First Post of the Day
Some of you expressed surprise that I sewed my Caraco shut and wondered how I would put the jacket on and take it off. Good questions, but this is actually not unusual to living history folks. In fact, it's actually historically accurate.
18th century clothing was often sewn or pinned onto the wearer. A disadvantage to the pinning was arms that looked like this after you wore the pinned garment:
18th century folks also used buttons, ribbon ties, and hooks and eyes to close their clothing. An apron tied around the waist was another way to keep a bedgown, short gown, or jacket closed. And, sometimes they simply sewed the clothing onto the person while it was being worn.
Normal 300 years ago but to modern day people, it does seem odd.
(A modern day equivalent, though, is wedding dresses. I've sewn more than one bride into her dress!)
Got your
As for the Caraco, getting the sewn-closed jacket on is easy (and yes, I did put it on after sewing it closed.) Taking it off is more challenging. But there are several ways to remove it.
~ I can get it off by myself by pulling it off over my head carefully. It takes some time and I have a bad shoulder so it hurts. But I can do it if no one is around to help me.
~ I can sit in a chair or on a bench, raise my arms up and a friend (Leslie, Carol, or Gretchen) can pull it off over my head by the sleeves. Practiced with Craig. Quick and easy. (Wearing a chemise keeps my modesty intact.)
~ If worse comes to worst, I can snip the stitches holding it closed, open the front, and remove it that way. That would mean I'd need to wear the bedgown the next day which is why I have one packed, just in case. I hope I don't have to open the stitches, but it is an option.
So, if I'm wearing a bedgown in any photos from this year, you'll know that I had to cut myself out of my Caraco. But I'm pretty confident that it won't come to that.
Stay 'tooned!
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Being a very amateur sewer myself I can feel your pain when I see those pin pricks on your arm. Ouch! It sounds like you have this covered!
ReplyDeleteOk pinning things seems way too painful! Telling how you get yourself into your jacket reminds me of getting chaps on alone at horse shows. It can been done but is a full body workout!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the play-by-play on the ins and outs (and up-and-overs) of 18th century clothing!
ReplyDeleteI don’t think I could handle the pains of pinned on clothing—hats off to the historical reenactors!
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