HSM Challenge #2: Blue

Having missed out on Challenge #1, I wanted to make something I knew that I would finish, to help get me into the swing of things. I decided to make a muff base and cover. I had previously read other blog posts about the basic construction, so I gathered my shopping list and set to work.

I used Spoonflower to print some samples of 18thC mezzotints on satin, ordered half a metre of silk dupion in Wedgewood Blue from The Silk Route, and the rest of the stuff I needed was all to hand.

I used the cotton from an old hospital sheet as the base and made a square-ish tube from it, stitched together on 3 sides. I don't remember the specific measurements, but I was aiming for the smaller, neater muffs from the 1770s and 80s. I filled it with synthetic wadding as that was what I had, rolled it up, and stitched the last side up and joined it to the bottom edge at the same time.

Next was the muff cover. The silk was cut to size and I tacked the mezzotint down in the centre, going over the join with silver spangles. I pulled long threads from the frayed edges of the silk to use to sew it, as these were obviously going to be a perfect colour match. I sort-of did this bit with no real idea of how to construct it, other than knowing I needed to protect the cut edges, as the silk was fraying too easily. I stitched a channel down each side of the silk panel and ran some light blue silk floss through the channels, before joining the top and bottom and felling the seam. I would prefer to have had ribbon in the channels, but must needs; and I will eventually replace the floss.

To finish, I folded and pressed two long strips of silk and box-pleated them to the muff cover.

The mezzotint is of Theophila Palmer.

What the item is: Muff cover and base
The Challenge: Blue
Fabric: Wedgewood blue silk dupion, white cotton, poly satin [mezzotint]
Pattern: none; I made it up
Year: 1770s- 80s
Notions: cotton thread, spangles, silk twine for ties, silk thread unravelled from the fabric, wadding
How historically accurate is it? 85% [base is partially machine-sewn; wadding, mezzotint and spangles not HA materials; powerwoven dupion rather than taffeta]
Hours to complete: Approx. 12 [including dawdling]
First worn: Not worn yet! Hopefully at 18thC ball end of March
Total cost: Maybe £12 - £15, mainly the silk and the mezzotint. I had a lot of the other stuff already