Well, I've been subscribing, but had a lengthy detour from sewing via knitting 
and even some weaving. However, a friend who does serious quilting, and this 
thread combined together were the spark I needed to start thinking about a 
major sewing project once again.

I have a very large stash of fabric, which I am rediscovering as I sort out my 
very large stash of yarn, but one thing in particular stands out; I have well 
over 10 metres, at 1.4 metres wide, of a fine satin faced wool in a deep green 
which I bought from Liberty's when they sold off virtually all their fabrics. I 
know that nowadays we think of fabrics for evening gowns as silk/synthetic but 
I'm fairly sure that was not always so.

It may be that I'm recalling patterns from before the era of central heating, 
or even WW2 with limited fuel supplies, but if anyone has come across this I 
should be grateful for any input.

Re charity sewing

I really cannot imagine this happening in real life. It may well be in 
historical fiction, since not all authors are noted for the depth of their 
research, but even in the most overdone, nouveau riche, money to burn 
households it would have been unthinkable. On the other hand, it is an 
interesting insight to our own period where people buy pre-tattered jeans; 
perhaps it didn't occur to the writer that there was anything odd about the 
idea.

Best wishes to all

Stevie Gamble

Sent from my iPad

> On 19 Dec 2015, at 19:00, h-costume-requ...@indra.com wrote:
> 
> Send h-costume mailing list submissions to
>    h-costume@mail.indra.com
> 
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> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
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> 
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of h-costume digest..."
> 
> 
> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. Re: Charity Sewing (aqua...@patriot.net)
>   2. Re: Charity Sewing (Marjorie Wilser)
>   3. Re: Is h-costume still going? (Wanda pease)
>   4. Re: Is h-costume still going? (Wanda pease)
>   5. Re: Is h-costume still going? (Wanda pease)
>   6. Re: Who's still here? & smock question (Catherine Walton)
>   7. Re: Who's still here? & smock question (Viv Watkins)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 17:05:31 -0500
> From: aqua...@patriot.net
> To: "Historical Costume" <h-cost...@indra.com>
> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Charity Sewing
> Message-ID:
>    <691b014499c5d855c7e64457d3679566.squir...@www.patriot.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> There is a reference I've been trying to track down. This is one of those
> "I heard it somewhere" stories. I asked a couple of groups on facebook
> with no results, but maybe it will be familiar to someone here. It was
> possibly from a novel, but I don't know if it's from the era or 20thC
> historical fiction.
> 
> A young woman is visiting a household with other young women, and they are
> darning some stockings. It would not be proper to give her one of the
> family's stockings to mend, so they cut a hole in a new stocking for her
> to darn.
> 
> The whole idea seems silly to me, because it seems that there would be
> some new clothing to be made or something for her to do that would not
> require making busy work. That's why it sounds more like historical
> fiction.
> 
> Does it sound familiar to anyone?
> 
> Thanks!
> -Carol
> 
> 
> 
>> I actually wonder about how charity sewing would fit in to the fancy
>> vs plain sewing rule in Mansfield Park there is one evening (I think
>> they have company over but I can't remember) when Mrs Norris complains
>> that Fanny should be sewing and if she has nothing of her own to work
>> on there is plenty of work in the 'poor box'. Implying that making
>> things for the poor (almost certainly underclothes, the workwoman's
>> guide is only slightly later than this novel and it has a lot to say
>> about making underclothes and baby clothes as charity) was a normal
>> and expected occupation for young ladies. If it was somehow clear that
>> what you were making was for the poor of the parish instead of your
>> own family working on that in public would show off your charitable
>> virtues (not a bad thing for a gentleman to look for in a wife as
>> anything that makes your tenants happier is likely to make your estate
>> more stable and profitable).
>> Elizabeth
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 16:32:35 -0800
> From: Marjorie Wilser <the3t...@gmail.com>
> To: Historical Costume <h-cost...@indra.com>
> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Charity Sewing
> Message-ID: <eb3e391c-be73-4a35-941d-7c3b57cfb...@gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> I vote for fiction. It seems wrong on so many levels. You don?t ?cut a hole" 
> in a (new!) stocking to darn. You cut a thread and let it ravel a little. In 
> that day, I suspect making ANY kind of hole would never have happened. You 
> wouldn?t destroy new goods for any reason, much less to make busy work.
> 
> However, the very idea of them darning stockings in a social setting is 
> suspect. It just wouldn?t be done in polite circles. Wish I could help on the 
> reference.
> 
> ==Marjorie Wilser
> 
> @..@   @..@   @..@
> Three Toad Press
> http://3toad.blogspot.com/
> 
> 
>> On Dec 18, 2015, at 2:05 PM, aqua...@patriot.net wrote:
>> 
>> A young woman is visiting a household with other young women, and they are
>> darning some stockings. It would not be proper to give her one of the
>> family's stockings to mend, so they cut a hole in a new stocking for her
>> to darn.
>> 
>> The whole idea seems silly to me, because it seems that there would be
>> some new clothing to be made or something for her to do that would not
>> require making busy work. That's why it sounds more like historical
>> fiction.
>> 
>> Does it sound familiar to anyone?
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> -Carol
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 18:21:05 -0800
> From: Wanda pease <wan...@hevanet.com>
> To: Historical Costume <h-cost...@indra.com>
> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Is h-costume still going?
> Message-ID: <085505fc-7abb-489b-9a41-c4a50943a...@hevanet.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=us-ascii
> 
> I'm still here too and sad that it's gone.  I tried the Facebook but nothing 
> comes thru.  I'm discouraged and not a stupid user.  I've been using 
> computers since ARPANET and Compuserve in the 1980s.
> 
> Regina
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On Dec 17, 2015, at 8:48 AM, Kate Bunting <katembunt...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I'm still here too. I don't do much sewing but am still involved in
>> historical reenactment.
>> 
>> Kate Bunting
>> 
>> On Thu, Dec 17, 2015 at 3:28 PM, Catherine Olanich Raymond <
>> ca...@thyrsus.com> wrote:
>> 
>>>> On 12/17/2015 09:38 AM, annbw...@aol.com wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> I have been getting the monthly reminders from indra.com, but I have to
>>>> admit I don't read them.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I also have something to share--this is based on the paper I gave at the
>>>> Jane Austen Society of North America's annual general meeting in Louisville
>>>> in October.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> http://www.jasna.org/persuasions/on-line/vol36no1/wass.html
>>> Thanks for the URL, Ann!
>>> 
>>> My attempt to respond to the "is the list still going" post also drew a
>>> rejection message.  Hopefully this will get through.
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Catherine Olanich Raymond
>>> ca...@thyrsus.com
>>> (610) 805-9542
>>> 
>>> "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."
>>> Benjamin Franklin
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> h-costume mailing list
>>> h-costume@mail.indra.com
>>> http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
>> _______________________________________________
>> h-costume mailing list
>> h-costume@mail.indra.com
>> http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 18:47:22 -0800
> From: Wanda pease <wan...@hevanet.com>
> To: Historical Costume <h-cost...@indra.com>
> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Is h-costume still going?
> Message-ID: <75b5243e-4aaa-469f-82e1-14d906deb...@hevanet.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8
> 
> Thank you so much for this forwarding of Anne Wrass' article.  It is a matter 
> of great interest to me since this must have been typical for hundreds of 
> years!
> 
> Regina
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On Dec 17, 2015, at 9:42 AM, Sharon Collier <sha...@collierfam.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Very interesting article, Ann! Thanks!
>> Sharon C.
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: h-costume-boun...@indra.com [mailto:h-costume-boun...@indra.com] On 
>> Behalf Of annbw...@aol.com
>> Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 6:39 AM
>> To: h-cost...@indra.com
>> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Is h-costume still going?
>> 
>> I have been getting the monthly reminders from indra.com, but I have to 
>> admit I don't read them.
>> 
>> 
>> I also have something to share--this is based on the paper I gave at the 
>> Jane Austen Society of North America's annual general meeting in Louisville 
>> in October.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> http://www.jasna.org/persuasions/on-line/vol36no1/wass.html
>> 
>> 
>> Ann Wass
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Robin Netherton <ro...@netherton.net>
>> To: Historical Costume <h-cost...@indra.com>
>> Sent: Thu, Dec 17, 2015 9:33 am
>> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Is h-costume still going?
>> 
>> I'm here -- but my first post saying so (from an alternate address by 
>> mistake) was rejected.On 12/17/2015 12:17 AM, Carol Kocian wrote:> Hi all,>> 
>> Is h-costume still going? I?m trying to change my e-mail address for it, but 
>> the link below does not work.>> Thanks!> -Carol>>>>> 
>> _______________________________________________>> h-costume mailing list>> 
>> h-costume@mail.indra.com>> 
>> http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume>>> 
>> _______________________________________________> h-costume mailing list> 
>> h-costume@mail.indra.com> 
>> http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume>-- Robin NethertonEditor, 
>> Medieval Clothing and Textilesrobin@netherton.netvoice: (314) 439-1222Life 
>> is just a bowl of 
>> queries._______________________________________________h-costume mailing 
>> listh-costume@mail.indra.comhttp://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
>> _______________________________________________
>> h-costume mailing list
>> h-costume@mail.indra.com
>> http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> h-costume mailing list
>> h-costume@mail.indra.com
>> http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 18:56:49 -0800
> From: Wanda pease <wan...@hevanet.com>
> To: Historical Costume <h-cost...@indra.com>
> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Is h-costume still going?
> Message-ID: <2e6ff163-2941-40b6-88db-794fa383e...@hevanet.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=us-ascii
> 
> Lots of luck.  My long term "guest". Took longer than planned to leave, I had 
> to really clean, repaint, and tell myself no! I don't have guest room!
> 
> Regina
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> On Dec 17, 2015, at 2:46 PM, Wicked Frau <wickedf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>>> 
>>> I am still here.  I have been waiting for a long term house guest to move
>>> out (it is happening this weekend!) so I can un-clutter my beautiful sewing
>>> room and get back at it!  I have been sewing in little spurts but the
>>> projects have been mostly modern, albeit with wool and linen!
>> 
>> Sg
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> http://www.jasna.org/persuasions/on-line/vol36no1/wass.html
>>>> Thanks for the URL, Ann!
>>>> 
>>>> My attempt to respond to the "is the list still going" post also drew a
>>>> rejection message.  Hopefully this will get through.
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> Catherine Olanich Raymond
>>>> ca...@thyrsus.com
>>>> (610) 805-9542
>>>> 
>>>> "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."
>>>> Benjamin Franklin
>> _______________________________________________
>> h-costume mailing list
>> h-costume@mail.indra.com
>> http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 6
> Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2015 07:02:46 +0000
> From: Catherine Walton <catherine.wal...@cherryfield.me.uk>
> To: Historical Costume <h-cost...@indra.com>
> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Who's still here? & smock question
> Message-ID: <56750116.4070...@cherryfield.me.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
> 
> Hello Susan,
> I've sent a reply to the list, but it hasn't appeared yet, so I'll copy 
> it below.
> Catherine.
> 
>> On 18/12/2015 05:10, Susan wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> I'm still here.  I get fed up with facebook, and rarely with email 
>> lists, so happy to see people.
>> 
>> Since you're all here ...  I've just gotten interested in english 
>> smocks (18th - 19th c ones) and was debating making one.  I've 
>> requested a bunch of books from the library, and this question might 
>> be answered in one of them. But ...
>> 
>> Did women wear the traditional smocks?  in any era?
>> 
>> thanks, Susan c (in seattle)
>> _______________________________________________
>> h-costume mailing list
>> h-costume@mail.indra.com
>> http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
> 
> I have the Shire book by Alice Armes, "English Smocks", (9th ed., Dryad
> Press Ltd., London, 1987).  The section on the history of the English
> smock only refers to men wearing smocks, but there is a later section on
> the trade emblems embroidered on the smocks includes:  "Milkmaids -
> churns, butter pats, hearts, etc.".  An embroidery pattern included with
> the book is for these symbols.
> 
> It also says that:  "Elaborately decorated smocks were not produced
> before the middle of the eighteenth century, and they reached their
> greatest perfection in the early part of the nineteenth century." Two of
> the illustrations are photographs of smocks in the Victoria and Albert
> Museum, so their site could be worth a search; others are from county
> museums, such as the Castle Museum, Nottingham.
> 
> Catherine.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 7
> Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2015 16:25:12 -0000
> From: "Viv Watkins" <croxt...@vivwatkins.plus.com>
> To: "Historical Costume" <h-cost...@indra.com>
> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Who's still here? & smock question
> Message-ID: <586DD2377A57460A866DDCB2B7D08EAD@CroxtonZoo>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>    reply-type=response
> 
> Hello Susan
> 
> As Catherine says there are several smocks in the V & A. This is their 
> collections page - http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/t/the-collections/ You can 
> search on 'smock'.  There are several early women's smocks and the 
> traditional work smocks.  Another title you may be interested in is 'The 
> Countryman's Smock' by Anne Buck - reprint from Folk Life; it does not 
> mention any smocks being for women.  I think it must be a very rare title, 
> it is not listed on Amazon but you may be able to find a copy. In the UK we 
> are able to request books from the British Library through our local 
> libraries, a wonderful service.  Do you have anything similar?
> 
> Viv.
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Catherine Walton
> Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2015 7:02 AM
> To: Historical Costume
> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Who's still here? & smock question
> 
> I have the Shire book by Alice Armes, "English Smocks", (9th ed., Dryad
> Press Ltd., London, 1987).  The section on the history of the English
> smock only refers to men wearing smocks, but there is a later section on
> the trade emblems embroidered on the smocks includes:  "Milkmaids -
> churns, butter pats, hearts, etc.".  An embroidery pattern included with
> the book is for these symbols.
> 
> It also says that:  "Elaborately decorated smocks were not produced
> before the middle of the eighteenth century, and they reached their
> greatest perfection in the early part of the nineteenth century." Two of
> the illustrations are photographs of smocks in the Victoria and Albert
> Museum, so their site could be worth a search; others are from county
> museums, such as the Castle Museum, Nottingham.
> 
> Catherine. 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> h-costume mailing list
> h-costume@mail.indra.com
> http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
> 
> 
> End of h-costume Digest, Vol 14, Issue 60
> *****************************************

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