Of Muffs and Mitts

In preparation for a trip to my dearly beloved Colonial Williamsburg in the not too distant future. I have been working on some small sewing projects, a few Colonial items I have looooong coveted to have for myself.
Muffs and Mitts.

I started with the muff, following the muff instructions from this blog. Because it's awesome to have a muff that can have multiple covers and "match" your outfit on any given day without having lots and lots of muffs lying about. Or as my brother quotes it, "Elegant Economy". 

Everything I had read about making muffs, everyone had said that they needed a lot more stuffing than they thought, so I was well prepared. Well, a little over prepared perhaps, It still have a LOT of that stuff yet. Though I followed the blog STEP by STEP. Mine turned out considerably different than hers, at least in my mind. This was a project my sister and I did together. The white is mine while the ivory is hers, her's is already folded in half while mine is still very long.

 Our little doggy helper Bridget who likes to think that she can supervise.

 My little sister's was more narrow than mine and was too snug for her hands, so I made her a new one, that isn't pictured.

 Here it is all pinned and almost ready to be sewed shut.

 My little hand pink hand-strap just in case I get tired of wearing it, but don't want to risk dropping it.

 After I followed the instructions for the cover, I was trying how to decide, how EXACTLY I should trim my muff. I like the idea of faux fur, but having none on hand or the means to purchase it really at the moment I decided to fall back on one of my very favorite colonial accents. Puffs! Aren't they fun? Hand sewn puffs every two inches, They could be better, I am still learning. By the by the camera really isn't doing this red justice, it look simply outrageously red here, it real life it's a few shades darker

 Getting adventurous...as I was sewing on my puffs I suddenly realized that I had one accessory available to me that would be the perfect accent, I am not sure if it's terribly historically accurate. I am not sure how many ladies would have risked showcasing pearls on something as simple as a muff, however, it makes it fun and ever so pretty so I added them.

Halfway done.

 Without hands...

With hands.

Our muffs, my little sister chose brown, I chose red. I still have a really faint pink I want to make up into a muff cover, we'll see how it all works out.

If I were to make them over, I would probably make mine a little bigger, it's a really nice snug warm fit, which I like, but I would probably give myself some more space. Though small, it seems that it can still fit in the historical period around 1777, from what I am reading and looking at through various muff pictures and historical sites, just don't quote me on that.  

I was thinking of making some space...just not this much space

via Pintrerest

                 

My next project was mitts. It took me a little while to come back to this project. I had tried making a pair before with this pattern however, somewhat to my distress. I found the pattern much too small for me. I was far from certain as to what I should do but after getting my courage up and scouring the internet for pictures and reading this post about a dozen times. I decided to reembark on the journey to create my mitts. this time, disregarding the patterns instructions, (after looking at several historical models) drafting up a pattern using the original for a base but adding inches and a few other things, so I could fit my hands and long arms into the mitts pattern. 

Which resulted in this.

the tip was off so thus it's pinned back and made a few more alterations from this mock up.

So today after some embroidery, much sewing and I finally took pictures of my mitts! I decided not to go with the traditional herringbone stitch on the back of the glove and around the thumb opting for something similar to what I saw Martha Washington wear at Colonial Williamsburg. I did my own little nod to France and my colonial Hero the Marquise de Lafayette.

Martha's Mitts at CW...don't you just LOVE HER DRESS!!!! 

Just to show you why the pictures feature our unpretty driveway, I wasn't about to slog through snow.

Want to put your hand in and stay warm?

My cute little bunny, a recent adoption, that just had to sneak into a few pictures. 

How to carry your hands in Colonial way, I am not sure about why the seem keeps turning, but it seems to be the way of it in more than just my pictures. I shall have to give mitts a through examination when I get to CW.

Detail, once again...

I am glad my sleeves go this far down and my gloves go this far up. Let's just say that watching the Olympics doesn't always make up for the straightest and neatest stitching?

I just couldn't resist an action shot.

Someday I want to make mitts that look like these. (Pictures found Via Pintrest from the met).

Then to conclude...a snack that matches my gloves.

Hope you enjoy all of these pictures. :D