Sew for Victory... and more

And it is back to sewing again. As our cooler season comes to an end here, I decided to give myself one more cold weather outfit, because I figured I couldn't go wrong with a slightly heavier weight skirt than most I have.
This time I picked a stretch cord.  I didn't TRY to pick stretch corduroy, it just kind of happened.  I totally forgot about reading the label and picked a fabric I have been wanting for ages.  It is a pretty French Grey corduroy, which I thought would suit a winter wardrobe admirably.  And I was right.

This pattern has been in my collection for a while.  I made the skirt once before, some time ago, and loved the way it fit BUT I forgot to make certain adjustments, and although the fit of the skirt is okay, the closure is a little too snug.  It gapes.  So this time I sized my skirt up a small amount.  And promptly took it all out again, because the cord I chose was stretchy and did not need the upsize!  I also chose to insert a zipper instead of having the placket seam with hook and eye or snap closures.  Luckily, my upsize had included the waist, and it had just enough extra to make a hook and bar closure above the zipper.

I wasn't really sure about sewing with cord.  I mean, the SEWING part is ok, but the seam treatment... does it fray a lot?  I did know it pilled as I cut it!  Luckily, my upsizing meant my seams had to be taken in, which gave all but one of them lots of extra fabric so I could make a very neat, turned seam.  You can see it above- I have just folded the edge over, sewn it down and pressed it open.  I really like the way it looks!  The one exception was the zipper seam, where I cut it instead of ripping out the first seam.  Since the zipper had to be installed there, I was not too upset- I didn't need extra thickness there.  Instead I hand overcast the edge.  And no, I don't have a photo!

 

Here is the skirt.  It has been through a long car trip, plus a couple of hours walking around the Jamestown Military Through the Ages event.  I teamed it up with my Sew for Victory blouse and the crocheted gloves I made last year.  And kind of did my hair (it was a humid day, I didn't even try for curls ;)).  And shoes, well... walking + mud = comfortable shoes necessary.  So that's my take on it anyway ;)  I event forgot to get a photo of the back and side views, and ended up with just this front view.  Well, at least the view tells me I need to add thicker shoulder pads to the blouse (I thought I might ;)).
If you want authenticity, just read on :)

Two lumberjills (British landgirl Army) talk to a lady dressed beautifully in what I think is a World War I outfit.  Yes, the eras mesh at the event, and last year, my photos consisted mostly of anachronistic pairings LOL

Military through the ages (which I should have blogged before, since we only do it yearly- as visitors, never re-enactors - though I'd love to!) is a yearly event held at Jamestown Settlement in Jamestown, Virginia.  The Settlement is located not far from the historical site of Historic Jamestowne, where the original settlers of English America landed in 1607.  The Settlement has a reconstructed fort with wattle and daub houses, where re-enactors help you to envision colonial life.  Now, Military Through the Ages is an event where people re-enact military from all eras.  I didn't take many photos this year, I kept forgetting, but you can see a set from 2010 here on my Flickr pages.

One landgirl teaches my daughter to milk "Bessie" the "cow" :)  DD now wants goats.  She'll even milk them, she tells me!

I love the event.  It brings history alive, and many encampments have battle re-enactments, or crafts for the kids to try out.  We went through a bit hurriedly at points because the weather was supposed to turn wet later.  Not that we need have worried, although a mudpit at points, it was quite some time later before the rain started.

The landgirl encampment.  The lumberjills are eating on the left, while another landgirl on the right talks to another Brit... who might have been old enough to remember the landgirls ;)  I thought these images might interest a number of our Sew For Victory participants!

I made sure to get the landgirl encampment photographed for the Sew For Victory ladies.  I forgot, however, to photograph many of the wonderful re-enactors who sat and talked to us though!

Not all of the re-enactors were women.  Actually I have been overjoyed to see so many women appearing with their home-front and camp following acts, because most of the show features the military.  Above is another British group, this time a group of soldiers.  They and the landgirls bracketed a German camp!

A Native American Indian woman prepares a stew with foraged foods and venison.

Not all the re-enactors are obviously military.  This lady, above, was in the Native American village.

Very posh!

While these two gentlemen strolled the settlement from their camp.  I am pretty sure they are from the Middle Ages, probably one of the German mercenary camps.  I have seen their group at the event on numerous occasions, and they are very good!

Vikings

This is a Viking Mercenary, and not Hulk Hogan ;)  He was very informative- his tent can be picked up and carried around easily.  Opposite him were the Romans and another Medieval camp.

The Irish terrorists.  Their term.

The event can be loud.  These Irish terrorists (their term, not mine) are fighting some patrolling British in early 20th Century Ireland.  They used VERY loud props- the guns being filled with what my husband tells me is a full load.  I think that means a blank with the same amount of powder as a real bullet.
They also fire cannons at the event, and were going to fire a howitzer until they spotted a Bald Eagle.
I could go on and on, but won't.  If you ever want to attend the event, it is always in March and goes over a whole weekend for the visitor but the re-enactors actually come a little earlier.

I hope you enjoyed this quick trip to the past, hopefully I will be back later this week with some more stuff to show you!