HSF – the rest of the year, challenges 13-24

by In Historical Sew Fortnightly 2014 Tagged , 1 Comment

Following the recent wrap-up of the first 6 months of the Historical Sew Fortnightly 2014, I started to think about the remaining six months of challenges. Here’s my current ideas/plans:

#13 Under $10 – a pair of sleeves (already completed, will write it up this week)
#14 Paisley and plaid – no entry, not a popular 15th or 16th century choice
#15 The Great Outdoors – A pair of turn shoes and accompanying chopines/pattens
#16 Terminology – something made from linen
#17 Yellow – remake the mustard gown, sleeves, take out lining, make into a round gown
#18 Poetry in motion – an outfit based on Three Country Dances by Thomas Hobcroft
#19 HSF inspiration – no idea yet. Time to trawl the albums and get inspired
#20 Alternative Universe – no entry
#21 Re-do – Probably #9: Black and White, as I want to make a smocked shirt for a friend
#22 Gentleman’s Attire – a Yule Feast outfit for my other half, which will definitely include a doublet, and may include the gown I started and abandoned for Midwinter. Depends on his desires, really
#23 Modern History – Probably a blouse, from my Grandmother’s pattern cutting book. Quite excited by this idea, actually doing some “modern” sewing for a change.
#24 All that Glitters – Not sure yet, a girdle for my court gowns? Something for Yule Feast for myself?

Quite an inspiring and challenging, but not overwhelming list!

Joining the Historical Sew Fortnightly in 2014

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Last year Leimomi Oakes, aka The Dreamstress, created the Historical Sew Fortnightly (HSF). I thought about joining in last year, but being honest with myself (following some frank discussion with a costuming mentor) I decided I had other priorities. This year I’m in – for most of the challenges.

Leimomi posted all the challenges for the year yesterday, which really, really helps with planning items and fitting them into events that I know are coming up this year and that I already had sewing goals for. In particular:

  • Rowany Festival, 17-22 April
  • Rowany Baronial changeover, 3 May
  • Midwinter Coronation, 5-6 July
  • Cold War, end August
  • November Crown/ Fields of Gold, November
  • Yule Feast, early December

Some rules I’m setting myself for participating the HSF.

  1. Preparing for events is more important than participating in a challenge, making them work together is excellent.
  2. Life trumps sewing
  3. If I can’t make it work for within the framework of this blog and my specific research interests then I’m not participating in that challenge.
  4. Using a challenge as impetus to make something that’s been knocking around in my head for a few years is a good thing. I’m looking at “Tops and Toes” and “The Great Outdoors” here.

With this in mind I made a template for planning the challenges, which I printed out single-sided and will blue tack to a wall at home. Feel free to use the template if it will help you too.

Looking through the challenges, and keeping in mind the rules above I immediately knocked out the following challenges either because of competing event deadlines, or rule 3: #5-Bodice (Rule 1, 1 month to Festival); #6-Fairytale (Rule 3, also Rule 1); #14-Paisley & Plaid (Rule 3); #20-Alternative Universe (Rule 3).

I have ideas drafted for challenges 1-4, 7-9 as they fit with plans I already had for my Festival kit, and plans to finish the transition gown I was making for Yule Feast last year. First challenge results will be posted later this week.

Here’s to a creative and productive year!