All posts tagged: Historical Sew-Fortnightly

The Historical Sew Fortnightly So Far

Published by The Dreamstress

When I mused about the midpoint of the Historical Sew Fortnightly earlier this week, I realised that I couldn’t truly take stock of what I had done, and where I was so far, unless I actually took stock of what I had done, and where I was so far.  So, here is what I have made so far, and some thoughts on it: #0 (the bonus challenge): Starting Simple  : The  ca. 1930 ‘Gran’s Garden’ Garden Party Frock. I love this!  I wore it constantly all summer, and got lots of compliments on it (my MIL, Gran’s daughter, said it was her favourite of everything I’ve ever sewn).  It’s a perfect ‘period piece in a modern wardrobe’ look. #1:  Bi/Tri/Quadri/Quin/Sex/Septi/Octo/Nona/Centennial: The 1813 ‘Kashmiri’ Gown This was the least successful of everything I’ve sewn so far.  I had to work, and work, and work on the fit, and the sleeves are still too tight, so it needs a tiny adjustment, and yet, it’s still one of my favourite pieces, and it can be made perfect.  So …

Pretty, pretty, princess pearl bracelets

Published by The Dreamstress

I’m not sure if I have mentioned this before, but my name, Leimomi, means (at its most basic, Hawaiian being a language with many layers of meaning to every phrase) a necklace (lei) of pearls.  Because of this, I feel a particular affinity for pearls. I also just plain like their subtle elegance, their luminous sheen, and their purity: a pearl in the fanciest setting looks much like a pearl straight out of an oyster shell.  Any other gemstone, on the other hand, must be altered and refined almost beyond recognition before being set. Pearls were also one of the most popular gemstones historically.  Up until the development of cultured pearls in 1916, natural pearls were often worth far more than diamonds.  Ironically, only a few decades before cultured pearls became common and the price of pearls plummeted, a wealthy New Yorker traded their Fifth Avenue mansion to the jeweler  Cartier for a double strand pearl necklace.  At the time the necklace was valued at US$1 million.  The mansion is now Cartier’s showroom. I have …

The Historical Sew Fortnightly: Favourites for Challenges 6-10

Published by The Dreamstress

It’s that time again (actually, I’m a couple of weeks in)!  We’re almost halfway done with the Historical Sew Fortnightly, some amazing things have been created, and here is my round-up of my favourites from Challenges 6-10. As I did with my favourites from Challenges 0-5 I’ve chosen the items I thought best represent the spirit of the Historical Sew Fortnightly; the quest to explore history, raise our skill levels and standard, stretch ourselves (or sometimes just get something done, rather than just procrastinating);  and  the spirit of the individual challenge.  Once again, there were so many more beautiful pieces I could have featured! Challenge #10 — Literature Lisa’s blackwork cap for Ophelia – Exquisitely worked with all of poor Ophelia’s herbs: rue & rosemary, pansy & columbine.  A beautiful interpretation of the challenge, and integration of literature, textile, and history. Cation’s Victorian deerstalker cap — Inspired by a detailed description of a hat in Farmer Boy, and Sherlock Holme’s headgear, this cap get’s both inspirations spot-on. A Most Peculiar Mademoiselle’s mid-19th century Swedish dress …