Historical Sew Monthly 2015

After years of sighing wishfully, I have joined the Challenges. Lucky for me, they have been changed from Fortnightly to Monthly, so I have a hope of finishing.
My choices for the Challenges are thus far:

• January – Foundations: make something that is the foundation of a period outfit. (Finishing 1780s maternity stays)
• February – Colour Challenge Blue: Make an item that features blue, in any shade from azure to zaffre. (Arts & Crafts type print 1840s wrapper)
• March – Stashbusting: Make something using only fabric, patterns, trims & notions that you already have in stash. (Bust bodice(s)- the Reform answer to corsets, the necessary for S-bend corsets.)
• April – War & Peace: the extremes of conflict and long periods of peacetime both influence what people wear.  Make something that shows the effects of war, or of extended peace. (Daughter of the Regiment Reform dress -1860s- in the manner of the 1st Virginia Cavalry.)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• May – Practicality:  Fancy party frocks are all very well, but everyone, even princesses, sometimes needs a practical garment that you can DO things in.  Create the jeans-and-T-Shirt-get-the-house-clean-and-garden-sorted outfit of your chosen period. (Gardening dress and smock, 1915, from the Sears Catalogue.)
• June – Out of Your Comfort Zone: Create a garment from a time period you haven’t done before, or that uses a new skill or technique that you’ve never tried before. (Steam punk frock from Simplicity 2172)
• July – Accessorize: The final touch of the right accessory creates the perfect period look.  Bring an outfit together by creating an accessory to go with your historical wardrobe. (Embroidered stockings from Kannik's Korner)
• August – Heirlooms & Heritage: Re-create a garment one of your ancestors wore or would have worn, or use an heirloom sewing supply to create a new heirloom to pass down to the next generations. (My mother's Jackie Kennedy type wedding suit in ivory faille - bengalline)
• September – Colour Challenge Brown: it’s not the most exciting colour by modern standards, but brown has been one of the most common, and popular, colours throughout history. Make something brown. (English smock-frock?)
• October – Sewing Secrets: Hide something in your sewing, whether it is an almost invisible mend, a secret pocket, a false fastening or front, or a concealed message (such as a political or moral allegiance). (Pockets- early 18th C. Italian, embroidered)
• November – Silver Screen: Be inspired by period fashions as shown onscreen (film or TV), and recreate your favourite historical costume as a historically accurate period piece. (Lilliie Langtry's LBD, half-scale, full-scale for self in lilac with ecru lace - black is not my colour!)
• December – Re-Do:  It’s the last challenge of the year, so let’s keep things simple by re-doing any of the previous 11 challenges. (Accessorize - embroidered mitts, 185s-60s caps.)                

This in addition to business as usual and interpreting items, including full rig for Miss Lily Yeats for teaching in the schools (1900), and for the Pre-Raphaelite Salon (1840s-60s).