The Vintage Nerd Sews

I didn't get the market bonnet made in time, but I did finish my linen gown in time to wear to Fort Frederick Market Fair this weekend. Under it, I wore my new Augusta Stays and the undergarments and petticoats I made last summer. After several hours walking around in it all, I had a few fit notes. Thankfully, nearly all were quick fixed that I was able to correct in a short amount of time.  The first thing was my stays. I found the fit to be overall good, but gapping a bit at the bust. This is normal for me, so I typically just add a little padding and call it a day. However, after several hours of wear, I realized that these needed an adjustment. The curved portions of the stays top where the shoulder straps attach spent the afternoon digging into the front of my underarms. Having narrow shoulders as well, I didn't love where the straps sat on my shoulders, so I applied a quick fix. I shifted the eyelet down and further in, trimming down the curve of the top of the stays. Aft

I said in an earlier post that I strongly dislike making historical undergarments. Making stays seems to have done something to my brain, because a few weeks back, I spent the weekend sewing and cording a pair of ladies' short stays, and while sewing cording channels did start to get dull toward the end (I cheated and used the sewing machine for this bit), I thoroughly enjoyed cording and assembling them.  The first portion of cording underway with the help of a circa 1900 needle. Stays front ready for cording I used Laughing Moon 115 for these, opting for the short stays option. For cording, I used cotton yarn from my stash, and salvaged zip ties from my failed half-boned stays for the couple of places boning was required. For a busk, I'm going to use a paint stirrer, as was recommended as a "cheat" by the pattern. I happened to have one lying around the house, and it fits perfectly in width! One unfortunate issue with this pattern is the cup size. I went with my rec

I haven't had time to get into my sewing room for about a month now, aside from a couple of days when I didn't have the energy to sew. It seems unfair that the days often fall like that for a season, but for the next few weeks, I'm looking at the grey cloud of my husband being gone on orders for the silver lining of extra time to be in the sewing room.  Fort Frederick Market Faire is in a couple of weeks, and I am planning on going. I'll be able to meet friends from the internet in person, and shop hands-on at vendors that I've only purchased from online in the past. I'm planning to go in period clothing, as well. I'm extremely excited! However, with the excitement comes nerves. I'm a perfectionist and struggle with a little social anxiety (as we all do on occasion), so wearing my 18th century creations somewhere that a lot of very knowledgeable people will be is frankly, terrifying. In order to feel confident, I want to complete a couple more items for