I Reconstructed a Historical Embroidery Pattern for a Victorian Velvet Coat
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- Опубликовано: 13 янв 2025
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Having worked with the Royal School of Needlework to figure out how to do the stitching itself.... it's time to buy some velvet!
Now I must reconstruct the embroidery pattern from all the images I've collected showing the coat from many different angles. Here's my attempt to piece together a roughly 125 year old pattern for a heck of a lot of embroidery... and the unexpected rabbit hole it opened up.
See updates in real time on Instagram: @cathy.hay
Edited by Sophie Black at @triskellepictures
/ @triskellepicturesuk
** Music credits: **
‘A Mountain Beneath’ by Llama House
‘Nocturnal Waltz’ by Johannes Bornlöf
‘Paragons of Virtue’ by Jo Wandrini
‘Let There Be Rain’ by Silver Maple
‘Winged’ by Clarence Reed
‘Nadir’ by Gavin Luke
(All from Epidemic Sound)
Bagpuss and Charlie Mouse appear courtesy of their owner being born in the 70s in the UK:
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Thank you, thank you, to everyone who has sent something to me. It is deeply valuable to read your words in your own handwriting and hold them in my hands. It helps me to connect to who you really are, and what you really need from me. I read, enjoy and treasure every one. Thank you.
I have been watching historical dress videos since Covid started. I collect glass tableware. One day, it dawned on me that I could make dress that matches the eras of the glass I collect.
Then I started watching quilting videos. I bought some fabric I love. But, do not have a good place to set up a sewing station. Then I ran across English Paper Piecing quilts - they are done by hand. So, I thought, I could make a quilted jacket. So, I bought some more fabric. Then I had to buy the notions to start sewing - the thread - the needles - the paper pieces... Gearing up to start.
Then - miracles of miracles! Last week facebook announced an open sewing time at the Lansing Makers Network that is five blocks from my house. They moved there just before Covid. I knew they had a wood worker's shop, a black smith shop and a metal jewelry maker's shop. I DID NOT KNOW THEY HAD A SEWING SHOP! So, I went, and sewed. I started with a couple of fabric quilt panels and decided to make a tote bag. I have not gotten very far.
Because then I realized a friend's birthday is coming, and I really should make her tote bag first. I am still deciding on the pattern - but I am almost there and have decided on about half the fabric.
I did accomplish something tonight - I sewed a pocket to add to my purse. The pocket is done. I just have to sew it into the purse...
I know you're going to ask where I got the velvet. :) It's from lelievreparis.com, the cheaper of only two places I'm aware of who still make velvet the "old" way. Beware: even just a few metres of the "Maestro" silk/cotton blend, purchased at trade price, was still *very expensive indeed*. It felt important for me to save up and go big when there's a large audience waiting a very long time for a spectacular result. Everyone watching is investing a lot of your precious time in this, and so I'm investing too. But it's not something that everyone will be able to afford, hence the bit about the cotton velvet curtains option as a totally viable alternative for anyone who's working with a strict budget. :)
Off topic, but, your voice is coming back.
@@aoifeandginny5569 I noticed that too but thought it was only imagining it!
The issues you have come across and shown us makes me less hard on myself when I have to go back to the drafting board. Thank you for showing the hard bits along with the nice stuff!
I came into 3.5 meters of this velvet (in a gray shade) and looked up the price and was shocked. I literally don't know what to do with it now haha. But someday it will click and I will make myself something stunning 🥰
Never let perfection stand in the way of progress. Just do your best to bring your vision into reality, but do not get so hung up on trying to make it "perfect" that you never finish the project. In this case, the goal is to get close enough that all the vibes of the original coat are captured in the recreation.
I don't make "real" clothes but have been watching you and Bernadette for a few years. I corchet mostly blankets but my grandma wanted me to crochet a cape for her. I was pretty confident I could because of all I have learned from you guys. I've been able to do some shaping and crochet in what I can only describe as darts. I'm almost finished and think she'll love it but wanted to thank you and this community for just being a welcoming and educational space 😊
Run with it! Any time you learn a new technique, even if it’s known only to you, is a time to celebrate. Think about the wheel; the sundial; beads. You are on a journey doing the same thing!
Hey. How did the cape turn out? Did your grandma love it?
@@FunkyLittlePoptart oh hey! It is going super well! It has taken a lot longer than anticipated to get the fit right and i had to go back to the drawing board a few times😅. I'm also dealing with chronic illness so nothing goes quickly. I mostly have to sew up the seams and add cute little pockets and it should be done! It's so nice that you remembered!
Hello my beautiful genius! I am knitting ‘deconstructed’ gloves. I say deconstructed because I have divided each glove into sections- hand and thumb gusset, fingers and gloves, and the cuff. I’m approaching them this way so I can have a pair of gloves that are truly bespoke and a project that keeps my interest. Besides having enormous knobby joints on some of my fingers, I also have very long middle fingers and very short pinkies. Watching you puzzle your way through clothing construction and pattern making energized me and compels me to keep moving forward, learn from my mistakes, and respect all the processes involved in actually creating a thing of (functional) beauty by myself for myself. You bring out the best in all of us this way.
Something I learnt when I was working as an editor is that the longer you work on something, the more you will only see what you *want* to see, what something is *supposed* to be, and not what it actually is. I would always tell my writers to put something away for at least two weeks before editing it. Regardless of the endeavour we're working on, it is always vitally important to distance ourselves from our work because otherwise, we won't notice the mistakes we've made. The smaller the mistake, the longer we've worked on it, the harder it will be.
So my entirely unsolicited advise for everyone out there is: put your work away for a few weeks. The longer the better. Work on something else if you need to. Then come back, and tear your work apart. Metaphorically, but also physically if need be. Keep notes on what you think is wrong, and possible solutions for it. This will help you figure out what is easy to fix, and what will need more work. And if you need to do more research, this will help you figure out exactly what you need to research, so you don't end up at the bottom of the Wikipedia rabbit hole reading about the creation of pseudo-random number generators or the life cycle of the common click beetle. And yes, I am speaking from experience and I am in the middle of my break with my own sewing projects. Taking a break is extremely useful, so if you have the time, do take one. I promise, it will help.
I appreciate the perspective and childlike excitement when you make a discovery- instead of being upset that you had to do things over and over. It’s very inspiring- I love your videos and, I say this with all sincerity, you’ve made an impact on my life with my art, because of your work- even though I currently sew or make clothes myself.
I loooove youre Profile Picture 🤩😹❤️
You can embroider it flat in a frame with the seamlines/dart lines marked in silk thread. You stop embroidering just before the lines and then complete the embroidery when the piece is constructed. There's less risk of pulling the embroidery out of shape this way. Also, rather than hoop your velvet risking 😱 hoop burn, you can tack your velvet to a stabilising hooped fabric then move along to the next part quite easily. I'm very excited to see this come to fruition - I have had that page marked for years as I love that coat & the embroidery. If you want some step by step pics of a piece I recently created in this way please message and I'll be happy to send you some images.
Since none of us is perfect, we have to give ourselves grace to get pretty close.
Why, yes Scarlett O’Hara use those curtains!!!
I am so glad to actually see someone sewing their project in real time. I feel like I am an extremely slow sewer because it can take me a couple months to finish a project. Currently I am working on a 1940's wool coat for my 10 year old daughter and I severely underestimated the time it was going to take. This is my first tailored project and I have learned a lot about coat making and tailoring from this experience that will make the next project easier.
My granddaughter is beginning to realize that RUclips videos are not real-time!! She finds things for me to make for her and thought I could do it in 20 minutes! Now she knows and I think appreciates them more after seeing how much time things really take to make and make well.
@@susananderson8428 You should show her one of those sew along with me live streams. I think Enchanted Rose Costuming also did a series on the ‘one day’ house dress. (And Angela Clayton also has a video where she almost did a one day coat.)
Making things does take time! I can imagine how excited your daughter is to have this special coat! (I don't know if you have other daughters that are older or younger.. I have 3 and they each went through a major growth period between 10-11 and slowing down at 12. But they went through 4 sizes of clothes in that short period of time. Not all kids grow at same age.. but this is common.. I was just thinking about all that love and attention to tailoring for her, would be so nice for her to wear it for a bit before she outgrows it. (We had so many clothes that only got worn for a few months before they were outgrown!).
Same, as someone who can take over a year to finish a project, it is nice to see other people who make costumes on a longer timeline rather than coming out with new things every month. I may be slow, but I'm not the only one, and it's worth sticking it out because the result will make me that much happier :)
When I was a theatrical costumer, my specialty was tailoring for mostly men and some women costumes. I LOVED doing the detailed handwork but it was so time-consuming that I had to be inventive with shortcuts that would not impact the fit/look too much. I hope you are enjoying making your daughter's wool coat and planning your next tailoring project.
I don't think people realize what you are doing takes time. Doing research finding the materials, designing it the coat etc. Lots lots of work. It's going to be beautiful!
When I was a new computer programmer I was assured by my boss that the last 10% of the work took 90% of the effort.
I know the peacock dress was a huge part of your life and so much true love and effort put into that project....
However, THIS project is showing how much joy you derive from the historical sewing process. The energy is so positive and thrilling, inspiring and happy. On the edge of my seat for each progress video! 👏👏👏👏👏
You are SO right about the journey of discovery. I've had a discouraging lack of progress recently: I recovered fabric from some thrift items, created a pattern, tested it, revised the pattern, re-tested it, got the pattern in shape and started laying it out for cutting on the recovered fabric, and then the process stopped. I could not proceed with cutting out the pieces.
Then suddenly 2 days ago I discovered the problem. The layout of the pattern on the fabric was what bothered me, and needed to be changed. I had forgotten to allow space for one more vital piece of pattern. It had slipped off the cutting table and floated off into invisibility. Knowing what to look for meant I could find the piece, and now I hope to make the changes and now make progress!
After years of conservative, ready-made clothing designed to blend into a professional environment, I'm making my own unique garb that will be neither ready-made avant garde nor mass-market conservative - unique, yet in line with the professional environment.
Thank you!
I guess you can never stop looking at how it all fits together and be ready to modify things as you go along. Take a step back occasionally and look at all the angles. The curves in the collar shape is obvious now, but when you first put it together it looked right.
Thanks for taking us through the process.
Yesterday i finished embroidering a jacket, which i started TWO YEARS ago. Im not done with the jacket, but i am so proud about having that part done and no costuber could do this in 15 minutes :D
When I saw a package appear on screen i knew this would be fun, when i heard it was from France, i knew it had to be super special. and when i saw the big smile after seeing what was hidden with the box and protective wrappings I was just as excited and tickled when the full velvet bolt was revealed. I recently learned something i wanted to share. although creations when replicated may not look exactly as the photo, The fact you recreated something you love that has your energy and soul within is more beautiful then the actual original because it's a part of you.
As a sewist and embroidery artist this both invigorates and gets my heart rate up as I watch you working through and solving everything. It’s so fascinating to see the process but also I just want to see it all work out and reach a nice ending!!😆
Isn’t it amazing!
So cool that the embroidery pattern helped you to get the collar just right!
I'm currently working on a Robe a L'Anglaise that I wanted to wear in February to a convention but I just barely got all of the underpinnings done and there's 2 weeks left O.O Here goes nothing!
That's so exciting! Wishing you luck!
You can do iiiiit!!
"Looking at a thing a thousand times and thinking you got it figured out, just to learn something new about it the next time you look" - Ugh this is so true and it happens to me all the time. I've tried to accommodate for that by looking at things even more, not rushing into them, and yet it still happens every.single.time :')
It is quite magical on it's own though, "discovering" a project like that, learning the ins and outs.
I've also been consumed by the embroidery siren song and have purchased threads to go onto some squares on my quilt :D
It's really enjoyable to see you walk through the process! While I do enjoy "finished garment here"-videos, seeing such a step by step of your thought process and trying all kinds of things is really amazing and reassuring that some things just need time.
This video is SO important. Thank you for reminding us that challenges don’t mean incompetence in our field. I struggle with that quite often. I appreciate that you remind us to have empathy and kindness for ourselves. Every project will have its challenges. You’re brilliant, Cathy ❤ Well done on spotting the collar when you did!
I am currently making a cloak and dress for my wedding (less than 6 weeks now!). The thing which I value the most from your videos is reminding myself that I sew because I enjoy the process of sewing, not to get to an end point as soon as possible, and every time I make a mistake, unpick and do it again differently that *isn't going backwards*, those are all steps towards the end of the project, it's all progress and all learning how to do it better. Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability in making your videos really reflect the process, it gives heart to those of us who are beating ourselves up about "not doing things properly". I can now look at my past projects, and rather than seeing them as full of flaws, seeing them as an opportunity to improve and being proud of the person I was then, who had less knowledge but who I need to be the person I am now.
I cannot say how much I appreciate you making videos about the difficulties and frustrations. I am so easily knocked down by perceived perfection online and the confidence boost these videos give me is enormous. 💖
Cathy, thanks for making me feel better about the zillion touch-ups I often have to do on my paintings. Kudos to you for having so much tenacity and determination. 😊
I had my colours ‘done’ in the summer, and it’s made a huge difference to me. I now understand why I can love something on the hanger (pastels being a prime example), and be so deflated when I put them on, and getting dressed is much less sad now. So if you have the opportunity, or if you can team up with a friend and work through a book, I highly recommend it!
I’m currently working on a crochet blanket, and my first crochet toy - the toy is testing me!!
I recently started amigurumi! What a change from "normal crocheting!! But I love the characters and am learning so much about crocheting. I'm on my 7th "doll" and they keep getting easier!! Hang in there. I've also learned you learn your way to come up with the same end result. Don't be afraid to try different techniques until you find the one that fits your crochet style. (Increase stitches at the beginning or at the end of the stitches is one example for me!)
I've been watching your videos for a long time. Recently i started my PhD and gosh....I understand the twinkle you get when things just fit right after a lot of trial and error.
💙 one of the processes that modern experts in art, looking at an "old masters" work in order to help determine that it is "real," look in the x-ray images to see if there are changes, where the artist changed their mind and painted over the original.
Have fun, enjoy the process, be your artist self.
I love the cotton velvet curtain tip for people on a budget. I've used that for many projects, because I'm one of those people that keep forgetting the hell that is working with velvet in like 5 seconds after putting a project down.
The knowledge you gain by your mistakes. Has value. My creative outlet is drawing and painting. I'm of the same mind the problem solving is part of the fun of a artistic project . No matter what medium. I learn from many sources. And apply their know how. Or even by the temporary lack of know how. To my artistic journey. The twists and turns are a part of the path.😁👍
Watching you gives me so many ideas and inspiration. I am a super novice sewer but my mom was a seamstress. Which leads me to my last project...the 12 days of Christmas felt hanging ornaments. My oldest sister made a set for my mom one year and she left each day wrapped up with no card all around our home the 12 days leading up Christmas day. My mom had even stayed up till the wee hours of the morning to see who was leaving her these gifts. Lol! It was so fun seeing the surprise in my mom's face when she was handed the 12 drummers drumming wrapped on Christmas day by my sister and the mystery was solved.
My family cherishes these ornaments because of the story of how they came to be and one year I asked my mom to make me my own set. She did. Of my mom and sisters I am the only one alive today. Now jump to my niece...she loves them too and recently lost some of her Christmas decorations so I grabbed up my needle and thread and began deconstructing my mom's work. That was a task in itself trying to figure out what she did first and last.
I finished them in a few weeks, surprising even myself. When I gave them to my niece she thought I was giving her the ones my mom had made and that was such a compliment to me. I was able to use various styles of stitching I have learned from watching artists like you here on RUclips.
I have made various clothing articles for myself along with stuffed animals for my nieces and nephews and pillows over the years but never anything as grand as what you create. Thank you for sharing your lovely talent with us all!
I think a set of the twelve days of Christmas is plenty grand to be going on with. Your story touched my heart. I'm sure the ornaments themselves are charming - but the stories that go with them are priceless.
Just imagine, let's say, thirty years from now, when those bits of cloth and stuffing are carefully perused by your niece's children and niblings, as they set out to make yet another twelve that will be the newest baby's legacy from his great-aunts and great-grandmother.
1. Beautiful colour
2. Your voice 🥰
3. Thank you for always showing the good, bad & the ugly.
🙉 I just looked up, & saw MY maroon velvet curtans! 🙉
Oh my!!! When you unrolled that purple velvet, I almost cried.
@REACHMEATCathyHay I don't know what telegram is or how to use it.
so many scams on RUclips lately is the comment above you?
Thank you for being you! Thank you for letting us know it is okay to be us when we do our projects. I think we all get stuck in perfection! Love your insight!
Such an elegant illustration of solving a problem without judging it or flogging yourself. It's all part of the learning process. BEAUTIFUL, Cathy--as is the coat!
I'm so excited to see this project unfold. I love that you keep mentioning the time commitment because it's not really talked about all that often. I saw this part before the first and when I saw the picture I immiadately wondered how long it would have taken to make back then. Then my mind drifted to the peacock dress you were trying to replicate and suddenly felt overwhelmed by the amount of time and work that went into making that dress too.
I love it when artists like Nerdforge, who places an analog clock in the frame while she works so the viewer gets a clear idea of the amount of working hours that went into whatever project she is timelapsing. I understand that's not necessarily feasible for you since you go a LOT off camera and having to set up cameras for the sake of time lapse every single time you work on it is in and of itself time consuming, but I'd love to hear a tally of the amount of the time it took you to make this cloak factoring in EVERYTHING from the research, wating for the velvet to arrive and everything else to follow.
That previous collar never sat right with me. I am glad it is looking a lot more like the original on the mock up already. And my compliments to the lovely purple velvet. As someone who's making a purple (heather) woollen coat myself right now, I can't emphasise enough how much I adore any shade of purple!
I just have to mention this. The smile you have Cathy at 2.15 lights my day. That cheeky wonderful happy smile that can handle anything!! I love it. Now i continue to watch the video ;)
Dear Cathy , you motivated me to sew a velvet summer coat with your first video. I found amazing Italian coral cotton velvet ( silk velvet is extremely expensive in my country). Velvet I have, with full blossom roses and blue paradise birds. Looks like French to Japan;)) I am so happy in this project with all goals I need to manage:))
thanks for sharing all of this process with us. i really appreciate seeing you learn and retool and reconfigure, because then i know it's not just me! i also appreciate that you're taking your time with this project and really making it what you want, and not settling for something so that it will be "done." (which has it's place, too!)
It's a good thing you are a mathematician! That is a lot of adjustments. However, it looks like tons of fun to work through all the details.
The velvet is so beautiful! I am so excited to see this coat come together!
I try to show my voice students how to find joy in the process. You can't learn a song in 17 minutes and 34 seconds. We spend a lot of time playing and experimenting to discover how each student sings a given song. I love discovering how the artistic process is the same across so many different art forms. Thank you, Kathy for showing us the whole process, it really is freeing for us.
I love this perspective of the costuber verse the average dressmaker, not on youtube, it does look incredibly daunting when you see a person like Mia Marples make Princess Diana's wedding dress in 15mins or watch Bernadette Banner make a victorian silk ball gown in 45mins or Macirah Tewers make a Tudor gown in 10mins. to be able to watch the detailed progress of your videos from the peacock dress to now is incredibly refreshing to see a more in-depth process of making or recreating historical pieces.
Two things I love about this video:
One, how excited your are at discovering those “mistakes” (like with the collar pattern) and how you use them to help you improve your piece;
Two, how you’ve titled the video “making an embroidery *pattern*” - as you didn’t embroider a single piece of fabric!
Both of these little bits makes your videos the best example of the creative process. It’s messy, it’s complicated, and you only know the best way forward after you’ve gotten to the end, but the process may just be as fun as the final creation.
Oh, that fabric is just gorgeous! And the colour! 😍
This project is fairly similar to my own dream project (well, one of them). My grandmother had a velvet dressing gown, which my mother inherited and wore for it's remaining useful years. Alas, it has now done it's duty here on earth. So I've wanted a velvet dressing gown since I was a child, and now that I've started sewing I can make one sometime down the road. So your project touches a special place in my heart, and I'm really looking forward to see how it turns out!
Right now I'm working on my first skirt by hand, and I'm getting close to the point where I have to divert from the pattern. It has an elastic band at the waist, and looking past that I really don't like those waist bands, I'm using a heavy wool fabric where that won't work. So I have to figure out how to do a "proper" waist band, and how to pleat the fabric nicely... Yes, I'm starting to procrastinate a bit 😂 But I'll get there in the end!
And here is where I want to thank creators like you, Bernadette and Morgan Donner. I don't follow many channels making historical clothes, but those I do watch are those who show their process including the mistakes and problem solving. I learn a lot watching, and it has made it easier to jump into my own creative process at a time when I can't afford to take a course. Thank you 🙏
That's such a great story! Do you plan on trying to recreate the dressing gown one day? I feel like it would make you feel closer to your grandmother, like appreciating her.
Also good luck on the skirt!
Considering the number of times all the costubers I follow have had to redraft the waistband patterns I’d like to think it’s a rite of passage. You are now a distinguished survivor of sewing woes, and that makes you a highly valued asset to the community. Keep going. You can do this (and maybe one day help others get through the same process).
I am not a costume sewer however, I simply love watching you identify, then problem solve your sewing issues. So many lack the ability to think critically and your videos so clearly demonstrate the process. I guess I am saying your videos can do double duty. Demonstrating how to sew and more importantly where to find resources to problem solve with. I also loved your videos on how to organize and be successful in the costume contest. The method can translate into many other crafts and projects. Thank you for making the videos.
OK, I love how one have to "pul some strings" to aquire proper fabric! Really looking forward seeing your progress, amazing job so far and very informative content
I love how you show all the ups and downs of the creative process!
Thank you for the video! It's always inspiring watching people work through projects steadily and even through changes etc.
At the end of this video you ask, “what are you making right now?”
Right now I am making a dance piece for beginner adult ballet students. You would be surprised how relevant the teachings in this video are to the challenges the dancers are facing.
“Finding a new kind of perfection in your version” is going to be our new mantra.
This video came at just the right time. I spent hours onmy first 1910 skirt with lots and lots of handsewing only to realize it was a bit too small for me. Seeing your video I am now motivated to rip open the seams and try again :)
My favorite part of what Cathy calls the “artistic process” leading you dead ends is that it is also the scientific process. ❤️
I unexpectedly found myself in a situation where all my sewing items, everything, are 600 miles away in another state. I won't have access to it for a long while. Originally, I'd thought I'd be gone two weeks, that was six months ago. The circumstances I'm in were such that I could not leave.
One of the things I struggle with is depression. Sewing is my creative happy place. Not even having needles or thread, let alone a project, was weighing my spirit down. The joy of a project is the discovery as we go along. Of planning and researching. Of perhaps needing a new skill or a certain trim that we just must have to make it right for us. I had no projects. So, what to do?
A sewist with no sewing is just a very sad thing. When I realized I would be in this place for a long while, I went to work and started collecting the items I needed to start creating an 1870s outfit. Well, perhaps an 1860s/1870s outfit. 1870s is my jam though, and so I was looking through eBay for patterns. I found many, picked five, and started planning a project from the skin out. It's a rabbit hole of joy. One cannot have a skirt and blouse without a corset, chemise, drawers, petticoat, stockings, and shoes! The shoes came from American Duchess, the lovely purple Endoras because, why not? The fabrics were ordered online because there are NO fabric stores near me. It's very rural. The sewing machine is just the most basic one from a big box store.
I'm now finishing the hem on a guimpe or body aka blouse. It is made of forest green flannel with a white windowpane stripe. The flannel is very fine and drapes beautifully. I love it! My soul is singing again, even as I mutter over a chemise, smooth fabric to cut for the skirt and petticoat, and dream about the purple velvet mantel I have waiting in the wings. I've three more outfits planned after this one.
What I've discovered is creating with fiber, namely fabric, is what gives me the greatest joy. It is part of my soul. And even if I have nothing more than thread, needle, and a piece of fabric, I'll find joy in creating something. What you've given me with this video is the realization that I will be wearing all that I make in public, on a daily basis, because that's what makes me happy. And we do live in a century and often in a country where we CAN do that. So, thank you for this video, for sharing your journey, and for the realization we shouldn't hide our lights, or our beautiful handmade clothing, under a basket like some shameful secret. I will follow my bliss. I hope everyone else does too.
@14:49 I have been watching your videos for quite a while now, and am finally getting ready to get my own sewing machine, but hearing those words made me feel so much better about my projects already! I have hand-sewn a few things where I had to go back and re-do stuff, and of course that kind of thing generally gets edited out. I’m so thankful you’re taking us along for the WHOLE ride.
Your smile when opening the box was so worth it.
"This coat was not meant to be safe." Beautiful sentiment, kind of how I approached the first lined garment I ever made, turning Sewstine's Kefta pattern into a winter coat in bright grape popsicle purple with bunny print lining that ended up with an additional two layers of interlining.
What am I working on? Well, the complicated future project I'm contemplating at the moment is a reversible vest or waistcoat made from this gorgeous hot purple polyester woven design I got in the remnants bin last year, which I will hopefully find something to pair with in my stash and I'd like to try piping the edges with something complimentary to both sides. The less complicated future project will be Hidden Pants! based on a Japanese Hakama pattern I've made several times. In the more immediate future I need to figure out how to repair some rabbit damage to several sewn items and also maybe my sofa (bad bunny!), I want to make a collared capelet out of the same wool plaid fabric as the house coat I am wearing now (which was made based on the revised Kefta princess seam bodice block and I'm going to use the collar from that for the capelet), correct a few more things in my first attempt at a half-ciorset (I got the bust exactly right, but it's pinching my bottom ribs), actually get the buttons on the Kefta (which may require opening a seam and adding a little more fabric because of my lack of understanding of ease). Before I start anything new I need to get one more thing out of the UFO bin and something else off the mending heap, otherwise those heaps will just get taller and taller with stuff I could be wearing if I'd take an hour and fix it. Likely next UFO correction will be adding armpit gussets to a hand sewn french seamed sheer shirt (my favourite correction for when my fabric amount and the amount of ease it leaves me are not quite sufficient) and fixing another pair of work pants (before the ones I'm currently wearing to work fall off me entirely).
The Royal School of Needlework loves your videos about the velvet coat, we are on the journey with you!
Such a beautiful color! 😍😍
Just discovered your channel today. Years ago I use to make clothes, not as a professional, as my mother-in-law was and now my sister-in-law is. I made clothes for my two boys and also made some of the Halloween costumes that they and their cousins wore. The only "historical" costume I made, sadly I have no picture of it, was one that I was very proud of. It was made for my granddaughter who was in a dance, at her school, where they were to dress like pioneers of the old west circa mid 1800's. I did some research and not only made the dress-- somewhat historical-- as I used a zipper for the back--but also made the undergarments that would have been worn. I am going to have a sewing room later this year-- it is used as a storage area atm; I had thought to make quilts, but watching you make this coat, makes me want to make clothing again. And I have 2 lovely little great granddaughters that I think I can make them something cute to wear. Count me a a new subscriber who will be following your adventure on making this beautiful coat!
This video sort of helped with the thing I'm working on.
Context: I figured out about nine months ago that I have less joint pain the less restrictive I dress--which is hard to do in a flattering and office-appropriate way. Started out with copying a summer dress I liked over and over again, got better with each try. Then winter came, and now I have to figure out sleeves and long skirts and how to have it be flattering and office-appropriate and also warm--but still affordable and not heavy.
Watching a lot of youtube taught me how to just ignore a pattern and not have tight or short sleeves, or have ankle length skirts that aren't a tripping hazard. Watching your youtube teaches me that there's stuff to keep in mind when messing with patterns, and sometimes that goes a bit pear-shaped. It still feels like a waste to use so much fabric, even if it's cheap fabric, figuring this all out with (to me: blatant) imperfections each iteration, but I'm getting better. And, if I am brutally honest with myself, it looks fine for an office job. I just want to look better.
I haven't watched any of her videos in so long. Her voice sounds so good!
I am so excited to see this come together... I can't wait for you to finish it! I hope you wear it everywhere!
I so enjoy your videos on all of your projects. Thanks for continuing with your passion. I haven't sewn much for quite a number of years for one reason or another. I will, however, be breaking our the new sewing machine any day now to make a baby quilt for a newborn grand niece! I first took up an embroidery needle when I was about 5 years old (that's about 62 years ago!). My Nana sewed and embroidered and my mom was happy to show me some simple embroidery stitches. Wishing you a wonderful New Year and look forward to many more videos 💚
I love your enthusiasm and energy!
I had to learn and spend hours traditional embroidery , cause i was silly enough to show talent, speed and easily learnt the stitchwork ,from 6 years old till i left home at 18 .it made my mother a lot of money and it was hard slog for a child to be doing Your devotion and hard work has my absolute respect .
I love your videos!! I was quite excited to see the new collar in mock up! I am painting and making handmade journals....that I sew on for dimension. Some are made from cloth but mostly paper. Looking forward to your next video😃
I admire your perserverence in drawing, redrawing, and redrawing your patterns, both for the cloak and the embroidery. Bravo! You have inspired me to try drawing a pattern for the felt flowers and the green fly stitch leaves. I am going to try it on a slow stitching project. Not quite so nerve wracking, but a challenge just the same. I can keep trying, on multiple samplers until I get the stitches the way I want them to look. Thank you so much for sharing both your failures, we all have them, as well as your truimphs.
Cathy, thank you for inspiration! I am very new to sewing, and my goal is historical men’s 1870’s-1890’s Victorian clothes. I’m not there yet. HOWEVER… I’ve learned “how to be a good beginner,” and I’ve started sewing! I’m making modern pants right now and gathering information and resources to do something more historical. Your videos have been the inspiration! I only discovered you around Christmas time and all my sewing has been since then so I’m a very new beginner.
I think that we have to be super-sleuths on some projects. We HAVE to look at all aspects and not lock into the idea that there is only ONE way to get it done. It's like a little light went off showing you that the PATTERN wasn't true, and went to work to change it. I am excited about this project. LOVE the purple velvet--it's SO luxurious! 😊🧵♥
I also enjoy the process of creating, and especially recreating costumes. Seeing you go through your entire process makes me feel so much better about my own. I am not the only one who spends what feels like years on the research and drafting stage before ever being ready to make a mockup. But I love it so much. So glad I found your channel.
How fun. I acquired a velvet jacket at the thrift store. I decided it required goldwork embroidery. I haven't done much embroidery and no goldwork, so I have been practicing techniques with mundane cheap thread. Today I bought a bunch more golden trimmings, lame remnants, beads, and so on. I have gold fever!
I'm going to take historical clothe and sewing and make it drag so yeah going to be fun when I get started.
I am coming to this late, but, Cathy, I was the child labo(u)r for my seamstress mother when she made beaded cocktail dresses for her clients. DO THE LEAST VISIBLE PARTS FIRST! Do the hem, start at the back, so you discover any quirks with the beading and the embroidery before you do the bodice or collar, up where everyone is looking. By the time you get to the collar, you will know every thread and be able to do your best work.
This coat is beautiful and I'm excited to see your version!
Beautiful color! This going to be gorgeous when you are done. This is so cool and very interesting what you are going to do!!
I loved especially this video, because it shows that even you go through a lot trail and error :)
I'm very curious and impatient to see how the embroidery will work out.
Could you please share where in France you found that gorgeous silk velvet? I live in France so maybe I could go there and have a look what else they have?
At the moment I'm making seat covers for my seeing room , a quilter and bag maker ,I used to make clothes for my daughter including a velvet coat and hat ,but I don't do clothes any more ,however I love watching you ,it's fascinating .
Would it be rude to say I'm kind of glad it's taking a long time? I like watching her work through the challenges and enjoy discovering the process and it gives me more wonderful content to watch! I almost don't want it to be done because it means I won't be able to keep watching the new developments for the first time. I really look forward to these videos and get so excited when they get posted. When the project is done it will be a little bittersweet for me but I know she will have more amazing projects in the works after that.
Cathy, showing us the "process," including the dead ends, encourages us that we are not completely inept screwups when we are trying our own projects. I learn so much from you. Thank you!
When I embroider on velvet I copy my pattern onto regular copy paper, pin this pattern to my velvet, and embroider through the paper onto the fabric. When I'm done I use patience and tweezers to help remove the paper. Also, I do not use a hoop on velvet because it crushes the velvet and creates more work ironing out the creases for little gain. Instead I'll pin my fabric to a sofa pillow to help me hold it while I embroider. I have enjoyed watching your progress on this project!
I really love to see your process of creation!
Your beautiful Victorian embroidered coat has not only been an inspiration but a joy as well to watch. Thank you so much 💓
I ADORE this coat and linger round it every time I go to the V&A. One day they'll take it off rotation which I know is for conservation, but I will truly miss it. So pleased to find your blog. Thank-you.
It's great to see you working on the coat again!
I'm making a 50s style winter coat at the moment, based on a vintage pattern by burda. And even with the pattern and the instructions, it's still quite complicated to me, but I'm slowly getting there :)
That is nearly the same shade of purple velvet that I am using for a medieval robe, which I am hoping to submit the the foundations revealed competition :) I cannot wait to see how your jacket urns out
I just found you!!!! I am so happy, I just can't express how happy I am right now!!! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU🤗😁
Ms. Cathy, I want to say how proud I am of you! While watching and learning from you, we've been able to see you blossom and grow. Yes M'am, I know you've been trying to help us grow. But isn't that how we heal and progress? ...by helping others? You've become so very comfortable. You're excitement, passion and ease are showing. Nay, they are beaming! This video had me smiling straight through! ...but I was smiling at you. Yes'm. I'm so very proud of you!
And it's kind of funny you should mention "wearing what you want". Yes, I've now dipped my toes into historical sewing and I love it! But what I've found is this: the journey unlocked something in me. Just yesterday, whilst crocheting a Circular Duster of a Boho style, my mind went to some fabric in my stash that would make a beautiful Boho skirt. Then to more fabric for a blouse.....and that's when it hit me. ⚡!!! My specific style will never be found at the local department store nor even Amazon. One reason is because I want clothing that is well made and fits ME. I have the creativeness, the skill and the time to make MY wardrobe! And I NOW have the confidence to be me, in my choice of clothing...that I will now be making for myself. Some will be based on historical silhouettes...some won't. But that's ok. Thank you, M'am, for all you do. And it's going to be exhilarating to watch YOU continue to grow, too. I pray all God's best blessings for you, Dear Lady. 🤗
The collar is looking beautiful! Perfect velvet! Great projects take a tremendous amount of time and energy and sometimes money. Some parts just need to simmer before a solution comes.
Right now I am working on a linen shirt that I decided to tailor to my preferences. It was one of those very large boxy ones, and it simply didn’t fit for what I wanted to use it for (simply: every time I bent over or did any kind of work it was very easy for someone to see my entire front side). So I’m shaping it down, cutting off the sleeves, working on my hand sewing prowess so I can start work on some other projects I have on the back burner ^-^.
I love tailoring/darning my clothes, because I get to use bright thread colours to add some extra pop to very plain clothes. I recently tailored a pair of men’s jeans to fit me perfectly (and acquired a pattern off of them for future short/pant making) and was able to use all sorts of bright threads! Plenty of people want an invisible look to their edits, but I want to express my little hobby and show that fast fashion is not perfect for your body right off the rack!
Cathy, your enthusiasm and excitement is infectious! I’m the queen of unpicking and being a perfectionist is a blessing and a curse but it’s wonderful to know I’m not alone, ish. As always I can’t wait to see more!
My jaw literally dropped when that velvet was unrolled. I love velvet (well, I love wearing it, anyway 😆) and I love purple, so that's quite a treat for my eyes. I can't wait to see how this adventure goes!
I'm currently(ish) working on a double layer chiffon skirt to (hopefully 🤞) wear at a local con in April, and it has gotten a lot more complicated than I expected (which I'm trying very hard not to feel bad about because I'm mostly making it up as I go along, and who gets things perfect on the first try), and I may not even finish it in time because of all the booth prep stuff I still have to do, but y'know what it'll get done eventually. This year, I have decided, is the year I will sew at least a quarter of the projects I've either started and never finished, or never even started at all. So help me, we are making a dent in the fabric stash if it kills me! XD
Getting your colours done, wow, talk about blast from the past. My mom had mine done at the same time as hers when I was a child. So, I know I should gravitate towards colours that have blue undertones (the “winter” palate). Good thing I love blues and purples. Also, jewel tones are good. It’s good to be reminded of as I move towards ordering the fabric for my Regency era dress I’m making for a Jane Austen ball in June.
My Amazing teacher, you bring me a smile on my face and Joy in my heart.🌺
I'm making a quilt for my brother's graduation. I got too excited on the first attempt and the pattern has a couple of measurement errors I didn't notice until too late. I finally looked at it and thought oh God, I can't save it. So I started over. And this version won't be perfecr either, but I'm the only one who will notice most of the imperfections. The part about people only seeing the victories and beautiful finished product hit hard.
People learning any craft need to see that it is a non-linear process and everybody makes mistakes along the way. You are one of the best content creators on the platform for so many reasons, but this is the biggest.
people were smaller in the old days. so if you want to fit the garment it needs to be adjusted to the current age length people have at this present. I am so thankful for all your videos and for not letting out the indecisive mind and errors and problem-solving you do with your videos as it makes me more confident to finish up my own projects knowing that everybody has these issues.
Cathy the fabric is beautiful and I love the colour. So glad you are showing the sewing process as it really is. The collar is one of the more complicated pieces of a garment to draft and get to sit correctly and all your efforts have been worthwhile. You will have a wonderful result. I can't wait to see the embroidery. thanks for taking us along on your journey.
I really love that the series fully showcases the process
I like to see how you go through solving problems
And I learn so much while I’m enjoying the video
I agree that one video of a project fully done doesn’t show how much goes into making a garment and even tho they’re fun to watch watching the full process is a really different experience and I love it
That is a beautiful shade of purple - and the texture is marvelous! Purple is my favorite color, especially the more *ultraviolet* shades. For my December birthday, I received a gift of a "throw" (small blanket) in almost that shade of purple, but darker, and with a very fur-like texture.
Purple has been my favourite colour my whole life, and that is the most fabulous purple velvet imaginable!
Love your videos and your inspiration. You really made me think, and my favorite clothes to wear really is T-shirts and shorts. And we all have the freedom to wear what we like. I am a quilter and a crafter and you inspire me to challenge myself in the art that I love. Thank you!