Well historical sewers, we’re halfway there! My  Challenge # 13 (Lace & Lacing) is done, and I’m hard at work on Challenge #14 (Eastern Influence). It’s been an amazing six months for me. Last December, as the Sew Weekly wrapped up, I looked at what I’d accomplished in 2012, and what I wanted to do in 2013, and I had this mad idea that I should devote myself to my historical wardrobe: making an item for it every fortnight.  And then, of course, I thought, “Hey, would anyone else want to do this?”.  And some of you did!  And the rest of you have been great as cheerleaders & coaches, which is just as important! So, with the challenge half done, it’s time to take a breather, look back at what I have done so far, and review how things are going. What’s gone well: – Finishing up the UFO pile (without creating new UFOs)!  I’ve finished the three big UFO’s on my pile (Luna Moth, the pet-en-l’aire, and the Polly/Oliver jacket), and am about …

As I write this, New Zealand is deep in the grip of winter, and my life is about layers of merino knits, warm scarves, fur-lined gloves, and heavy coats.  It’s good weather to be inside with the heater running, curled under a blanket, handsewing.  By the time challenge #20 comes along in October, the weather in New Zealand will be warming up, and those of you above the equator will be cooling down, looking towards your own winter. The midpoint of the seasons seems a good point for a challenge focused on outerwear: the layers that get added on to your basic outfit to protect you, and it, from inclement weather.  The Historical Sew Fortnightly Challenge #20: Outerwear (due October 7th) is all about capes, camails and crespins, scarves, sweaters and spencers, burnouses, balmacaans and bosom friends, muffs, mantles and mittens, pardessuses, pelisses and pelerines.  In other words, anything you put over everything else. To get you thinking about it, here are a few of my favourite outerwear inspiration images: Isn’t this hood fantastic?  Isn’t …