Cost-toom Re-Ducks

As Dearest Sister points out, our mother Sewed. She was a Seamstress! of the highest caliber.

And she endeavored to instill in her offspring some of the same skill. It took differently with each of us, some deeper, some to a lesser degree.

For instance. Only Brother? Sews not a whit.

I am kidding, of course. Back in the day, sewing was wimmin’s work, and only us girl children were chained to the Singer for to learn how to sew a straight seam.

I am kidding again. There were no chains. Only whips. Keeping me on task. During the warm summer days while the neighborhood peeps were out cavorting…having fun…swimming…letting Dearest Sister join them since she didn’t have ‘a project’ to enter in the 4-H Fair…

Kidding again. About the whips…

Anyway. Us Sisters? We sew. More or less, after our own fashion, and it has served us well through the years.

For instance, there was a time, when the Offspring were young-ish, we lived in a very small town in central Kentucky, outside of which there had been a fierce Civil War battle. And each year, the denizens of said ville were subjected to and/or participated in the re-enactment of this historical event.

This was new to those of us from out West where we are a bit short on this sort of history. And therefore, it was all interesting and exciting. And also, a chance to dress up!

So, I sewed. And little by little, I put together an ‘outfit’. Starting with the bodice of a wedding dress pattern, then a simple big ginourmous skirt, with 40 hundred yards of fabric gathered into a waistband…just like Scarlett O’Hara and her draperies! I bought yards more of fabric on sale, and stitched together another, then purchased yet another dress that needed finishing. I accessorized over time, picking up at the Suttler’s (the camp’s vendors that followed the ‘troops’) a pair of lace gloves, a 2nd hoop, and what-not. I found a couple of shawls around the house to use, and a dear friend crocheted a snood (a hair net).

The dresses were used for more than the re-enactments, too. They were used for school activities, and costume parties, and the hoop most lately was used under a wedding dress.

I have not worn the snood of late. But I could. And the gloves. And the shawls, even though, now? I would knit myself better ones.

But the dresses? I haven’t tried those on lately. The bodices of the dresses were super fitted. To the Iron Needles of yore. Who was younger. And thinner. But perkier. Alas.

It was fun to get all geared up, but when out in public, I always felt awkward. Like a pretender. I don’t think I have ever been able to ‘get into’ a role other than being me. Drawing too much attention to myself perhaps.

That and the fact I was only dressed up on the outside. REAL re-enactor ladies were dressed up all the way down to their pantolettes!!