I’m not an experienced seamstress. I know just enough to be dangerous. Or just enough to muddle my way through a project. Either characterization works.
Right now, I’m stitching up some gloves to complete hubby’s Oliver Cromwell costume. You’re impressed, right? Please tell me you’re impressed. I didn’t know a real person could make real gloves until a few short days ago when hubby sent me a link suggesting that I ought to make some for him. I was dubious, but willing to try. Just a day later I was admiring the gloves of a certain young ship’s captain, and I learned to my surprise that he had made them himself.
A 14yo young man made his own gloves. How hard could it be? When he offered to loan me his pattern, I jumped on the opportunity. He warned me not to expect the first one to turn out just right. He had made a mock-up first, then adjusted the pattern to fit better.
I had no idea what I was getting into. After 4 solid hours, I finished a mock-up of muslin – just the hand, fingers and thumb, mostly handsewn because there was simply no room for a sewing machine. I didn’t even try the fancy wide lace-up cuff yet. I’m expecting that part to be easy. You can stop laughing now. I hope to finish the first real glove tomorrow. You’re still laughing, aren’t you?
Let’s just say I have far more respect for a certain young ship’s captain whom some of you will meet at the Reformation 500. Be sure to sneak a peek at his gloves, but don’t tell him I told you.
If you run into Lieutenant General Oliver Cromwell, on the other hand, kindly avert your eyes from his gloves which he may or may not be wearing. Just check out what our 14yo Kaitlyn made: the awesome doublet with removable sleeves, the shirt, the breeches…you get the idea.
Who ever knew Oliver Cromwell was so handsome?
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Yes, sewing is like that.
My 16yo girlfriend and I have been working on a dress since early November. We’re still not finished.
Oh thanks soo much for that glove link! I’ve wanted to try my hand at some gloves.
hehe Pun intended.
Perry’s costume looks terrific. So do the rest of them. Amazing sewing!
I think you’re amazing for trying! What is the name of the pattern? Wish we were going to Boston to see, but please post lots of pictures. Maybe the next event….
Tanya,
The glove pattern is Butterick B5370. I’d love to post pictures of Boston for you, but I won’t be going. I’ll be watching the blogs of those who do go!
Very dashing, though I’m not sure the “thumb’s up” sign is historically accurate. (LOL)
Way to go on the costume!!!!! I wish we were going. My sister is getting married that day. Maybe next year! I can’t wait to see all your costumes together!!!
We were so impressed with his costume (and everyone else’s)!
A little too impressed in my opinion because after viewing the VF blog, I was begged to please sew everyone a costume so sweetly that I caved and now have a busy week ahead of me. Unfortunately, the last minute decision has left us without a lot of the fancy accessories that really will make the costume, like your husband’s, surely to be dashing, gloves.
Funny, I noticed his gloves when I saw that photo. Who’da thunk he made ‘em himself. Some young lady will be very lucky… Kinda reminds me of my husband sewing his sister’s boardshorts ’cause she couldn’t do it (and then totalling his mum’s sewing machine making a sail for his windsurfer…).
I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it. You’re no quitter but time may be a factor.
In Him
Meredith
PS What you’ve done so far on Perry’s costume is fantastic!
Meredith,
Thank you – but I changed the post slightly to make it clear that the rest of the costume was made by Kaitlyn, not me. The gloves will be my primary contribution. Let me tell you, I was tempted to quit about halfway through that mock-up. I just couldn’t see how it was going to come together and could hardly make my way through sewing the gussets between the fingers. It didn’t help that muslin doesn’t have a right or wrong side. The stuff I’m working with now is actually much easier!
I don’t know that Mr Cromwell was handsome, but your husband sure is in his costume. You are one lucky woman. Woohoo, eye candy!
Good luck with your glove project! I crocheted a pair of ladies’ fingerless gloves some years ago… That was interesting.
Oh, thank you for the Vision Forum DVD (from the drawing you held a while back). We got it! =)
Oliver Cromwell was a mass murderer, whether or not you hate Catholics…
@anna
No he wasn’t. He was in fact one of the more humane military generals of the 17th century. He issued orders against harming civilian non-combatants, for example:
He was also made the butt of ongoing smear campaigns by the Royalist party after The Restoration. History is written by the victors, after all.
As far as the Roman Catholic lack of charity towards Cromwell, it’s expected and it’s explainable because of 2 factors:
a.) Rome and its church was at war with protestant England in the 17th century. They were constantly sending Jesuit priests to stir up insurrections (ever hear of the gun powder plot?) and the Jesuits were known as the marines of the RC church. Not to mention the constant negotiations various roman catholics entered into to help restore the Stuarts and bring catholic armies into England or Scotland.
b.) Because of “a,” Cromwell had priests treated as enemy combatants and spies. They were killed, captured and executed along with the Irish army officers in during battles. This has led to less than warm memories of Cromwell by the various Catholic writers, and given plenty of fodder for Catholic anti-Cromwell propaganda.
I would recommend D’Aubingne’s book called “The Protector: A Vindication” which can be read on google books here : http://books.google.com/books?id=Sh8QAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover
Quick question here. What are your thoughts on how Cromwell handled Drogeda? (hope I’m spelling that right) Henty was down pretty hard on that.
Hannah,
I think Henty needs to be understood in his own context, just as Cromwell does.
Henty was a noted Royalist in his perspective. Ever read ‘True to the Old Flag”? So while I appreciate Henty for many things, his objectivity on the British Crown isn’t one of them
WRT Drogheda I would urge you to read what D’aubingne has to has about it here :
I agree with J.H.M. D’aubingne almost totally.
I just saw Perry’s pic at Doug’s blog. He looks great. We can’t wait to meet you all next week. We are all looking forward to a great time with like-minded families. I promise to look beyond the gloves! I can’t imagine the hours put into that… You are a good wife!!!
Having seen those gloves myself, I think that they were quite decent! Also agree with Mr. C’s analysis of Cromwell! See ya in Boston!
Ryan,
Yes, quite decent! Those were the ones made by the ship’s captain. You haven’t seen the ones I made.
Have you tried tracing the shape onto a bigger piece of the fabric (both pieces together) but then sew on the line rather than the regular method of cutting it out and then sewing based on the seam allowance? That way the pieces aren’t so tiny and they don’t get stuck inside the hole down to the bobbin. I have used this method to successfully sew small stuffed animals on the machine – because I rarely have time for hand sewing and, if I do, I want to do some pretty embroidery, not sew seams.
Nicole,
These weren’t just flat gloves. They have gusseted fingers, long wide cuffs, and flaps that lace with leather strips. Hopefully very much like the gloves that soldiers actually wore in the 17th century.