I’m taking the plunge this year and I’m going to attempt to do the Historical Sew Fortnightly 2015. Which is really the Historical Sew Monthly. Thank goodness too; I’ve been putting off participating because Fortnightly was a little too much for me. Wish me luck!
Here are the challenges and my potential plans.Of note: I’m doing this challenge in part to complete things that I keep putting off. If it seems like I’m stretching the category a little bit it’s because I’m trying to get a specific garment made.
January – Foundations: make something that is the foundation of a period outfit.
- Regency Stays, though I need a shirt too…
February – Colour Challenge Blue: Make an item that features blue, in any shade from azure to zaffre.
- Sleeved Waistcoat
- Edit: Or I’ll finish the evening bodice for my natural form gown.
- Or maybe make wool gaiters. I’ve been threatening to do that for a while too. Apparently I have a lot of blue things to make.
March – Stashbusting: Make something using only fabric, patterns, trims & notions that you already have in stash.
April – War & Peace: the extremes of conflict and long periods of peacetime both influence what people wear. Make something that shows the effects of war, or of extended peace.
- Jazzberry Linen Anglais for Reenacting. Not that I don’t have enough already.
May – Practicality: Fancy party frocks are all very well, but everyone, even princesses, sometimes needs a practical garment that you can DO things in. Create the jeans-and-T-Shirt-get-the-house-clean-and-garden-sorted outfit of your chosen period.
- Waistcoat. It’s not fancy and I just need to get the darn thing done.
June – Out of Your Comfort Zone: Create a garment from a time period you haven’t done before, or that uses a new skill or technique that you’ve never tried before.
- Spencer Jacket. I know I’m making Regency stays for the first challenge, but this will be my first real foray into 1800s clothes.
July – Accessorize: The final touch of the right accessory creates the perfect period look. Bring an outfit together by creating an accessory to go with your historical wardrobe.
August – Heirlooms & Heritage: Re-create a garment one of your ancestors wore or would have worn, or use an heirloom sewing supply to create a new heirloom to pass down to the next generations.
- I’m going to finish my Edwardian shirt that I started at Costume College a couple years ago.
September – Colour Challenge Brown: it’s not the most exciting colour by modern standards, but brown has been one of the most common, and popular, colours throughout history. Make something brown.
- Silk Gown. It’s not really brown per se, but it’s an orange-y rusty color and it’s close enough. Plus I need the gown.
October – Sewing Secrets: Hide something in your sewing, whether it is an almost invisible mend, a secret pocket, a false fastening or front, or a concealed message (such as a political or moral allegiance).
- Hidden Message of some sort.
November – Silver Screen: Be inspired by period fashions as shown onscreen (film or TV), and recreate your favourite historical costume as a historically accurate period piece.
- Blue Pet en l’air based on a jacket I saw in “Perfume”
December – Re-Do: It’s the last challenge of the year, so let’s keep things simple by re-doing any of the previous 11 challenges.
- I think I’ll redo challenge 1 and make either an 18th century man’s shirt or a regency shift.
American Seamstress 
