Saturday, April 18, 2015

The Next HSM--More Headwear?

My taxes are finally done (which is why I haven't done any blogging since posting the photographs of the Greek headwrap), but April is now half-over, and I'm heading out of town next week for a long-weekend pleasure trip.  That doesn't leave much time for this month's Historical Sew Monthly ("HSM") challenge, even if I were enthusiastic about making a costume item based upon April's "War and Peace" theme. However, I do want to participate in the challenges for May and June, so I need to think about the types of projects that might be workable.

May's HSM theme is "Practicality." The cut-and-sewn wool stockings I've considered doing previously would still work for that challenge. However, I've had a different thought, in case that project turns out to be too involved for whatever comes up to disrupt my life in May.

Last year, Catrijn vanden Westhende of A Dressmaker's Workshop came up with a very simple method of making a 15th century cap.  The method requires only a small rectangle of linen, a suitable tie string, and a bit of straight hemming; she describes the method here.   I have all of those things and I think this would be a fun project to try.   This cap is very much within the "practicality" theme; it's a tidy, washable covering for one's hair that should be easy to put on and very stable once it's tied on.  So if a pair of stockings turns out to be too much for me to manage in May, I'll still have a project for that month.

As for June, that still seems to be the best time for me to finally "step out of my comfort zone" (the HSM theme for June) by teaching myself sprang and making myself a cap. 

If I follow through with these plans, that will make a total of three items of headwear for 2015 (so far).  But three pieces of headwear is better than doing no historical sewing at all!  Besides, I find I'm really liking the idea of projects that are quick and fun. 

6 comments:

  1. What sort of stockings are you thinking of making? I've not made the later pattern (with a sole) but I have made the medieval sort (with the + shaped seam arrangement on the bottom of the foot and no sole). I have draping instructions for the medieval sort that I'd be happy to send to you if you'd like some pointers.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm doing the kind with a sole. The seam on the bottom of the foot would drive me crazy, and is probably counterindicated for me since I'm a diabetic. Nonetheless, I'm curious about how one drapes the bottom-of-the-foot version version, so feel free to send what advice you have. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Personally, I don't find I can even feel the seam on the bottom of the foot. They are lapped seams, so not as uncomfortable as they might otherwise be. You also follow the contours of the foot, putting the seam just into the arch and coming up over the third toe rather than up by the first/second where the majority of your weight lies.

      How should I send it to you? Email? It's scanned sketched instructions in image files.

      Delete
  3. I have very sensitive feet.

    Anyway, yes, e-mail is the best means of sending the information. cathy at thyrsus dot com. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. There's a lot to be said for projects that are quick and fun. And there's a lot to be said for headwear too. Modern people don't always think much about headwear because we don't really wear it, but historically it was very important.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very true. The best part about headwear; no more "bad hair days"!

      Delete