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  • #1

    Fresh Start

    After several years working as an Interpreter in a few different house museums, I believe I may be recovering from a serious case of burnout. That being said, I would like to start again, with an entirely new wardrobe. I did pick up on several tips from the "Where to Begin" thread, which were most helpful. I am not much of a seamstress, but I am willing to try. I have no particular event or time frame I am looking at, just the desire to have some good quality basic pieces. I am pretty sure that my cage crinoline is salvagable, and maybe one or two of my bonnets. Other than that, I am a little overwhelmed, but I really want to do things right this time.

    Thanks!
    Christy Toth-Smith
    Nashville, TN
    [I][COLOR="DarkOliveGreen"]Christy Toth-Smith[/COLOR][/I]
    [COLOR="Gray"]Nashville, Tennessee[/COLOR]

    [COLOR="DarkOliveGreen"][I]"I feel that all ladies are angels." ~[/I]
    Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson[/COLOR]

    [I][COLOR="DimGray"]"I am always on the women's side." ~[/I]
    Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut[/COLOR]
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Fresh Start

    Christy, welcome to the forum!

    If you're starting fresh, I'd encourage you to start skin-out, and get undies done... likely, 2-3 sets of them, plus your petticoat set, and a good basic cotton dress/good basic wool dress. A lot of the overwhelm goes away when you can purchase a bolt of white cotton, and do a massive cutting session on all the undies, then sew away in 15-60 minute segments over the course of a few weeks.

    With more information on what sorts of roles you might like to play, I'm sure forum members can suggest some up-to-date resources and potential events in your region, and ease you back into the fun. :)
    Regards,
    Elizabeth Clark

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Fresh Start

      Hearing you say that makes me feel a lot better. I would like to do them by hand, like you suggested in another thread. I am not very good, but the idea of wearing things that I have hand made would make me feel more authentic from the inside out.

      Do you have any reccomendations on that front? Where to purchase material and supplies, and where to find patterns? I am not certain what roles I would play, so I suppose I should do some research on that as well.

      Thanks! I am getting excited about this again.....
      Christy Toth-Smith
      [I][COLOR="DarkOliveGreen"]Christy Toth-Smith[/COLOR][/I]
      [COLOR="Gray"]Nashville, Tennessee[/COLOR]

      [COLOR="DarkOliveGreen"][I]"I feel that all ladies are angels." ~[/I]
      Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson[/COLOR]

      [I][COLOR="DimGray"]"I am always on the women's side." ~[/I]
      Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut[/COLOR]

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Fresh Start

        Because that's how she is, Liz won't toot her own horn but I'll play the refrain for her...

        Liz Clark's website offers several free patterns and sound advice on how to have authentic clothing. Specific link to that section of the website which will help the most: http://www.elizabethstewartclark.com/GAMC/index.htm

        She also has a forum in which you may wish to take a look at and search the archives to answer some immediate questions: http://thesewingacademy.org/

        That forum in specific addresses clothing issues at large, though the Authentic-Campaigner Civilian folders encourage you to also bring up subjects related to clothing as well.

        Liz, myself, and all the moderators encourage the use of the search feature located at the top of your window. You may find that many questions have been asked here and there are relatively recent answers.

        I may also suggest my own organization's "core wardrobe" recommendations for women: http://agsas.org/standards/basicwomens.shtml

        These middle of the road suggestions can work for just about everyone except the immensely wealthy going to a dinner party or something of the like.

        Welcome to the forum!
        Sincerely,
        Emmanuel Dabney
        Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
        http://www.agsas.org

        "God hasten the day when war shall cease, when slavery shall be blotted from the face of the earth, and when, instead of destruction and desolation, peace, prosperity, liberty, and virtue shall rule the earth!"--John C. Brock, Commissary Sergeant, 43d United States Colored Troops

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Fresh Start

          Ah, I see you anticipated my plethora of questions. Thanks for the tip about searching the forums. I am going to give them a thorough read-through, and get started.

          Also, a big thank you to everyone here for all that you do!
          [I][COLOR="DarkOliveGreen"]Christy Toth-Smith[/COLOR][/I]
          [COLOR="Gray"]Nashville, Tennessee[/COLOR]

          [COLOR="DarkOliveGreen"][I]"I feel that all ladies are angels." ~[/I]
          Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson[/COLOR]

          [I][COLOR="DimGray"]"I am always on the women's side." ~[/I]
          Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut[/COLOR]

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Fresh Start

            Christy,

            Welcome back! You have already received a lot of very good information to look at but if you would like to have a local support group, I can recommend several ladies in your immediate area that would be helpful. They may have already contacted you but if not, let me know.

            Sherry Key.
            Sherry Key
            aka Mrs. Cornbread

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Fresh Start

              I'm glad others find the things on the site helpful! :) It's a labor of love that keeps me out of trouble (or so my husband says.)

              Christy, do check out the AGSAS site: www.agsas.org There are some great resources there. Another good one is www.vintagevolumes.com .

              It's not necessary to hand sew every item for the 60s, though hand sewing remains a perfectly valid construction method, and many techniques must be done by hand to function properly and look well. And here's the comfort: you don't have to be "great" to make functional clothing. Looking at original items, you'll find a huge range of skill applied to the clothes. Some things look positively bashed together, and they held up perfectly well! (Plus, the more you do, the better you'll get, and there are some easy tricks to increase your sewing consistency and speed, too.)
              Regards,
              Elizabeth Clark

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Fresh Start

                Thanks for the links, Elizabeth! You have a good point about learning as I go. I think I will start with some very basic undies, and work my way out. I am hoping to lose a little weight before I invest a little time and money in a good dress, so I can get lots of practice on undies. I'm sure I will have to get someone to make my corset. I may be able to learn a few basic stitches, but I can't see myself being that good for some time to come!

                Thank you, Sherry; I would love some contacts in my area. I did know several people in the area, but that has been almost ten years ago, and I can't seem to find too many names I recognize. What I am really jealous of is those of you who live in South Carolina or Virginia. Very beautiful places.....

                Y'all are getting me so excited. I wonder if my bosses would mind if I sew my new underwear at my desk?
                [I][COLOR="DarkOliveGreen"]Christy Toth-Smith[/COLOR][/I]
                [COLOR="Gray"]Nashville, Tennessee[/COLOR]

                [COLOR="DarkOliveGreen"][I]"I feel that all ladies are angels." ~[/I]
                Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson[/COLOR]

                [I][COLOR="DimGray"]"I am always on the women's side." ~[/I]
                Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut[/COLOR]

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Fresh Start

                  Christy, welcome back. Please email me at: dhecsi@charter.net

                  I'm in Columbia, 50 miles south of Nashville and have many friends and connections there. As a matter of fact, some of us are getting together this weekend if you want to stop in.

                  Trish Hasenmueller

                  Comment

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