What the item is: A 1798 sleeveless spencer How it fits the challenge: The spencer features not one, but four of my favourite techniques: late 18th century dress construction where you build the lining, and then the outer on top of it, lapped seams, hand-worked eyelets, and tassels! But if I were to pick one it would be the eyelets. Material: Linen lining, silk twill Pattern: Adapted (significantly) from the dress pattern, which is itself adapted from the 1790s silk round gown pattern in An Agreeable Tyrant Year: ca. 1798 Notions: cotton thread, cotton cord. How historically accurate is it? Due to time constraints (and because I hate sewing with silk twill) it’s partly machine sewn. And silk twill isn’t an accurate fabric. So maybe 70% at best Hours to complete: 5 (not counting toiles and fitting) First worn: Sat 22 June to the Featherston Time Travellers Ball Total cost: $10-ish. All bits were from stash and purchased years ago, but that’s my best guess.