The Tudor Revolution

  Detachable sleeves are one of my favorite things to make for renaissance dresses, and always seem to be the last thing I think to make when I'm planning my outfits. These sleeves are made from thrift store fabric to mimic one possible way that "cut work sleeves" were made in the period. There are several theories, and my research has made me think that they all may have been in use at different points in time for different specific motifs. To make these sleeves I used a voided velvet scarf I found at my local thrift store and remnants of rayon velvet, silk shantung, and linen. Techniques I cover in the video include basting, hemming stitches, and how to easily sew with velvet. I completed the project using a mix of hand sewing and a modern sewing machine. I love wearing these Italian renaissance dresses at reenactment events or when I attend events for the Society of Creative Anachronism. Groups like this have helped me learn more about how period techniques and mate...

  I really love when I can find new uses for old things. Upcycling give me so much joy when it comes to creating historical costuming. For me, one of the best parts of historical clothing is the small details, which includes jewelry. When I first saw this 1980s style gold necklace at my local thrift store I immediately started thinking of ways I could alter it for a 16th century choker necklace. The exact embellishment of these necklaces would change over the century so I had a lot of options to think over. Because I am a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, I thought it would be fun to include a peerage medallion in this process as well. While I do not officially speak for the Society for Creative Anachronism, I do love sharing projects I work on for this hobby. On this thrift store jewelry upcycle I used head pins, round jewelry pliers, a pendant, and freshwater pearls. Below are some links to similar items I was able to find on Amazon if you are curious. Links are af...

  Last weekend I finally sewed my first project since cutting my finger at work last month and having to get stitches. My finger healed beautifully and I needed a small project to build up my confidence to start sewing again. Inspired by a spring time snow storm, I settled on making a pair of 18th century mitts. Today we would think of them as fingerless gloves. Thank you for joining me in the little tutorial I created while stitching along. My materials for this project include: Pattern from Penny River Costumes: https://www.etsy.com/listing/648530850/pattern-and-instructions-only-diy-make?ref=shop_home_active_8&crt=1 Wool pashmina scarf from a thrift store Silk Cabbage from another project Silk Embroidery Floss Embroidery Pattern Book Chalk & Scissors Thread & Needles Thimble I guess you could call this a thrift flip or stash buster project too since I did not purchase a single one of these items for the project, except the pattern. The fabric came from a thrifted...