I made a wearable muslin of the Seamwork Jo recently, and as soon as my eight-year-old son saw the almost-finished product, he asked for one.
I often hesitate to say yes to these requests. It’s intimidating to take an adult-sized pattern and try to make it fit a kid. Secondly, with seven kids there is a good chance several others are going to want one, too, in the name of justice. And I just can’t, most of the time, fit and make even three or four items to so many tastes and sizes.
Sometimes, one person makes a request and I do it before I can think better of it.
Next up with my historical costuming adventure, a European bedgown, or Manteau de Lit. They are fantastically versatile, and much easier to make than the more fitted jackets from the 18th century, which required suiting up in all my underpinnings for fittings.
My first effort at making something new for this year’s Me Made May was a pair of Sew House Seven’s Free-Range Slacks. I got the pattern ages ago, and traced Version 1 onto freezer paper, but then didn’t go any further.
There’s so much anticipatory brain power that goes into starting a new pattern sometimes. I don’t have a ton of pants experience (here are my Arenites), and I’m not even great at buying RTW pants that fit.
I cut a straight size 4 based on my measurements. Fortunately, there were no fit issues. I was surprised by how flattering the pants were for being woven fabric with elastic at the top.
I’m a homebody and an introvert, but being home all day, every day with my kids during lockdown with no breaks and almost no adult interaction beyond the Chaplain has been a hit to my mental health. Through it all, though, there have been little things that pepped me up when I was falling apart. Here are five of my favorites from the last week or so:
I’ve made some serious progress on my 1740’s Outlander Cosplay. I’ve worn it two ways: as a straight-up costume, and for history bounding.
