept away. Super flattering, I must say.

I went with my "laundress" impression for this event. I wore my corded petticoats, pillow ticking corset and calico dress with a gathered bodice and a dog-leg closure. I love straw hats, so I tied (which puts it mildly, I was nearly garroted) it to my head and hoped for the best. I only realized how patriotic I looked after my dad questioned my fashion-coordination, to which I replied: "I'm a working woman. I've no care for your frivolities!" Needless to say, my dad thinks I'm insane. 

From left to right: Kevin (brother), Kristen, Me, Alex, Faith and Kevin W.

Here's a picture of the group before we encountered the cyclone that is San Pedro. Sweeping generalizations are my specialty. My brother is in his reenacting uniform (minus the sack coat); Kristen is wearing my plaid jacket, cage crinoline, and awesome straw bonnet (she's from Georgia, so she won the crinoline contest hands-down); I'm wearing a very patriotic ensemble; Alex is wearing a Civil War Navy uniform and looks quite dashing; Faith is wearing a peach robe a l'Anglaise with my precious bergere hat and a pretty awesome bumroll; and Kevin W. is wearing a Union corporal's uniform. 

We picnicked on the grounds beside some super rowdy children throwing sandals, meandered through several-hundred years worth of military history, and came upon our Civil War reenacting friends! But they were in tunics and chitons. Because they are Romans as well! That should be exciting. You should probably feel that excitement. Another post about the Romans!!!

Oh, Life.

Gentle Reader,
    With the unforeseen birthday extravaganzas (count 4), graduations (count 2), Thanksgiving in June (for my expatriate brother) and Anniversary/graduation/birthday/every-other-reason-to-party party, my Great Mustard Jacket had to be put on hiatus.
    And I'm a little bummed. Accountability, shmamountability. There's always next year.
    But the jacket looks great so far. Pictures when I start working on it again :)
    Right now I'm getting myself (and my friends) ready for the Fort MacArthur Timeline event in San Pedro! I'm excited. Mostly because I have something to wear, and anything else I make this week will be an extra.
I'm going to wear my reenacting getup, and right now I'm fashioning a blue plaid apron.
    More to come!