A sentiment I've seen around, lately, in regards to workers' rights: "There's no such thing as 'unskilled labor.' There are only undervalued skills." That definitely applies to shirt making.
I guess, it means that you can‘t get a job-title or regulated education in it but still, how something with so much detail can count as unskilled is beyond me. „Unskilled labor“ is a term we should get rid of.
I LOVE how Nicole's videos aren't just 'I'm going to make a shirt' but instead are 'I'm going to make an historically accurate shirt but first let me place this garment in context' ❤
It’s like, the definitive adaptation of A Christmas Carol in my book. So faithful to the book and the era. Michael Caine in the performance of his life, the all time best Scrooge I’ve ever seen!
And the mistreatment and underpayment of garment workers is STILL an issue today. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was 1911, Rana Plaza was 2014. Not much has changed.
All of the discussion about the shirt controversies of the 19th Century makes me realize how far we _haven't_ come as a society. We still exploit labor in the name of capitalism just as doggedly. It's incredibly disheartening.
Instead of burdening the local women, we burden the children 'over there.' What benefit does this give the average person, when so many goods like food and clothing are destroyed because people don't consume as much as a corporation feels they should? It's maddening.
@@agcons Don't forget the whole "if you pay them more/give money to that destitute person, they'll just spend it on booze and drugs/avocado toast/Starbucks!" nonsense, same as it ever was. Like, first of all, perhaps if we didn't create a society where everyone from the working class on down were forced to live a life that was pretty much nonstop 24/7 pain, exhaustion, suffering and stress just to scrape together enough to survive, drugs, alcohol and treat-yo-self purchases wouldn't be so damned attractive/necessary to keep everyone from going completely postal and burning the whole thing down. But also, hypocrisy much? Because that's all the rich are spending their money on, too, but no one cares because they "earned" that money off the backs and lives of the poor they mock for wanting and doing the same, so it's okay. Yeah. Might be just a wee bit salty about that one. 🧂🧂🧂🤣
Free trade agreements and unregulated free export zones, the IMF and World Bank (which are american backed) pushing market disregulation and neoliberal policies on 'developping' countries, all of these displace communities and ruin local, generations-old economies just so that the land can be taken over for big business. american imperialists fight so hard to destroy labour laws internationally
It took me about 10-12 hours to entirely handstitch Bernadette's 'pirate' shirt. A day and a bit in real time, and very sore fingers. And that's with no real decoration and a VERY simple construction method. The second time I made one I used my machine on every seam that wouldn't show because I just... COULDN'T do that again.
That was my first wearable and I thought I was close to done just by getting the pieces together. NO! What killed me were the yards of felling. It did prepare me for the patience I’d need to have to proceed into this hobby, so a very good first project
This movie has better costuming than a lot of actual historical costume dramas, and it’s kinda bonkers. Like, if you look at the very first scene with Gonzo and Rizzo, Rizzo is wearing a tiny workman’s smock with elaborate hand done smocking. It’s not used in any other scenes or anything, it’s just there to add a bit more color and realism to the world of the film.
Genuinely love hearing the workers rights discussions throughout history and its really interesting (and infuriating) that we truly have been dealing with people being paid much too little to make clothes for centuries now
I love the way you introduced this project with such a rich history of the garment!! The specifics of how much people were paid as well is always so fascinating (and frustrating) to me. The shirt came out beautiful, makes me want to make one too! Can't wait for the rest of the pieces!
the tip about holding your gathering thread by wrapping it around the pin is incredible! Sure it seems obvious once you know, but I know I wouldn't have thought of it on my own Gonzo's performance in The Muppet's Christmas Carol is amazing and I'm still so glad that the costume department was able to do everything they did
I can imagine that many artists or craftspeople are not 100% satisfied with the result. There is always some detail that might have been added or done differently. However to my eyes, this shirt is well-made for any century.
In "Little Town on the Prairie", Laura Ingalls Wilder tells of her first paid job working with a shirt maker. She did the basting and the woman who employed her used a sewing machine. (1870-74, I think)
The shirt came out well! And I love all the history you’ve included. We really haven’t learned anything when it comes to mass manufacturing, we’ve just moved it out of sight.
One of my favourite parts of your videos on historical garments and shoes is how you explain their history and contemporary context! It's such a strong complement to your actual crafting and explanation of the creation process. I could listen all day lol
I was so engrossed in your storytelling, I was rather startled for a moment when the actual shirt making part started. Like: 'oh right, that's what we came here for...' 😅. The second part of the video was no less interesting, however. All these little details about garment construction and historical vs modern approaches are endlessly fascinating to me. I especially like the idea of doing gathers like that. They just look so neat and perfect and not flattened from sewing over them by machine.
I always love how much extra information you include about the political and social trends of the time period! It really helps make the garment come alive.
"Noodly Appendages" 😂😂😂 Thanks for another great video; covering so much interesting and depressing history. Those earrings make a lovely little splash of contrasting colour in the warm colours of the make-up and background. The work on the shirt is wonderful. I'd buy that for 1/-
I love how you're talking about how even for the time the wages were pennies, that's such a common excuse people give because they don't know the context of the past at all and what things cost etc. This even happens today when talking about other countries' wages being terribly low, they think 'oh but things over there cost less!' But they don't to the extent that people should be paid a few dollars a day!
Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny a ha'penny will do. If you haven't got a ha'penny then God bless you! Love the Muppets Christmas Carol. Love their John Denver Christmas special too. Another fabulous video, Nicole. Thank you! 💜
even in the uk we know nothing about old currency!! Love the shirt and that on your channel you seem as excited about "mens"ware as "womens"ware! I also really appreciate you not shying away from the ethical side of things and pointing out that the clothing industry (and pre-industry!) has always been a lot of time and effert for very little recognition...
Ooh, great shirt, thanks for the shoulder gathering advice- Excellent historical information. Crazy side deal; I had a glow of affection this whole watching cuz I love me some Gonzo. When I was a kid I thought he was the best. That chicken fetish? wow. he really just lived his life honestly.
I don't think I've ever clicked on a video faster, so excited to see this human-sized historical Gonzo outfit! Really interesting history at the beginning too, thank goodness we've learned so much and are so much more progressive now (/sarcasm). The final result looks great!
24:54 - the whole video was worth this hack alone. I honestly stopped using pins a while back because they slip out so easily when moving fabric around but this technique is priceless!
Beautiful shirt. Thank you for going into the reality of shirt production. In Nicholas Nickleby the eponymous hero while still a child is set to work in a boot blacking factory, adding labels to bottles. An extension to all this was the second hand clothing market, as not everyone could afford new. As with today, exploitation of the labour does not necessarily equal affordable for everyone else. The second hand clothing market was a very important part of Victorian life, with seamstresses working to repair and in many cases alter garments for resale. There were also instances of shipments of second hand clothes being stolen and then altered in order to disguise for resale. And speaking of second hand. Or third hand. Or worn till it literally fell apart, it could be interesting to do a video on stuff.
Hooray for a historically accurate(-ish) Gonzo shirt. Also, kind of points at the exact spot to look at when corporations say they aren't evil because they aren't humans. Bravo.
Beautiful shirt. This is a great start for the series. Thank you for giving voice to the women who made the shirts. I wonder if the women recruited their older children to help; these would be the children who were not employed elsewhere.
This is amazing! I love the 1840s and think and its an underated era for costubers. BUT PLEASE IF/WHEN YOH MAKE THE JACKET/COAT PLEASE HAVE AT LEAST A FEW SHOTS FOCUSING ON HOW THE BACK PLEATS AND VENT IS MADE MY GOSH THAT WOUPD BE AMAZING AND WOULD CLEAR UP SO MUCH!!!
This was such an adorable idea!! 😊 I saw this video in my feed and got a huge smile on my face. Not only is it a period Charles Dickens costume, it’s GONZO as Charles Dickens. 😂 Love it!
I love the shirt!! While I see what you mean about placing the gathers in the front a couple inches lower, I think they’re quite attractive as a “modern” design element. It would be so much fun to style!! I’m also super excited to get my patron hands on the pattern. Thank you so much! Really looking forward to the rest of the outfit. I find fascinating and horrifying that making shirts was considered unskilled labor…yet most of us couldn’t do it today (or then, for that matter), and that little has changed in the last 180 years regarding unskilled labor and treatment of the poor.
i very much appreciate you going into the history of who made shirts and how they were consumed. there are a lot of videos on shirts out there that are just about how people make their shirts, and a muppets cosplay video could have been the same. it's nice to see the people whose labor was denigrated and unfairly compensated finally get the recognition they deserved.
I love Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone and (spoilers) part of the plot involves someone hand sewing a nightgown overnight. This always seemed impossible to me but obviously women of the era were doing this and more every day.
I love it. Looks wonderful. Makes me want to set up my machine again. One thing I wish we had seen before the sewing portion is the design. I’d liked to have seen the design so that as you were explaining this or that part of the process, we could have referenced the design for a better understanding. As always, I love the detailed history.
I love this so much. I really need to make a shirt I can wear in the cold weather. Love The Muppets Christmas Carol too, my favourite of all the Muppets films.
Thank you for sharing your research on these shirts and their making. The horrific inequity of what these women were paid versus what males made for far less work is disgusting. That such inequity continues to exist is unforgiveable and we all know that it does in EVERY field in EVERY country. Your shirt looks great. I look forward to seeing the completed outfit.
The first half of this video is a testament to how *everything* has a history that is full of fascinating and controversial details and facts, no matter how 'ordinary' or 'mundane' that thing is. Top notch, always a pleasure to learn context in your videos.
While I can understand her reluctance to paint her face blue, since this is the day of the Mask, I still think she should make a mask (with nose) that would make her look like Gonzo when she wore it.
I have never been more excited to watch a cosplay/costume video in my life. This is one of my all-time favorite characters from one of my all-time favorite movies. Thank you thank you thank you. Btw, we just started the video…
Oh my just lovely. Now I want to make one. I made the Elizabethan kinda shirt that morgan did and I love it. I think I will love this version too. Pluss I'm stuck on bed rest and it'll give me something to focus on besides boredom.
I think this is one of my all time favorite project ideas! The shirt came out beautifully and I honestly can’t wait to see every part of this ensemble. Super fun and I think it will end up stunning!
This couldn't be more timely! I just ordered a couple of shirt patterns that are quite similar. Will definitely be referring to your video as I make them up. And really forward to the rest of the outfit!
I am so hype for this project! Also, your story telling skills are getting better and better, very interesting information about both shirt-makers and Dickens!
Nicole, you eloquently covered so many critical issues here, especially women and children working conditions of the mid 1800's. Actually it fit like a glove with chapter 15 of a large book so I shared it with my reading group. And clarifying the Sterling coinage was so helpful too. Thank you.
I LOVE this!! The second I saw the headline of this video, I felt like it was made just for me haha. Thank you so much. I wish this video had existed when I was trying to make a shirt from the 1830s because all I had to go off of was an 18th century shirt pattern and my vague understanding of what I wanted, so it turned into a bit of a mess. I would love to try it again, but with the knowledge you've provided here on how to do the collar in a style similar to what I wanted. The shirt you made it gorgeous and I'm incredible excited to see the entire Gonzo ensamble!! Wishing you all the best :)
This is such a great series! The way that you teach and present your research findings and educate us on the historical, cultural, and political contexts of everything that you make, combined with your practical skills at making such beautiful garments… not to mention your cinematography; has just come together in such an amazing way that I look forward to your “class” every week!
Thank you for this video - it's the first sewing video of yours I've watched. I really appreciated the talk about wages for making shirts, and some Dickens history (Muppets Christmas Carol is the source of most of my Dickens knowledge). And all of the shirt details! I don't know much about this period of clothing, and you explained each feature so beautifully.
Love the look of the finished shirt. I'd happily wear one of those as regular clothing.... Hmmm.... I have some tie-died cotton that is a lovley weight for a shirt....
Charles Dickens' father wasn't actually *in* the Royal Navy but worked for the Royal Navy in the Pay Office (my mum at one point worked in the same building where his father had worked). They moved from a nice-ish house in one part of Chatham near where the train station is now into the slums area that was around the street known as the Brook in about 1817 and I'm not sure if it was the next year or later in 1817 that John Dickens went into the debtors' prison. (I recently moved from the Medway Towns where Dickens spent his early life; the Towns are very proud of their connection with him.)
Thing is, for sweatshop operators, be they today or in the 18th century, clothing is low hanging fruit. Everyone needs it, everyone will purchase it, especially if things are arranged-ie: people making so little and needing to work hours such that they didn’t have any time to spare- so that they had little other choice. THIS is the basis of capitalism…..exploitation…..yes it’s gussied up as “supply and demand” but given that this naturally devolves to its lowest denominator- pay as little as you can get away with, for as much as you can get away with- it MEANS exploitation.
First of all, very cool that you discussed labor rights on a video about making a Muppet outfit. Second, when you were talking about the way Victorian England treated the poor, I just kept saying, "So just like now?" Plenty of people STILL think that poor people wouldn't be poor if they just worked enough. All these horrible attitudes are more than present in society today.
The way the victorians treated the poor, saying they have to work their way out of it etc., is almost word for word how people still talk about the poor in England today
I always learn small tricks when watching you sew. Like how you hold the fabric or manipulate it in other ways when sewing, that makes things so much easier. Those are details nobody tells you, but when you get to see someone else sew, I get so many new things to try to make things easier. Especially with all the fiddly bits. I never thought sewing (historical) shirts required to much small tequnice knowledge before I tried it for the first time this summer. Also, the fact that our society still, over 150 years later do not know how to pay garment workers living wages are so wierd.
Why am I so in love with this series?!?!? It has a very comforting reminiscing, digging in a far fond memory vibe to it. Also, am loving the androgynous vibe you give off, everything you make suits you so well!!!! 😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰 (end of fangirl squeal, not meant to freak you out but am fangirling over this series 😆)
So love your videos! Adapting a Muppets costume back to human scale - brilliant 🤩. I’ve always wondered about how undershirts were make/ kept / worn. Fascinating social history. Thank you.
Fantastic! I love the history. Your step by step explanation of the pricess process and all the close-up views are wonderful. Your result: chefs kiss. (And sooo like Gonzo's!)
This was your first video I watched, and I of course subscribed - I was a little emotional at the end. Just so beautifully filmed but especially the way to model the shirt in the end is so pure and showcases your love for the piece and its history. Thank you, I will be watching!
Such a gorgeous shirt and such a terrible origin story. And just when you think the garment industry probably improved, you start looking into fast fashion. 😱 Edit: OMG, as an LMT, that spinal column picture made me blanch.
I enjoy your videos. Those women had to make that many shirts in a day to support their families. These were poor women. It was a very hard world for poor people. The upper classes looked down on them. Keep the videos coming. Charles Dickens is one of my favorite writers.
A sentiment I've seen around, lately, in regards to workers' rights: "There's no such thing as 'unskilled labor.' There are only undervalued skills." That definitely applies to shirt making.
Calling it unskilled is merely an excuse to not pay the workers properly!
Honestly, it's bizarre to me that any kind of garment-making can be considered unskilled. "Not accredited", perhaps.
I guess, it means that you can‘t get a job-title or regulated education in it but still, how something with so much detail can count as unskilled is beyond me. „Unskilled labor“ is a term we should get rid of.
I LOVE how Nicole's videos aren't just 'I'm going to make a shirt' but instead are 'I'm going to make an historically accurate shirt but first let me place this garment in context' ❤
Masterpiece Theater for garments :D
I love that tío❤️
Can't BELIEVE the muppets christmas special is more historically accurate than all of disney's adaptations
It's very entertaining
I can. It's still nice though
Actually, I can XD
It’s like, the definitive adaptation of A Christmas Carol in my book. So faithful to the book and the era. Michael Caine in the performance of his life, the all time best Scrooge I’ve ever seen!
I can! Muppets actually give credit to the original author of the story!
And the mistreatment and underpayment of garment workers is STILL an issue today. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was 1911, Rana Plaza was 2014. Not much has changed.
All of the discussion about the shirt controversies of the 19th Century makes me realize how far we _haven't_ come as a society. We still exploit labor in the name of capitalism just as doggedly. It's incredibly disheartening.
Instead of burdening the local women, we burden the children 'over there.' What benefit does this give the average person, when so many goods like food and clothing are destroyed because people don't consume as much as a corporation feels they should? It's maddening.
The poor still get slagged off as well. I agree; nothing much has changed.
@@agcons Don't forget the whole "if you pay them more/give money to that destitute person, they'll just spend it on booze and drugs/avocado toast/Starbucks!" nonsense, same as it ever was.
Like, first of all, perhaps if we didn't create a society where everyone from the working class on down were forced to live a life that was pretty much nonstop 24/7 pain, exhaustion, suffering and stress just to scrape together enough to survive, drugs, alcohol and treat-yo-self purchases wouldn't be so damned attractive/necessary to keep everyone from going completely postal and burning the whole thing down. But also, hypocrisy much? Because that's all the rich are spending their money on, too, but no one cares because they "earned" that money off the backs and lives of the poor they mock for wanting and doing the same, so it's okay.
Yeah. Might be just a wee bit salty about that one. 🧂🧂🧂🤣
Free trade agreements and unregulated free export zones, the IMF and World Bank (which are american backed) pushing market disregulation and neoliberal policies on 'developping' countries, all of these displace communities and ruin local, generations-old economies just so that the land can be taken over for big business.
american imperialists fight so hard to destroy labour laws internationally
Ugh so true. And looking down at the idea of welfare and poverty eradication.
It took me about 10-12 hours to entirely handstitch Bernadette's 'pirate' shirt. A day and a bit in real time, and very sore fingers. And that's with no real decoration and a VERY simple construction method. The second time I made one I used my machine on every seam that wouldn't show because I just... COULDN'T do that again.
The quickest I have hand sewn a shirt is 6hrs
That was my first wearable and I thought I was close to done just by getting the pieces together. NO! What killed me were the yards of felling. It did prepare me for the patience I’d need to have to proceed into this hobby, so a very good first project
This movie has better costuming than a lot of actual historical costume dramas, and it’s kinda bonkers. Like, if you look at the very first scene with Gonzo and Rizzo, Rizzo is wearing a tiny workman’s smock with elaborate hand done smocking. It’s not used in any other scenes or anything, it’s just there to add a bit more color and realism to the world of the film.
Genuinely love hearing the workers rights discussions throughout history and its really interesting (and infuriating) that we truly have been dealing with people being paid much too little to make clothes for centuries now
I love the way you introduced this project with such a rich history of the garment!! The specifics of how much people were paid as well is always so fascinating (and frustrating) to me. The shirt came out beautiful, makes me want to make one too! Can't wait for the rest of the pieces!
When I saw the thumbnail for this video, I though, "Cool, Kaz Rowe is making a Gonzo shirt."
the tip about holding your gathering thread by wrapping it around the pin is incredible! Sure it seems obvious once you know, but I know I wouldn't have thought of it on my own
Gonzo's performance in The Muppet's Christmas Carol is amazing and I'm still so glad that the costume department was able to do everything they did
I can imagine that many artists or craftspeople are not 100% satisfied with the result. There is always some detail that might have been added or done differently. However to my eyes, this shirt is well-made for any century.
In "Little Town on the Prairie", Laura Ingalls Wilder tells of her first paid job working with a shirt maker. She did the basting and the woman who employed her used a sewing machine. (1870-74, I think)
I remember that she got tasked with whipping button holes because she was fast. She was fast because she hates doing them so much.
The shirt came out well! And I love all the history you’ve included. We really haven’t learned anything when it comes to mass manufacturing, we’ve just moved it out of sight.
One of my favourite parts of your videos on historical garments and shoes is how you explain their history and contemporary context! It's such a strong complement to your actual crafting and explanation of the creation process. I could listen all day lol
I was so engrossed in your storytelling, I was rather startled for a moment when the actual shirt making part started. Like: 'oh right, that's what we came here for...' 😅.
The second part of the video was no less interesting, however. All these little details about garment construction and historical vs modern approaches are endlessly fascinating to me. I especially like the idea of doing gathers like that. They just look so neat and perfect and not flattened from sewing over them by machine.
I always love how much extra information you include about the political and social trends of the time period! It really helps make the garment come alive.
I didn’t know that I need a history lesson before bedtime, but I feel strangely more prepared for the night now. 🤨
Thank you so much!
"Noodly Appendages" 😂😂😂 Thanks for another great video; covering so much interesting and depressing history.
Those earrings make a lovely little splash of contrasting colour in the warm colours of the make-up and background.
The work on the shirt is wonderful. I'd buy that for 1/-
I love how you're talking about how even for the time the wages were pennies, that's such a common excuse people give because they don't know the context of the past at all and what things cost etc. This even happens today when talking about other countries' wages being terribly low, they think 'oh but things over there cost less!' But they don't to the extent that people should be paid a few dollars a day!
Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny a ha'penny will do. If you haven't got a ha'penny then God bless you! Love the Muppets Christmas Carol. Love their John Denver Christmas special too. Another fabulous video, Nicole. Thank you! 💜
Me too! I heard the song in my head while reading your comment. Thank you for the wonderful reminder of my childhood!
It's fantastic that you gave voice to the actual situation these women were in! And the shirt is lovely!
even in the uk we know nothing about old currency!! Love the shirt and that on your channel you seem as excited about "mens"ware as "womens"ware! I also really appreciate you not shying away from the ethical side of things and pointing out that the clothing industry (and pre-industry!) has always been a lot of time and effert for very little recognition...
Ooh, great shirt, thanks for the shoulder gathering advice- Excellent historical information. Crazy side deal; I had a glow of affection this whole watching cuz I love me some Gonzo. When I was a kid I thought he was the best. That chicken fetish? wow. he really just lived his life honestly.
You’re like the Caitlin Doughty of historical fashion, the similarities in cadence are crazy
I don't think I've ever clicked on a video faster, so excited to see this human-sized historical Gonzo outfit! Really interesting history at the beginning too, thank goodness we've learned so much and are so much more progressive now (/sarcasm). The final result looks great!
24:54 - the whole video was worth this hack alone. I honestly stopped using pins a while back because they slip out so easily when moving fabric around but this technique is priceless!
Beautiful shirt. Thank you for going into the reality of shirt production. In Nicholas Nickleby the eponymous hero while still a child is set to work in a boot blacking factory, adding labels to bottles. An extension to all this was the second hand clothing market, as not everyone could afford new. As with today, exploitation of the labour does not necessarily equal affordable for everyone else. The second hand clothing market was a very important part of Victorian life, with seamstresses working to repair and in many cases alter garments for resale. There were also instances of shipments of second hand clothes being stolen and then altered in order to disguise for resale. And speaking of second hand. Or third hand. Or worn till it literally fell apart, it could be interesting to do a video on stuff.
Hooray for a historically accurate(-ish) Gonzo shirt. Also, kind of points at the exact spot to look at when corporations say they aren't evil because they aren't humans. Bravo.
Beautiful shirt. This is a great start for the series. Thank you for giving voice to the women who made the shirts. I wonder if the women recruited their older children to help; these would be the children who were not employed elsewhere.
This is amazing! I love the 1840s and think and its an underated era for costubers. BUT PLEASE IF/WHEN YOH MAKE THE JACKET/COAT PLEASE HAVE AT LEAST A FEW SHOTS FOCUSING ON HOW THE BACK PLEATS AND VENT IS MADE MY GOSH THAT WOUPD BE AMAZING AND WOULD CLEAR UP SO MUCH!!!
those victorian attitudes about the poor are still popular now. how modern society treats poor people now is VERY similar.
As Nicole was explaining, I thought, "oh. I know this. This is still happening." I guess not everything changes.
Hell yeah. I explain my gender by saying "I'm a whatever, like Gonzo" and love an over the top historically inspired costume so this video is perfect.
That's how I started explaining it too! Gonzo is the best.
Same!! My nickname in high school was Gonzo, too.
Samesies!!! 💛🤍💜🖤
This was such an adorable idea!! 😊 I saw this video in my feed and got a huge smile on my face. Not only is it a period Charles Dickens costume, it’s GONZO as Charles Dickens. 😂 Love it!
My favorite muppet, gets his time to shine! ✨ thank you!!!!🤩
Aaaaaand suddenly Charles Dickens makes a whole lot more sense, now knowing his background.
*The absolute BEST retelling of A Christmas Carol, ever.
Everything about this was lovely, minus the working conditions and exploitation. Always good to think about. Thank you.
I love the shirt!! While I see what you mean about placing the gathers in the front a couple inches lower, I think they’re quite attractive as a “modern” design element. It would be so much fun to style!! I’m also super excited to get my patron hands on the pattern. Thank you so much! Really looking forward to the rest of the outfit.
I find fascinating and horrifying that making shirts was considered unskilled labor…yet most of us couldn’t do it today (or then, for that matter), and that little has changed in the last 180 years regarding unskilled labor and treatment of the poor.
i very much appreciate you going into the history of who made shirts and how they were consumed. there are a lot of videos on shirts out there that are just about how people make their shirts, and a muppets cosplay video could have been the same. it's nice to see the people whose labor was denigrated and unfairly compensated finally get the recognition they deserved.
I just wanted to say I came to this channel for the amazing sewing, but stayed for the absolutely brilliant research!
I love Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone and (spoilers) part of the plot involves someone hand sewing a nightgown overnight. This always seemed impossible to me but obviously women of the era were doing this and more every day.
His "The Woman in White" is really wonderful too!
I had no idea how much I needed to hear your perfect elocution take on the words "noodly appendages"
I just went ...is this a Pastafarian reference? It has to be, right?
13:39 That's the same stupid argument that some people use today about the poor, don't pay them because they're going to waste it...... WTF.....
I love it. Looks wonderful. Makes me want to set up my machine again. One thing I wish we had seen before the sewing portion is the design. I’d liked to have seen the design so that as you were explaining this or that part of the process, we could have referenced the design for a better understanding. As always, I love the detailed history.
I love this so much. I really need to make a shirt I can wear in the cold weather. Love The Muppets Christmas Carol too, my favourite of all the Muppets films.
I love the in-depth history lessons you give before showing us the creation of the garment. Makes me want to learn more! Wonderful job!
Thank you for sharing your research on these shirts and their making. The horrific inequity of what these women were paid versus what males made for far less work is disgusting. That such inequity continues to exist is unforgiveable and we all know that it does in EVERY field in EVERY country. Your shirt looks great. I look forward to seeing the completed outfit.
The first half of this video is a testament to how *everything* has a history that is full of fascinating and controversial details and facts, no matter how 'ordinary' or 'mundane' that thing is. Top notch, always a pleasure to learn context in your videos.
Brilliant version of Christmas Carol, including the costumes! So pleased you are running with the joy of muppet mode.
This is *so exciting*!! I'm kind of hoping blue hair (or wig) might be involved in the finished outfit.
While I can understand her reluctance to paint her face blue, since this is the day of the Mask, I still think she should make a mask (with nose) that would make her look like Gonzo when she wore it.
I have never been more excited to watch a cosplay/costume video in my life. This is one of my all-time favorite characters from one of my all-time favorite movies. Thank you thank you thank you. Btw, we just started the video…
Oh my just lovely. Now I want to make one. I made the Elizabethan kinda shirt that morgan did and I love it. I think I will love this version too. Pluss I'm stuck on bed rest and it'll give me something to focus on besides boredom.
Feel better soon! I hope your body cooperates with you!
@@adedow1333 thanks I'm pregnant and on bed rest so hopefully it will be a few months, if baby can get closer to full term.
I think this is one of my all time favorite project ideas! The shirt came out beautifully and I honestly can’t wait to see every part of this ensemble. Super fun and I think it will end up stunning!
This couldn't be more timely! I just ordered a couple of shirt patterns that are quite similar. Will definitely be referring to your video as I make them up. And really forward to the rest of the outfit!
I love that you go into this much detail - both about the history and the sewing
I am so hype for this project! Also, your story telling skills are getting better and better, very interesting information about both shirt-makers and Dickens!
Nicole, you eloquently covered so many critical issues here, especially women and children working conditions of the mid 1800's. Actually it fit like a glove with chapter 15 of a large book so I shared it with my reading group. And clarifying the Sterling coinage was so helpful too. Thank you.
I love watching you sew. You are so meticulous and detail oriented. And you make it look so easy! I can never get my edges to turn under that well.
I LOVE this!! The second I saw the headline of this video, I felt like it was made just for me haha. Thank you so much. I wish this video had existed when I was trying to make a shirt from the 1830s because all I had to go off of was an 18th century shirt pattern and my vague understanding of what I wanted, so it turned into a bit of a mess. I would love to try it again, but with the knowledge you've provided here on how to do the collar in a style similar to what I wanted. The shirt you made it gorgeous and I'm incredible excited to see the entire Gonzo ensamble!! Wishing you all the best :)
I wish I could like this twice just for all of the historical info you gave. Great video! ✨
This is such a great series!
The way that you teach and present your research findings and educate us on the historical, cultural, and political contexts of everything that you make, combined with your practical skills at making such beautiful garments… not to mention your cinematography; has just come together in such an amazing way that I look forward to your “class” every week!
I always thought the HP wizarding monetary system was bonkers, but after the pre-1971 British money breakdown, it makes a lot more sense.
She didn’t even include guineas
Thank you for this video - it's the first sewing video of yours I've watched. I really appreciated the talk about wages for making shirts, and some Dickens history (Muppets Christmas Carol is the source of most of my Dickens knowledge). And all of the shirt details! I don't know much about this period of clothing, and you explained each feature so beautifully.
You look terribly handsome in the shirt! And how serendipitous that your hair is jut the right length to imitate a young Dickens.
Love the look of the finished shirt. I'd happily wear one of those as regular clothing.... Hmmm.... I have some tie-died cotton that is a lovley weight for a shirt....
Charles Dickens' father wasn't actually *in* the Royal Navy but worked for the Royal Navy in the Pay Office (my mum at one point worked in the same building where his father had worked). They moved from a nice-ish house in one part of Chatham near where the train station is now into the slums area that was around the street known as the Brook in about 1817 and I'm not sure if it was the next year or later in 1817 that John Dickens went into the debtors' prison.
(I recently moved from the Medway Towns where Dickens spent his early life; the Towns are very proud of their connection with him.)
I love love Nicole’s videos, she is so erudite and skilled. I wish I had 1/4 of her tailoring skills
Thing is, for sweatshop operators, be they today or in the 18th century, clothing is low hanging fruit. Everyone needs it, everyone will purchase it, especially if things are arranged-ie: people making so little and needing to work hours such that they didn’t have any time to spare- so that they had little other choice. THIS is the basis of capitalism…..exploitation…..yes it’s gussied up as “supply and demand” but given that this naturally devolves to its lowest denominator- pay as little as you can get away with, for as much as you can get away with- it MEANS exploitation.
Really liked the little extra bit of history at the beginning there!
First of all, very cool that you discussed labor rights on a video about making a Muppet outfit.
Second, when you were talking about the way Victorian England treated the poor, I just kept saying, "So just like now?" Plenty of people STILL think that poor people wouldn't be poor if they just worked enough. All these horrible attitudes are more than present in society today.
This is a beautiful shirt! I can see why you want to be able to wear it more often!
I am weirdly just so excited for this whole series 💕
Thank you for this video. I discovered you a few weeks ago and I *love* the historical research you share with us. Please don't stop! 💕 Thank you!
The way the victorians treated the poor, saying they have to work their way out of it etc., is almost word for word how people still talk about the poor in England today
I love all the information that You provide us alongside making beautiful stuff. I'm SO needing to see the full costume!!
Omg I‘m so excited for this! I will watch it later when I‘m home and the kids are aslepp 🥰
This is so so so good! Thanks for the history as well as the gorgeous make.
I can't wait to make something I get to enjoy!! I started sewing quilts and they're for other people. I think I am eventually going to make clothing.
I always learn small tricks when watching you sew. Like how you hold the fabric or manipulate it in other ways when sewing, that makes things so much easier. Those are details nobody tells you, but when you get to see someone else sew, I get so many new things to try to make things easier. Especially with all the fiddly bits.
I never thought sewing (historical) shirts required to much small tequnice knowledge before I tried it for the first time this summer.
Also, the fact that our society still, over 150 years later do not know how to pay garment workers living wages are so wierd.
Why am I so in love with this series?!?!? It has a very comforting reminiscing, digging in a far fond memory vibe to it.
Also, am loving the androgynous vibe you give off, everything you make suits you so well!!!! 😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰 (end of fangirl squeal, not meant to freak you out but am fangirling over this series 😆)
Lovely, as always! Didn't know much about Dickens, this was so interesting ❤
Well done! When you’ve been hand sewing from an early age you get faster at it I think. I can usually do a tunic dress in seven hours.
I’ve heard that Nicole started sewing when she was three.
Yay Muppets Christmas Carol is my favourite movie!
So love your videos! Adapting a Muppets costume back to human scale - brilliant 🤩. I’ve always wondered about how undershirts were make/ kept / worn. Fascinating social history. Thank you.
Thank you very much for showing how to sew gussets!
You knocked it out of the park. Again. As usual.
your history talks are so fascinating!! invaluable information i owe u one
We love these videos, the skill, the history, the knowledge, thank you so much!
the clothing version of @tastinghistory great content, especially since I'm just learning how to sew
Fantastic! I love the history. Your step by step explanation of the pricess process and all the close-up views are wonderful. Your result: chefs kiss. (And sooo like Gonzo's!)
This was your first video I watched, and I of course subscribed - I was a little emotional at the end. Just so beautifully filmed but especially the way to model the shirt in the end is so pure and showcases your love for the piece and its history. Thank you, I will be watching!
I'd love to wear such a magnificent shirt myself, you look gorgeous in it ! great historical content video as always =^^=
Another wonderful tutorial, and thanks for showing how the "notched" buttonhole scissors work.
Such a gorgeous shirt and such a terrible origin story. And just when you think the garment industry probably improved, you start looking into fast fashion. 😱
Edit: OMG, as an LMT, that spinal column picture made me blanch.
That is a beautifully made shirt. Thank you for sharing the pattern on your Patreon.
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
For a Gonzo cosplay that sure took a dark turn
Lovely video! I found the history part of this video particularly fascinating! I love me some historical context!
This video makes me so happy I found this channel, it's a whole fascinating new field I never would have thought of!
I honestly think that with a few adjustments that would make a ridiculously cute summer dress.
I enjoy your videos. Those women had to make that many shirts in a day to support their families. These were poor women. It was a very hard world for poor people. The upper classes looked down on them. Keep the videos coming. Charles Dickens is one of my favorite writers.