2011–2012 Hive Workshops

Saturday December 3, 2011 9:30am–4pm & Sunday December 4, 2011 9:30am–4pm

The workshop will guide both beginners and experienced sewers through the process of measuring, cutting, constructing and finishing a pair of linen or woolen fall front breeches or military overalls. Students will have the option of bringing their own fabric, or purchasing a pre-cut linen or woolen breeches kit. Original garments will be available for study and inspiration.

Kit Prices: kits include pre-cut fabric pieces, thread, buttons for covering or metal buttons, thread, pattern, and instructions. Buckles are not included.
Wool Breeches kit: $120
Linen Breeches Kit: $80

Fee: $100 per person ("fitting models" may attend at no additional charge)

Instructor: Henry Cooke

Saturday December 3, 2011 9:30am–4pm & Sunday December 4, 2011 9:30am–4pm

Saturday January 7, 2012 9:30am–4pm & Sunday January 8, 2012 9:30am–4pm

We will be making stays in the 18th century manner. We strongly encourage participants to sew the entire pair of stays by hand in order to produce stays that fit well, are easy to remodel in case of weight loss or gain, and can easily be repaired in the case of any broken boning. However, if you are unable to do so, you can sew the channels by machine, with the rest done by hand. As people have discovered in our other workshops, when constructing items in the 18th century way, hand sewing is easier and produces better results than machine sewing. Besides, you can do it anywhere and it's very relaxing!

All materials for your stays will be supplied for the workshop, including linen canvas, thread (please advise if you are planning on sewing your channels by hand or machine), boning, leather binding and stay cord.

All skill levels are welcome; stay making is not difficult, but it is time consuming. Some knowledge of hand sewing is helpful but not necessary.

Fee: $150

Instructors: Hallie Larkin & Steph Smith

Saturday January 14, 2011 9:30am–noon

This is not a session to teach knitting. If you want to knit stockings, plan to have someone to knit for you, or you are evaluating hand-knit stockings to purchase, you will be prepared after this session. Using detailed images from museum collections and originals from Carol's collection, we will discuss the elements of hand-knit 18th century stockings. Construction details, gauge, and density will be discussed, as well as the pitfalls of modern knitters assuming any hand knit is historically okay.

Fee: $15

Maximum Attendees: 15

Instructor: Carol Kocian

Saturday January 14, 2011 1pm–4pm

Most costume enthusiasts have heard of clocked stockings, but did you know the patterns and techniques changed through the decades? Using detailed images from museum collections and originals from Carol's collection, we'll look at clocking styles from early to late 18th century and a bit into the 19th. Besides learning about these styles of embellishment, methods of replicating a them or "faking it" will be discussed. We will make a sampler of a few of these techniques.

Fee: $20

Maximum Attendees: 12

Instructor: Carol Kocian

Saturday January 14, 2012 9:30am–4pm & Saturday February 11, 2012 9:30am–4pm

A great beginner project in which to learn and practice your hand sewing but also a great way for more advanced sewers to create a thing of beauty! These two Saturday sessions will teach you the basics of constructing and sewing a man's shirt. The classroom time will focus on learning the trickier details while you work on the easier things at home between classes. The second session will help you with the finishing touches like cuffs and sleeve buttons.

Fee: $100 (fee does not include materials)

Instructors: Matthew & Vicky Brenckle

Saturday January 14, 2012 9:30am–4pm & Saturday February 11, 2012 9:30am–4pm

Ever notice how a well-fit waistcoat beautifully complements an 18th century suit? Often overlooked because a coat covers it, the waistcoat is actually a man's foundation garment. This two-day workshop will look at original waistcoats and explore the methods tailors used to create a good fit. By the end of day one, you will have drafted a pattern to create a superbly fit waistcoat, cut out your fabric and will leave with a homework assignment. The second session will be spent perfecting construction techniques and focusing on the finer elements.

Fee: $100 (materials not included)

Instructor: Henry Cooke

Saturday February 11, 2012 9:30am–noon & Saturday March 24, 2012 9:30am–4pm   date change

The first session will demonstrate the process of blocking your hat. During the second class, you will finish the hat blanks that have been blocked and stiffened. You will trim the brims to size, create and stitch in the linen lining, install an optional leather brow band, and stitch the worsted edge binding for British impression, steam/cock the hats, and attach the cockade for British.

Fee: $100, includes materials

Instructors: Roy Najecki & Joel Bohy

Saturday February 18, 2011 9:30am–4pm   cancelled

You will construct a 19-hole cartridge pouch that would be appropriate for Seven Years War Provincial, Revolutionary War American militia, and pre-1779 Continental Army. The pouch will be complete with the wood block, black leather shoulder strap with brass buckle.

Fee: $75 includes materials

Maximum Attendees: 6

Instructors: Roy Najecki & Joel Bohy

Saturday February 18, 2012 9:30am–4pm & Sunday February 19, 2012 9:30am–4pm

You will be constructing a hand sewn stomacher front / en fourreau back gown based on a period example and constructed in a period manner. This gown is correct style for women reenacting a period of 1760–1780. By the end of the weekend, your gown should be substantially completed. This class will require a one-hour individual fitting session scheduled prior to the class in order to focus class time on gown construction.

Fee: $130 includes the bodice and sleeve lining

Instructors: Hallie Larkin & Steph Smith

Saturday February 18, 2012 9:30am–4pm & Sunday February 19, 2012 9:30am–4pm

We often neglect our children's clothing even though they are the real camera magnets and are ofttimes photographed in less than wonderful kits. Spend a weekend constructing a young lad's outfit consisting of an unlined workman's jacket and trousers or breeches. Learn how to build a little room for growth into the garment as well as some tricks to facilitate construction. Even if you don't have a boy in the hobby, this is a wonderful opportunity to make up a kit or two in a couple sizes for your company stores so your regiment can easily outfit its younger members.

Fee: $100

Instructor: Henry Cooke

Saturday March 10, 2012 9:30am–4pm

Is it time to upgrade your wardrobe with a new shift, historically accurate in every detail, while honing your hand sewing skills at the same time? Enjoy a day of camaraderie and learning. Sharon Burnston, author of Fitting and Proper, will explain about the evolution of shifts during the 18th century, and you will have an opportunity to examine an original F&I-era New England shift from Sharon's private collection. You will cut out and commence construction of your own shift using period sewing methods with the focus on developing your fine hand sewing skills. Fabric requirements and specifications will be sent to you on registration.

Fee: $50

Maximum class size: 12

Instructor: Sharon Burnston

Saturday March 24, 2012 9:30am–4pm & Sunday March 25, 2012 9:30am–4pm

Leather breeches were perhaps the most universal garment in the 18th century male wardrobe; from Royal Governors to slaves in the fields, these durable and comfortable breeches were the blue jeans of their time. Join Jay Howlett and Jan Tilley from Williamsburg, VA for an intensive and very hands-on exploration of the arts and mysteries of the breeches maker. Participants will receive all materials and notions to cut and fit a pair of buckskin breeches.

This is an advanced level workshop requiring good hand sewing skills. Participation is limited to 8 to allow the individual attention requisite for proper cutting and fitting. Those sewing for someone other than themselves will need to have the wearer attend for parts of the workshop.

Fee: $400 (includes materials)

Instructors: Jay Howlett & Jan Tilley

Saturday March 10, 2012 9:30am–noon

Learn how to use readily available and and vintage trims and passementerie with which to embellish your gown. We will examine what is appropriate for the gown you are wearing and how to achieve a period look. You will also learn how to make fly fringe and how to enhance modern trims to approximate period ornamentation. Techniques like pinking, ruching, and adding cuffs and sleeve ruffles will be discussed.

Fee: $40 includes trim samples

Instructors: Hallie Larkin & Steph Smith

Saturday March 10, 2012 1pm–4pm

Create a pair of custom-made silk or wool mitts based on a period pair from a private collection.

Fee: $40 includes materials

Instructors: Hallie Larkin & Steph Smith

Saturday March 11, 2012 10am–noon or 2pm–4pm

Get your musket in top working order for the season—a clean well-tuned gun is a safe one. Join gunsmith Jim Casco for a hand-on workshop where each participant will perform a detailed inspection of their musket. He/she will dismount the lock and barrel and completely disassemble the lock. This will enable the participant to learn proper maintenance and discover any problems. Jim will guide the participants, step by step, through the procedures and be able to evaluate any problems and make recommendations to correct them.

Fee: $25

Instructor: Jim Casco