HSM Inspirations: Outdoors

Since the Outdoors Challenge is one I particularly wanted to see in the challenge list this year, I figured I should do the inspiration post as well. 

The Challenge is specifically The Great Outdoors - Get out into the weather and dirt with an item for outdoor pursuits.  When I began searching for examples, I found a slight issue...there really isn't outdoors specific clothing for pre-1600s or so.  Other than outermost garments for protection from the elements, it was the same as any other clothing--likely because people did tend to spend more time outdoors.

What that means, is that it should be quite easy to find something which qualifies; it could be for an activity specific outfit or garment as for riding/hunting, swimming, playing in the snow, walking, or cycling.  Alternatively, you could go the other, much more generalized route by making something simple which is meant to get dirty (or again, keep you warm.  I'm in the middle of winter here, and somewhat focused on warmth....) while you work outside. 

Looking Back: Two Years

That's right...this blog has been active (ish) for two years today.  Yeah, I started it on Valentines day--must have been bored.  So, I suppose this calls for me to write something.

Which, since you're reading this, I obviously have.  Anyways.  It has been a somewhat long two years of writing, and I never did manage to publish as often as I would have liked. Even so, this is my 103rd post--making the average just under 1 post a week.  The problem is...that is the average.  I tend to go several weeks (months) without posting, then suddenly get the urge to write and publish a bunch of codependent articles all at once (*cough* the pluderhose tutorials).  I have been getting a bit better at that, at least.  Or was for a time.  Maybe I'll do better this year, but really need ideas for subjects to write about (so if you have ideas, go ahead and let me know in the comments).

Norlund 78 Hood.

1570s Brunswick Man: The Overview of a Year's Journey

So...this is it.  The final post on the projects I've been working on for the last year--the 1570s Germans.  It has been a long journey, full of working on new and old skills, and on my writing skills--a full ten posts have been published to cover the various steps, not including this one and the unpublished doublet drafting system.  In addition, each item was entered in a Historical Sew Monthly challenge over the course of the year.

The Final Piece...the Tall Hat

This is it...the last piece for my 1570s Germans suit.  And boy, am I happy it's finally done.  The hat itself was a fairly quick and simple project....but I have been working on the overall project for just under a year now.  Because it is the last piece (yay!) I was able to enter it into the first Historical Sew Monthly challenge of 2017--Firsts and Lasts.

The Project:

This is an extremely tall, woolen hat, similar in profile to several examples from the period of 1570s Germany, which is part of my full suit from the same period (well, of course).  Unlike quite a few later examples, and my last tall hat, the covering is not a gathered circle, but fits smoothly over the base.

HSM Special Occasion: A set of ruffs...almost...there!

As the title says, I'm almost there.  Almost done with the year long project of making a 1570s German suit--all that remains is the hat.

Christ Blessing, Surrounded by a Donor Family.  German Triptych.  1570s
Note the untidy ruff.

Bi-annual Sewing Review: July-January 2016

Not just sewing, either--I will probably touch on some of my favourite articles I've written and posted here as well.  My review for the first half of the year can be found HERE.  Still, I want to touch on a couple of my major projects from before July as well.

Wearing all handmade clothing (wool shirt, wool waistcoat, and the front fall trousers), and working on the doublet.  Photo by Mercedes Houlton.

Aaand I present the 1750s Banyan Documentation. ...Finally.

This has been coming for a while, but I needed to finish (...or write, period) the third post on making the blasted  thing.  But here it is...the documentation for my 1760s banyan, which I shoehorned into the HSM Red challenge (yes, the garment is blue...but there is apparently enough red on it to count).