This IMO is the one house wife you don't want to leave home without. :grin:
For me personally, I feel the little details make a difference in your persona while at events or educational demonstrations, and on period treks. These small items can make or break what your trying to achieve.
A sewing kit obviously was a very instrumental piece of kit back in the 18th century and even after the civil war. Without it, how are you going to make important repairs to gear and clothing? It's importance still lives on even today.
I decided to construct a small example from historical documentation and images. I found the most prominent style being the basic elongated shape that folded easily at approximately three to four inches wide, and at varying lengths.
I like to base my gear on items that would have been accessible for trade with natives. I'm sure at some point a native person thought this would be one handy piece of kit to have and use to repair mocs, bags, leggings... the list goes on.
So hear we have the simple but functional house wife kit, or simply called a sewing kit. After carrying my articles mainly in a small buckskin poke, I decided to make this from a period material in my choice of heavy linen. Mine measures 3" wide and 13" in length, 16" including the pin cushion. Pockets are 3"deep and the whole thing folds up obviously into a 3" square. To secure the kit I simply have sewn a buckskin wang to the middle of the kit. This IMO is better than a button, reason being a tie allows your kit to expand with added material and such. So essentially, it's rather easy construct! Most importantly you'll want an extra inch of material on both sides to fold in to prevent fraying.
Example, you want a 5" kit, add 2" to the overall width which gives you a total of 7". You'll take that extra inch (on both sides) and fold it two times at 1/2" each, allowing for a nice seam. Same process applies for the length as well.
The pin cushion is simply two pieces of wool with a leather flap that's sewn to one of the pockets. The first piece of wool has my various sewing needles, the second is strictly straight pins.
All sewing was done by hand with my preferred waxed linen thread. Add your period scissors and an awl with other small knick knacks and your prepared to fix any holes and buttons! :hatsoff:
For me personally, I feel the little details make a difference in your persona while at events or educational demonstrations, and on period treks. These small items can make or break what your trying to achieve.
A sewing kit obviously was a very instrumental piece of kit back in the 18th century and even after the civil war. Without it, how are you going to make important repairs to gear and clothing? It's importance still lives on even today.
I decided to construct a small example from historical documentation and images. I found the most prominent style being the basic elongated shape that folded easily at approximately three to four inches wide, and at varying lengths.
I like to base my gear on items that would have been accessible for trade with natives. I'm sure at some point a native person thought this would be one handy piece of kit to have and use to repair mocs, bags, leggings... the list goes on.
So hear we have the simple but functional house wife kit, or simply called a sewing kit. After carrying my articles mainly in a small buckskin poke, I decided to make this from a period material in my choice of heavy linen. Mine measures 3" wide and 13" in length, 16" including the pin cushion. Pockets are 3"deep and the whole thing folds up obviously into a 3" square. To secure the kit I simply have sewn a buckskin wang to the middle of the kit. This IMO is better than a button, reason being a tie allows your kit to expand with added material and such. So essentially, it's rather easy construct! Most importantly you'll want an extra inch of material on both sides to fold in to prevent fraying.
Example, you want a 5" kit, add 2" to the overall width which gives you a total of 7". You'll take that extra inch (on both sides) and fold it two times at 1/2" each, allowing for a nice seam. Same process applies for the length as well.
The pin cushion is simply two pieces of wool with a leather flap that's sewn to one of the pockets. The first piece of wool has my various sewing needles, the second is strictly straight pins.
All sewing was done by hand with my preferred waxed linen thread. Add your period scissors and an awl with other small knick knacks and your prepared to fix any holes and buttons! :hatsoff:
