OH the ability to use it as a pocket so your headphones don't get yanked out of your ears when you shove your phone in a coat pocket I AM CONVINCED NOW, sign me up
@@stanceymackenzie Not to mention the hand warmers.... But not too close to the chocolate! You can buy them at Cabellas, but they are very basic and usually cammo colors.
Hmmm how to give your hand warmers and ear buds an old timey, fancy Victorian flare... Put your hand warmers in an old metal cigarette case you could cover it with velvet. As for the ear buds ...not sure. Morgan Donner has one of the best phone disguise videos ever. It's a must watch.
When I was three years old my grandma made me a rabbit fur muff and I LOVED it ❤️ I never liked gloves as I feel like I'm choking with sensory overload and as a child it was a struggle with any clothes being tight against my body - but my super lovely grandma made me undergarments that didn't choke me a jacket that wasn't to tight in the neck but had a sewn on scarf and my little muff. So I could be both warm and comfortable So yes we need to bring muffs back into fashion
It’s one of the best features! Like a clutch purse and hand warmer in one! I snagged some vintage ones a few years ago in Amsterdam made of sheepskin and rabbit fur and I love them.
I found at a local Salvation army, the most beautiful brown embroidered on one side and fur on the other muff . It s a draw string purse in the fabric side. I would normally not buy a fur item, but I wanted to be sure it did not get appreciated for what it would have meant to someone decades ago. It s a high dollar value item from it s day and I just appreciate the beauty of it today. Keep inspiring.
I remember having a muff when I was little. It was great for sneaking snacks into church. It had a chain that went around the neck so could remove hands if needed.
I had a muff and cape made of white rabbit fur in the 60’s, as a child. It matched my mother’s that were in mink. Boy were we fancy when we went to the theater on the weekend! I loved that muff. It was fashionable, kept me warm and I always had something fun in the center to play with during the long evenings.
When I was little I desperately wanted a muff because it seemed fancy and lovely and now that I live in a colder climate it hadn't occurred to me that I could just... Make one?? Thank you! :)
so from someone with maybe more experience quilting: yes working from the center out is good quilting practice. it allows you to smooth out your layers as you go so you don't end up accidentally trapping a bubble of fabric or batting between lines of quilting.
Hockey mom here. This video has gotten me so excited! I can't wait to try my hand at making this muff in my twins' team colors. The muff would keep my hands so much warmer than gloves when I am the ice rink (4-5 times a week). Thank you Constance! I love your look you've put together in the video, especially the hat!
@@stanceymackenzie Hello! Wanted to drop a note I made the muff using an old team jersey and LOVE it very much! I've brought it to the rink a few times already and received a lot of compliments. It is also practical for spring/summer as I always forget to bring my gloves when going to the ice rink in warmer seasons. Now I just include the muff in their hockey bags. Plus, the muff eliminates the annoyance when I lose a glove and having to purchase a whole new pair. Oh, I love the pocket! So genius. Perfect place to stow away bandages, hair elastics, cough drops, etc! Thank you again so much Constance for the tutorial and, most of all, inspiration!
I made a load of muffs from faux fur a few years back, to match some mini capelets. I made them in very high quality faux fur that I had picked up for a reasonable price, and they were very popular with a certain weekend for black clad people in the NE of England, as the weather turned unseasonably cold. I think they're great, and if the pocket is big enough for a mobile phone you can keep your modern convenience and still be aesthetic :D
I suppose the pleasure is knowing its there for you even if nobody else can see it. Sewing it makes me very happy, but it would look just as good by machine. Thank you very much.
Constance, you are just too much fun! I love it! I think my favorite parts are: 1) When you were modeling the finished muff at the end, and suddenly you whip out your earbuds... I was just not prepared for that! And 2) I really appreciate the way you took the time to quilt the interior so nicely. You didn't just "wing it" and figure that would be "good enough" since no one will actually see it.
I am actually looking to make a fur muff, as I live in a place prone to -40C winter, and is an old Canadian fur trading post so vintage fur shows up in the thrift stores fairly often. Few things block the arctic wind like fur, and I often have to walk uphill to work at 630am, so this was lovely to see, giving me an idea on the direction to make my own muff.
There are some areas I the world where fur really is the best and most practice option and it sound like it would be spot on for where you are. I am glad it inspires you.
They didn't go away--they are used by hunters. They tend to be camouflage print, have lots of pockets, and can be fastened to your body so you can pull both your hands out quickly when you need to do something with them, like grab your gun and shoot game. They also often have pockets specifically for chemical hand-warmer packs.
I made myself a muff a few years ago. I live in the subtropics, so it was pretty light. I made it to attach to the back of my backpack, which, as is the custom here, I wore on the front of my body. (It's safer to wear on your front to prevent theft, and is more conventient when getting on and off of public transport.) So during the short winter I would just tuck my hands into the muff between my backpack and my tum.
Oh, I saved some hot pink fur from a friend's mascot costume build to make a muff and never got around to it, because I couldn't find instructions and wasn't confident I wouldn't mess it up. Now I can make myself the tacky muff of my dreams!
As with some of the other comments here, I also had a white rabbit fur muff, with a doll's head on top, as a young child in the early 1950s. Thank you for refreshing a memory.
I love the look! I was immediately put in mind of the Irene Adler character from Sherlock Holmes. A Victorian lady secret agent perhaps? The stolen papers are secreted away in the hand warmer. :)
Thank you, it reminded me of Adler too although I wondered if it was just reminiscent of the Guy Richie film costume design, however its actual a little 1960s hat but worn the right way with the right clothes its amazing how some things just blend in.
This reminds me of the fact that one of the first "project" that my elementary school had us do when learning to use a sewing machine was muffs. I'm slightly sad that I don't know where the one I made ended up, as it was a lovely monstrosity of pink/purple fake fur (leopard printed, in neon colours). Now I wanna make one, with pockets ofc because pockets are the best thing ever.
stuff tend to fall out the sides of a muff, since it's open on both sides (I've had stuff fall out of them at least) so if you put an inside pocket that has an opening that's horisontal rather than vertical it's more likely to keep the stuff inside in place.
As a small child in 1980s' UK I had one. It matched my best coat - navy blue velvet with black faux-fur trimmings, and I felt very sophisticated wearing it to church on Sundays or to visit my grandparents. It had a fancy tasselled silk cord that you could loop around the back of your neck so you didn't lose it - much like toddlers wear mittens-on-a-string. It did not have a pocket inside though, so yours wins!
Lolitas were wearing this in 2010s and we were completely unaware. If i still wore the fashion or had a coat i would have a muff theyre a glove you shouldnt be able to lose ...and a fancy pillow to smack your enemies and a place to hide your candy all in one... what more could you want
Loved your video. Muffs seem to be so elegant looking, practical as you can change outfits and still use the muff, looks so warm, you could pop a heat bag in for extra warmth and nobody would know, and easy to sew - well maybe not you just made it look easy. Bring back muffs !!! I’m off to make myself one. Thank you 😊 love your videos. 💓
Such a great idea for those "sit in the cold" situations. Hockey games like someone else suggested, chilly nights in front of the TV, I could even use a more rugged version when out camping in cooler weather.
I live in Wisconsin near Lake Michigan and it gets in the negative temperatures around here this time of year so this may be a good stash busting project for me since I always have cold hands.
My uncle was a furrier in London and he would make my sister and I muffs and collars from scrap fur for Christmas. I still have one of them from the 1960’s. Thank you for reminding me to look it out and make sure the moths haven’t had a feast.
I had a muff when I was a child in the early 1960's. I think it was from rabbit fur, and it had a little chain wristlet inside to hold it. I loved it very much!
I was totally lost in a late 19th century wibe untill you pulled out those earpods! Loved watching you hand sew this, especially the quilting! Soooo pretty!
How fortuitous!! I've been rereading "An Old Fashioned Girl" by Louisa May Alcott (one of my all time favorites) and it popped out to me in the beginning when Fanny tells Polly not to bring her muff to school because they're so out of fashion. Funny how when I read it as a child I never noticed they were considered out of fashion and I always wanted one anyway! I'm inspired to make one now... I think I'd like some kind of emerald/forest green on the outside... Perhaps cotton velvet, and then maybe an ivory or pale pink silk inside 😍 oooh I'm so excited!
I had muffs well past the 70's because, hello you can keep stuff in it and warm hands! Mine were the same material as whatever my coat was. I also had a string through the muff so I could hang it from my neck vs off my wrist.
I had an antique muff made of bear fur, bought it at a yard sale with a bunch of things. The interior was quilted but it was seemingly just the quilted cotton batting and no proper fabric lining. The interior was completely falling apart so I decided to scrap the whole thing and kept the fur to use in other projects.
My mam had one when she was little. It was black fake fur and it matched a red coat with black fur trim. It was so beautiful ❤️ she had a beautiful black bob with an adorable fringe and loads of freckles across her cheeks and nose ❣️
My mother made me an faux fur coat and muff when I was a little girl and it was one of my favourite things I wore as a child. I cried when I out grew it 😅
Some years ago I picked up and antique muff covered with swans' down and, presumably, filled with it too. Sadly, it was too small for my rather big, male, hands, but my goodness it was warm!
My Mum got me when I was 7. (I came with Daddy). She made me a muff for the first autumn/winter we had as a family. I loved my white, fluffy, cosy muff. Sadly I grew up and it didnt, so no longer could I put my hands inside. She even put in a very pretty ribbon to go around my neck so as it couldn't get mislaid. No idea what happened to it in the end. I'd love one now, however having to use a walking stick 60 years onward, sort of stops me being able to use one.😥 Thank you for the video Constance and the wander down memory lane.
I had a faux white fur muff to wear with my fancy church coat in the 90s, when I was maybe 5-9 years old. I loved it so much. It was on a white cord to hang around my neck, so I never lost it.
I was considering adding a ribbon or tape around the neck to mine to make it completely hands free and it certainly adds to the little victorian child look.
I have a really old muff (might even be an antique) that's in pretty good condition still which I use in the winters to keep my hand warm, it does have a pocket on the back of it, super useful :)
When I was a very little girl in the early 60's I was given a little white fur muff as a gift. It had a ribbon so I could wear it around my neck. I still have it but regret that it is fur. I did love to wear it in the winter :-)
As a lifelong member of the Chronically Cold Clappers Club I feel I need to make myself one of these deliciously squashy looking portable pocketed pillows😻
I made a cable knit one with bulky wool yarn years ago and it was so much warmer than gloves or mittens. It didn't have any other padding (just a knitted shell and liner) so yours is probably even warmer still. I ended up having to gift it as I just don't live in a cold enough climate and it deserved to be out and about. I hope you love yours as much as I did mine.
I wonder if it would be a good idea to add a tight knit tube of fabric to the openings which would hug your wrists and prevent wind chill? Kinda like how some gloves or coats have that fabric to hug your wrists
I don't know what I liked best; how great the outfit came together by adding the muff, or you pulling out 21'st century technology and it not looking completely out of place. :} ps love your subscribers count. ;p
So lovely! As a kid I had one with elastic gathered 'cuffs' at the openings to prevent drafts and it had a long ribbon strap that went over the neck. I assumed this tether just for children who like myself are apt to set it down and toddle off XD
I was considering a strap around the neck so it could be completely hands free if needed. I suppose I can just use a tape or a ribbon if I wanted to. Cuffs sound very sensible
I use a vintage muff indoors before my heater kicks in. Mum made us faux fur ones to wear on the walk to school in the 70s. Mine had green gingham ribbon I remember.
I made myself a felted muff with a fur yarn lining last year and it is the warmest, most wonderful thing! Now I may have to consider sewing one... Thanks for the video. Muffs should definitely make a comeback!
I have made a 16th C one, it buttons down one long edge, and I lined it in bunny fur with a black cotton velvet outer. When I sit and don't need it on my hand I unbutton it and use it as a small lap blanket. It is definitely not as thick and well padded as yours, nor does it have a pocket.
Oooh mini lap blanket! I'm inspired to make one out of more "rugged" materials for my girl scout leader mother to use as a "sit-upon" when it's unbuttoned!
I really like this idea. I think they where a male and female Accessory in the 16th century and there really are some lovely examples of them in paintings, they really did prescribe to practice and beautiful.
@@stanceymackenzie oh I haven't come across anything specific for men, but shall keep an eye out. Most of my sources were Venetian, which suited my purposes and I hadn't looked further than that, but I now shall. Thanks :)
I have to make this My little sister had one when she was like 6 or so And I loved it. It had a little tedi in frot of it and was filled with something ( that little thing inside a cherry ( i am very sorry I don't know the english word for it) ) that could be heated up. Its also very interesting that it has the same name in german as in english Thank you for being as inspiring as always
Lovely!! When I was a little girl, I had in my dressing up box, an emerald green viscose velvet muff with a very soft cream satin lining and I loved it! I think my mother had made it as part of a dress for a winter dance when she was in high school (which is funny since she grew up in a climate where winter means a light coat at most). But I could see this being both a practical and delightful winter accessory where I live now and the handwork makes it all the more special.
I just realised that a muff would be perfect to have hanging on a baby-stroller for rainy/windy days. Im going to make one with two openings for the hands along the longer side and also make it possible to open it and thread the stroller handle through the muff. Best idea for my sister's birthday-present. I love all the inspiration I get from watching your videos 🙂
Velvet curtains? What a decadent life you live! Also, I have eerily similar piece of brown velvet cotton(still in the shape of a pillowcase) , but I restrain myself, because I already planned a late victorian waistcoat
I haven't owned a muff since I was a child. I still miss that bit of red velveteen with its matching poly taffeta lining. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
I made a muff a few years ago to match the collar of a tailored coat i made, and added a zip to the seam between the lining and faux fur on one side, so I could store a phone , card etc
Bravo! This is fabulous. I think muffs in all the coordinating colors are in order now. The first one I think shall be red, because I happen to have a bit of red silk velvet left over from another project.
A much better soloution to cold hands than stuffing them up the opposite sleeve of your sweater! And has pockets for things. Love it - I think I will be making one soon.
...that reminds me....I have a woolly muff that a friend gave me a couple of winters ago, completely unusable to me as-is, since it has a spectacularly out-of-my-style cartoon reindeer appliqued on the outside and the wool would get unbearably grubby in about half an hour. But I have some stray silk that I could cover it with....Not sure it's large enough to fit an internal pocket, but it would save my paws when sitting on park benches with friends who can't walk enough to stay warm. Many thanks for the charming video and the timely reminder!
Oh this sounds like the perfect opportunity for a recover, I was looking at the 18th century examples and I think they might have been made up as a cushion and then the decorative cover was put on top and pulled tight with a draw string and ribbons so really once you have the shape you can have as many covers as you want.
@@stanceymackenzie Indeed! I was actually thinking of making the cover with a drawstring so it could be swapped out. It might need a few stitches to tack it in place while out and about (I'm likely to sling it on the bicycle handle bars en route to Somewhere In Haste) but we shall see! A quick closet excavation produced both the muff and the silk I meant to cover it with. Promising! Thank you!
My mother gave me one for Christmas a few years ago! Lol It has a pocket with a zip for small things, like folding money, keys, maybe a lippie. It also has a rechargeable hand warmer hidden inside! 😁
As a child (early 90s), I had a pink faux-fur matching coat and muff set. I loved it to bits! I have long toyed with the idea of making myself a muff; your very helpful and thorough video is propelling me in that direction now ☺️ Thank you so much for sharing your process!
It is so nice to see you, Constance. The past meets the present; generous and darn gorgeous! A pocket for headphones & a protein bar! Don't be a stranger, xoxo's Sandie
As a child born in the 70s, and grow up in the 80s. I remember having a muff for church, which I had for Easter Sunday that was a light weight fabric. Than in the winter I had my heavy fabric one. So they have not been out of style quite as long as you may think. Just came back for a short time in my young child hood.
MUFFS! MuffS! Thank you! Thank you! I have been beating the bushes for months now trying to find out SOMEthing useful about muffs! I LOVE muffs. I have always loved muffs!
IT COMES WITH A POCKET!!! so adorable... Best thing on a sunday, first to listen to the Ladies who Genre Podcast with you and than going on youtube and discovering you´ve uploaded a new video. Great day :)
I have couple of antique fur muff one of which does have a built in purse. I haven't restored them yet due to lack of access to the right materials. Silk fabric and thread and horse hair stuffing. Being Minnesota we do have an abundance of antique fur items in the antique/ 2 nd hand shops. I am very fearful to Kathy Hay for giving me some clues as to which historical materials would be used this video was very helpful in how to do the sewing. Thanks ladies!💖👍😃
I have seen muff style fabric cylinders made with pockets and items inside as finger fidget accesories for elderly people suffering dementia. I think of my knitting and other handicrafts as serving the same role ( although exposed and visible)
I LOVED muffs as a child in the early '70's. Then suddenly you couldn't find them for love nor money. I still miss them. Mine, too was made in velvet and had a soft satin lining and enough 'poof' to be able to push a bit up your arm to keep it in place while you used your hands. Saving this video to refer to when making one in the coming months.
I didn't know they were considered so unfashionable! I had a white muff as a kid (early 1990's) and I loved it! Mine had a long cord that looped behind the neck so that I could take my hands out without dropping it. Yours is lovely with warm, earthy tones! This could be made with wool roving for stuffing and wool yarn for the outer shell, and would be a good way to show off some intricate stitchwork without having to add shaping for something like a sweater. A silk/alpaca blend making up the inner lining would be warm and gloriously soft.
I had several muffs that matched my coats back in the early 60s and I loved them! The piece of ribbon you attached is a neat idea. I remember mine had a covered cord so you hung the muff around your neck. I definitely want to make one like yours!
Fortuitous! I have a piece of fur I was gifted some years back and I am planning to use it for a muff. Wonderful with a run through of how to - and thank you for the notes on the historic muffs!
Fabulous!!! I have a vintage Rabbid Fur muff with a zipperedpocket inside. It's not as padded as yours but it really is warm when we would go caroling in Victorian gear. Thank You for such a lovely video.
Wonderful! I have consider making a muff the last to decodes, but stalled the project since it is not very useful when bikecycling, pushing prams nor strollers. But I do think that I have reached a period in my life where I have the opportunity to go for walks instead of hasty bike rides, so I will definitely be a muff sister next Winter. Thank you very much for shearing
I have a few muffs and I live in Florida. so I can use mine for about a week if that. one is mink and one I made from fake fur. the one I made holds my kindle in a zippered pocket along the back. the interior has flannel and two pockets. I LOVE IT. I used it when i visited NYC a few years ago.
When I visited Milan in about 1995, I saw in a shop a lovely muff-purse combination. It was leather, lined with quilted satin and the hand holes trimmed with fur, and on the front side was the purse part, with a clasp opening. It also had a long strap so it could be worn cross-body. So muffs were not completely out of fashion at that point!
I quite like how you gathered the sides! I've been mulling over an ufo muff for a while. I was trying to make it by sewing the seams wrong sides together and turning right-side out but the stuffing made that a bust. I don't know why I didn't just finish it from the outside lol. I was also thinking about making inserts for blocking more air around the hands, but your idea handles both of those. My pocket is in the inner seam, but might have just been making work for myself lol.
I used to have one of these as a child. I completely forgot about it until watching this. Thank you for the memories. I think I'll make one now for my adult self too
This is truly lovely! I am going to make one of these for next winter. I have Raynaud's disease, and even in otherwise warm gloves my finger tips hurt horribly in the cold weather. I think a nice warm muff would be a lovely solution when I don't want to wear my huge ugly heated gloves. Thank you for the wonderful inspiration!
I actually have a vintage muff and I live with Canadian Winters. Why am I not using this more often... Yours looks absolutely comfy and lovely warm. Well done. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown
@@stanceymackenzie I suspect it will be perfect. I think I can remember the blue-haired Grannies using them on the bus when I was very, very little. Wonder if I can reverse-engineer a pocket...
I have vintage furs that I need to do something with, and I think they would look lovely on the exterior of a muff! Beta match my vintage fur scarf that I was able to snag up at the thrift shop as well, and thankfully it's Recycling and appreciating
OH the ability to use it as a pocket so your headphones don't get yanked out of your ears when you shove your phone in a coat pocket
I AM CONVINCED NOW, sign me up
It's all about having somewhere to hold your phone and the chocolate.
@@stanceymackenzie
Not to mention the hand warmers....
But not too close to the chocolate!
You can buy them at Cabellas, but they are very basic and usually cammo colors.
Hmmm how to give your hand warmers and ear buds an old timey, fancy Victorian flare... Put your hand warmers in an old metal cigarette case you could cover it with velvet. As for the ear buds ...not sure. Morgan Donner has one of the best phone disguise videos ever. It's a must watch.
When I was three years old my grandma made me a rabbit fur muff and I LOVED it ❤️ I never liked gloves as I feel like I'm choking with sensory overload and as a child it was a struggle with any clothes being tight against my body - but my super lovely grandma made me undergarments that didn't choke me a jacket that wasn't to tight in the neck but had a sewn on scarf and my little muff. So I could be both warm and comfortable
So yes we need to bring muffs back into fashion
When I was a toddler 70 years ago I had a hat with ear flaps and a muff made of rabbit fur.
I had no idea muffs had pockets. Now I need one!
I believe when they made muffs in the Clueless TV show they included pockets!
It’s one of the best features! Like a clutch purse and hand warmer in one! I snagged some vintage ones a few years ago in Amsterdam made of sheepskin and rabbit fur and I love them.
I found at a local Salvation army, the most beautiful brown embroidered on one side and fur on the other muff . It s a draw string purse in the fabric side. I would normally not buy a fur item, but I wanted to be sure it did not get appreciated for what it would have meant to someone decades ago. It s a high dollar value item from it s day and I just appreciate the beauty of it today. Keep inspiring.
I remember having a muff when I was little. It was great for sneaking snacks into church. It had a chain that went around the neck so could remove hands if needed.
I had a muff and cape made of white rabbit fur in the 60’s, as a child. It matched my mother’s that were in mink. Boy were we fancy when we went to the theater on the weekend! I loved that muff. It was fashionable, kept me warm and I always had something fun in the center to play with during the long evenings.
I bet you felt like the bees knees dressed to the nines like that wonderful.
When I was little I desperately wanted a muff because it seemed fancy and lovely and now that I live in a colder climate it hadn't occurred to me that I could just... Make one?? Thank you! :)
I hope you do. its lots of fun.
@@stanceymackenzie I'm trying to decide on the materials! :)
so from someone with maybe more experience quilting: yes working from the center out is good quilting practice. it allows you to smooth out your layers as you go so you don't end up accidentally trapping a bubble of fabric or batting between lines of quilting.
Hockey mom here. This video has gotten me so excited! I can't wait to try my hand at making this muff in my twins' team colors. The muff would keep my hands so much warmer than gloves when I am the ice rink (4-5 times a week). Thank you Constance! I love your look you've put together in the video, especially the hat!
This is such a good idea I really hope you get to make one and use it, that will make me very happy.
@@stanceymackenzie Hello! Wanted to drop a note I made the muff using an old team jersey and LOVE it very much! I've brought it to the rink a few times already and received a lot of compliments. It is also practical for spring/summer as I always forget to bring my gloves when going to the ice rink in warmer seasons. Now I just include the muff in their hockey bags. Plus, the muff eliminates the annoyance when I lose a glove and having to purchase a whole new pair. Oh, I love the pocket! So genius. Perfect place to stow away bandages, hair elastics, cough drops, etc! Thank you again so much Constance for the tutorial and, most of all, inspiration!
I made a load of muffs from faux fur a few years back, to match some mini capelets. I made them in very high quality faux fur that I had picked up for a reasonable price, and they were very popular with a certain weekend for black clad people in the NE of England, as the weather turned unseasonably cold. I think they're great, and if the pocket is big enough for a mobile phone you can keep your modern convenience and still be aesthetic :D
I live in Whitby and miss seeing the Goths in their lovely outfits. Hopefully when things return to normal they will flock back.
What a shame, that "no one" is going to see your amazing quilting inside of the muff!!! I really love how you did it!
I suppose the pleasure is knowing its there for you even if nobody else can see it. Sewing it makes me very happy, but it would look just as good by machine. Thank you very much.
The whole outfit comes together great. I like realistic clothes better. It wasnt all ball gowns and white tie with tails for most people.
These are my everyday clothes so it is nice when it all works together.
@@stanceymackenzie Thats really cool. Im headed that way too. My wardrobe will be from victorian to 1930's.
Constance, you are just too much fun! I love it!
I think my favorite parts are: 1) When you were modeling the finished muff at the end, and suddenly you whip out your
earbuds... I was just not prepared for that!
And 2) I really appreciate the way you took the time to quilt the interior so nicely. You didn't just "wing it" and figure that would be "good enough" since no one will actually see it.
I am actually looking to make a fur muff, as I live in a place prone to -40C winter, and is an old Canadian fur trading post so vintage fur shows up in the thrift stores fairly often. Few things block the arctic wind like fur, and I often have to walk uphill to work at 630am, so this was lovely to see, giving me an idea on the direction to make my own muff.
There are some areas I the world where fur really is the best and most practice option and it sound like it would be spot on for where you are. I am glad it inspires you.
They didn't go away--they are used by hunters. They tend to be camouflage print, have lots of pockets, and can be fastened to your body so you can pull both your hands out quickly when you need to do something with them, like grab your gun and shoot game. They also often have pockets specifically for chemical hand-warmer packs.
I made myself a muff a few years ago. I live in the subtropics, so it was pretty light. I made it to attach to the back of my backpack, which, as is the custom here, I wore on the front of my body. (It's safer to wear on your front to prevent theft, and is more conventient when getting on and off of public transport.) So during the short winter I would just tuck my hands into the muff between my backpack and my tum.
This sounds perfect and practical.
Oh, I saved some hot pink fur from a friend's mascot costume build to make a muff and never got around to it, because I couldn't find instructions and wasn't confident I wouldn't mess it up. Now I can make myself the tacky muff of my dreams!
As with some of the other comments here, I also had a white rabbit fur muff, with a doll's head on top, as a young child in the early 1950s. Thank you for refreshing a memory.
thank you
I love the look! I was immediately put in mind of the Irene Adler character from Sherlock Holmes. A Victorian lady secret agent perhaps? The stolen papers are secreted away in the hand warmer. :)
Thank you, it reminded me of Adler too although I wondered if it was just reminiscent of the Guy Richie film costume design, however its actual a little 1960s hat but worn the right way with the right clothes its amazing how some things just blend in.
This reminds me of the fact that one of the first "project" that my elementary school had us do when learning to use a sewing machine was muffs. I'm slightly sad that I don't know where the one I made ended up, as it was a lovely monstrosity of pink/purple fake fur (leopard printed, in neon colours).
Now I wanna make one, with pockets ofc because pockets are the best thing ever.
How and why pockets? isn't a muff a bit like a pocket anyway?
stuff tend to fall out the sides of a muff, since it's open on both sides (I've had stuff fall out of them at least) so if you put an inside pocket that has an opening that's horisontal rather than vertical it's more likely to keep the stuff inside in place.
As a small child in 1980s' UK I had one. It matched my best coat - navy blue velvet with black faux-fur trimmings, and I felt very sophisticated wearing it to church on Sundays or to visit my grandparents. It had a fancy tasselled silk cord that you could loop around the back of your neck so you didn't lose it - much like toddlers wear mittens-on-a-string.
It did not have a pocket inside though, so yours wins!
Lolitas were wearing this in 2010s and we were completely unaware. If i still wore the fashion or had a coat i would have a muff theyre a glove you shouldnt be able to lose ...and a fancy pillow to smack your enemies and a place to hide your candy all in one... what more could you want
Loved your video. Muffs seem to be so elegant looking, practical as you can change outfits and still use the muff, looks so warm, you could pop a heat bag in for extra warmth and nobody would know, and easy to sew - well maybe not you just made it look easy. Bring back muffs !!! I’m off to make myself one. Thank you 😊 love your videos. 💓
Thats great I am glad it inspired you.
Perhaps this would work to upcycle an old winter coat. I usually beat up the cuffs, but the sleeves are still good around the biceps. 🤔
Such a great idea for those "sit in the cold" situations. Hockey games like someone else suggested, chilly nights in front of the TV, I could even use a more rugged version when out camping in cooler weather.
Sounds perfect, I like the idea of then utility practice model and the fancy evening version.
I live in Wisconsin near Lake Michigan and it gets in the negative temperatures around here this time of year so this may be a good stash busting project for me since I always have cold hands.
My uncle was a furrier in London and he would make my sister and I muffs and collars from scrap fur for Christmas. I still have one of them from the 1960’s. Thank you for reminding me to look it out and make sure the moths haven’t had a feast.
I had a muff when I was a child in the early 1960's. I think it was from rabbit fur, and it had a little chain wristlet inside to hold it. I loved it very much!
I was totally lost in a late 19th century wibe untill you pulled out those earpods!
Loved watching you hand sew this, especially the quilting! Soooo pretty!
I am glad I entertained you and thank you very much.
It has a pocket 🥰 and a strap.
That solves the out of fashion issue...it just needs remarketing as a hand warmer purse
perfect.
How fortuitous!! I've been rereading "An Old Fashioned Girl" by Louisa May Alcott (one of my all time favorites) and it popped out to me in the beginning when Fanny tells Polly not to bring her muff to school because they're so out of fashion. Funny how when I read it as a child I never noticed they were considered out of fashion and I always wanted one anyway!
I'm inspired to make one now... I think I'd like some kind of emerald/forest green on the outside... Perhaps cotton velvet, and then maybe an ivory or pale pink silk inside 😍 oooh I'm so excited!
That sounds like a wonderful colour combination, and thats interesting even in the 19th century they where not always in fashion.
I had muffs well past the 70's because, hello you can keep stuff in it and warm hands! Mine were the same material as whatever my coat was. I also had a string through the muff so I could hang it from my neck vs off my wrist.
I had an antique muff made of bear fur, bought it at a yard sale with a bunch of things. The interior was quilted but it was seemingly just the quilted cotton batting and no proper fabric lining. The interior was completely falling apart so I decided to scrap the whole thing and kept the fur to use in other projects.
My mam had one when she was little. It was black fake fur and it matched a red coat with black fur trim. It was so beautiful ❤️ she had a beautiful black bob with an adorable fringe and loads of freckles across her cheeks and nose ❣️
Sounds absolutely wonderful.
My mother made me an faux fur coat and muff when I was a little girl and it was one of my favourite things I wore as a child. I cried when I out grew it 😅
Some years ago I picked up and antique muff covered with swans' down and, presumably, filled with it too. Sadly, it was too small for my rather big, male, hands, but my goodness it was warm!
A purse or bag that also warms your hands. What's not to like?
My Mum got me when I was 7. (I came with Daddy). She made me a muff for the first autumn/winter we had as a family. I loved my white, fluffy, cosy muff. Sadly I grew up and it didnt, so no longer could I put my hands inside. She even put in a very pretty ribbon to go around my neck so as it couldn't get mislaid. No idea what happened to it in the end.
I'd love one now, however having to use a walking stick 60 years onward, sort of stops me being able to use one.😥
Thank you for the video Constance and the wander down memory lane.
I had a faux white fur muff to wear with my fancy church coat in the 90s, when I was maybe 5-9 years old. I loved it so much. It was on a white cord to hang around my neck, so I never lost it.
I was considering adding a ribbon or tape around the neck to mine to make it completely hands free and it certainly adds to the little victorian child look.
I have a really old muff (might even be an antique) that's in pretty good condition still which I use in the winters to keep my hand warm, it does have a pocket on the back of it, super useful :)
No idea why muffs fell out of fashion. I have some fake fur.... hmm time to join the muff revival :D
Why not excellent plan.
When I was a very little girl in the early 60's I was given a little white fur muff as a gift. It had a ribbon so I could wear it around my neck. I still have it but regret that it is fur. I did love to wear it in the winter :-)
As a lifelong member of the Chronically Cold Clappers Club I feel I need to make myself one of these deliciously squashy looking portable pocketed pillows😻
I made a cable knit one with bulky wool yarn years ago and it was so much warmer than gloves or mittens. It didn't have any other padding (just a knitted shell and liner) so yours is probably even warmer still. I ended up having to gift it as I just don't live in a cold enough climate and it deserved to be out and about. I hope you love yours as much as I did mine.
I want to make one to double as a clutch for going out dancing sometime in the winter of 2025.
I wonder if it would be a good idea to add a tight knit tube of fabric to the openings which would hug your wrists and prevent wind chill? Kinda like how some gloves or coats have that fabric to hug your wrists
I was born in '55. I had a rabbit fur muff as young child, maybe up to about 9yrs old. So cozy!
I don't know what I liked best; how great the outfit came together by adding the muff, or you pulling out 21'st century technology and it not looking completely out of place. :}
ps love your subscribers count. ;p
So lovely! As a kid I had one with elastic gathered 'cuffs' at the openings to prevent drafts and it had a long ribbon strap that went over the neck. I assumed this tether just for children who like myself are apt to set it down and toddle off XD
I was considering a strap around the neck so it could be completely hands free if needed. I suppose I can just use a tape or a ribbon if I wanted to. Cuffs sound very sensible
Love the muff and I so want a teal iridescent silk one
That would look lovely.
I use a vintage muff indoors before my heater kicks in. Mum made us faux fur ones to wear on the walk to school in the 70s. Mine had green gingham ribbon I remember.
I made myself a felted muff with a fur yarn lining last year and it is the warmest, most wonderful thing! Now I may have to consider sewing one... Thanks for the video. Muffs should definitely make a comeback!
I have made a 16th C one, it buttons down one long edge, and I lined it in bunny fur with a black cotton velvet outer. When I sit and don't need it on my hand I unbutton it and use it as a small lap blanket. It is definitely not as thick and well padded as yours, nor does it have a pocket.
Oooh mini lap blanket! I'm inspired to make one out of more "rugged" materials for my girl scout leader mother to use as a "sit-upon" when it's unbuttoned!
That's quite clever, and now i need one
I really like this idea. I think they where a male and female Accessory in the 16th century and there really are some lovely examples of them in paintings, they really did prescribe to practice and beautiful.
@@stanceymackenzie oh I haven't come across anything specific for men, but shall keep an eye out. Most of my sources were Venetian, which suited my purposes and I hadn't looked further than that, but I now shall. Thanks :)
I have to make this
My little sister had one when she was like 6 or so
And I loved it. It had a little tedi in frot of it and was filled with something ( that little thing inside a cherry ( i am very sorry I don't know the english word for it) ) that could be heated up.
Its also very interesting that it has the same name in german as in english
Thank you for being as inspiring as always
Cherry stones or cherry pits is the word you're looking for :)
@@piecesofstarlight thank you.😊
Thats fascinating, thank you very much.
Lovely!! When I was a little girl, I had in my dressing up box, an emerald green viscose velvet muff with a very soft cream satin lining and I loved it! I think my mother had made it as part of a dress for a winter dance when she was in high school (which is funny since she grew up in a climate where winter means a light coat at most). But I could see this being both a practical and delightful winter accessory where I live now and the handwork makes it all the more special.
I just realised that a muff would be perfect to have hanging on a baby-stroller for rainy/windy days. Im going to make one with two openings for the hands along the longer side and also make it possible to open it and thread the stroller handle through the muff. Best idea for my sister's birthday-present. I love all the inspiration I get from watching your videos 🙂
I've also seen muffs with a shoulder strap, like a purse. If you need hands free lol.
Velvet curtains? What a decadent life you live! Also, I have eerily similar piece of brown velvet cotton(still in the shape of a pillowcase) , but I restrain myself, because I already planned a late victorian waistcoat
Muffs are awesome, I need them to come back, I also want carriage rides
To come back also.
I want my own Ushanka and muff or even faux fur now, or on your mitten minder
I have always wanted a muff! I don't live in a very cold climate, but this might be the push I needed
I haven't owned a muff since I was a child. I still miss that bit of red velveteen with its matching poly taffeta lining. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
I made a muff a few years ago to match the collar of a tailored coat i made, and added a zip to the seam between the lining and faux fur on one side, so I could store a phone , card etc
Bravo! This is fabulous. I think muffs in all the coordinating colors are in order now. The first one I think shall be red, because I happen to have a bit of red silk velvet left over from another project.
I love this! It definitely is an accessory that needs to come back into style.
A much better soloution to cold hands than stuffing them up the opposite sleeve of your sweater! And has pockets for things. Love it - I think I will be making one soon.
...that reminds me....I have a woolly muff that a friend gave me a couple of winters ago, completely unusable to me as-is, since it has a spectacularly out-of-my-style cartoon reindeer appliqued on the outside and the wool would get unbearably grubby in about half an hour. But I have some stray silk that I could cover it with....Not sure it's large enough to fit an internal pocket, but it would save my paws when sitting on park benches with friends who can't walk enough to stay warm. Many thanks for the charming video and the timely reminder!
Oh this sounds like the perfect opportunity for a recover, I was looking at the 18th century examples and I think they might have been made up as a cushion and then the decorative cover was put on top and pulled tight with a draw string and ribbons so really once you have the shape you can have as many covers as you want.
@@stanceymackenzie Indeed! I was actually thinking of making the cover with a drawstring so it could be swapped out. It might need a few stitches to tack it in place while out and about (I'm likely to sling it on the bicycle handle bars en route to Somewhere In Haste) but we shall see! A quick closet excavation produced both the muff and the silk I meant to cover it with. Promising! Thank you!
@@stanceymackenzie And it worked brilliantly! yay! Thank you for the impetus to get it done.
@@TamarHestrinGrader Excellent I am so pleased.
There's never a dull moment in your videos. I love the muff, I'm gonna make one for my mom :)
Brilliant what a lovely plan.
My mother gave me one for Christmas a few years ago! Lol It has a pocket with a zip for small things, like folding money, keys, maybe a lippie. It also has a rechargeable hand warmer hidden inside! 😁
As a child (early 90s), I had a pink faux-fur matching coat and muff set. I loved it to bits! I have long toyed with the idea of making myself a muff; your very helpful and thorough video is propelling me in that direction now ☺️
Thank you so much for sharing your process!
It is so nice to see you, Constance. The past meets the present; generous and darn gorgeous! A pocket for
headphones & a protein bar!
Don't be a stranger,
xoxo's Sandie
Thank you.
As a child born in the 70s, and grow up in the 80s. I remember having a muff for church, which I had for Easter Sunday that was a light weight fabric. Than in the winter I had my heavy fabric one. So they have not been out of style quite as long as you may think. Just came back for a short time in my young child hood.
MUFFS! MuffS! Thank you! Thank you! I have been beating the bushes for months now trying to find out SOMEthing useful about muffs! I LOVE muffs. I have always loved muffs!
IT COMES WITH A POCKET!!! so adorable... Best thing on a sunday, first to listen to the Ladies who Genre Podcast with you and than going on youtube and discovering you´ve uploaded a new video. Great day :)
Ah thank you very much, I am so glad you had an enjoyable day and are not sick of me.
I have couple of antique fur muff one of which does have a built in purse. I haven't restored them yet due to lack of access to the right materials. Silk fabric and thread and horse hair stuffing. Being Minnesota we do have an abundance of antique fur items in the antique/ 2 nd hand shops. I am very fearful to Kathy Hay for giving me some clues as to which historical materials would be used this video was very helpful in how to do the sewing. Thanks ladies!💖👍😃
I absolutely now require one, however, my "to sew" list is already woefully long
I have seen muff style fabric cylinders made with pockets and items inside as finger fidget accesories for elderly people suffering dementia. I think of my knitting and other handicrafts as serving the same role ( although exposed and visible)
I LOVED muffs as a child in the early '70's. Then suddenly you couldn't find them for love nor money. I still miss them. Mine, too was made in velvet and had a soft satin lining and enough 'poof' to be able to push a bit up your arm to keep it in place while you used your hands. Saving this video to refer to when making one in the coming months.
I didn't know they were considered so unfashionable! I had a white muff as a kid (early 1990's) and I loved it! Mine had a long cord that looped behind the neck so that I could take my hands out without dropping it. Yours is lovely with warm, earthy tones! This could be made with wool roving for stuffing and wool yarn for the outer shell, and would be a good way to show off some intricate stitchwork without having to add shaping for something like a sweater. A silk/alpaca blend making up the inner lining would be warm and gloriously soft.
I had several muffs that matched my coats back in the early 60s and I loved them! The piece of ribbon you attached is a neat idea. I remember mine had a covered cord so you hung the muff around your neck. I definitely want to make one like yours!
Fortuitous! I have a piece of fur I was gifted some years back and I am planning to use it for a muff. Wonderful with a run through of how to - and thank you for the notes on the historic muffs!
Fabulous!!! I have a vintage Rabbid Fur muff with a zipperedpocket inside. It's not as padded as yours but it really is warm when we would go caroling in Victorian gear.
Thank You for such a lovely video.
I had a thought if you had a contact less card. You could pay for stuff by tapping with the muff. Covid safe. Lol
perfect.
Wonderful! I have consider making a muff the last to decodes, but stalled the project since it is not very useful when bikecycling, pushing prams nor strollers. But I do think that I have reached a period in my life where I have the opportunity to go for walks instead of hasty bike rides, so I will definitely be a muff sister next Winter. Thank you very much for shearing
I have a few muffs and I live in Florida. so I can use mine for about a week if that. one is mink and one I made from fake fur. the one I made holds my kindle in a zippered pocket along the back. the interior has flannel and two pockets. I LOVE IT. I used it when i visited NYC a few years ago.
Finally a good muff tutorial with a pocket! I love muffs, its ridiculous that they feel out of fashion
When I visited Milan in about 1995, I saw in a shop a lovely muff-purse combination. It was leather, lined with quilted satin and the hand holes trimmed with fur, and on the front side was the purse part, with a clasp opening. It also had a long strap so it could be worn cross-body. So muffs were not completely out of fashion at that point!
I quite like how you gathered the sides! I've been mulling over an ufo muff for a while. I was trying to make it by sewing the seams wrong sides together and turning right-side out but the stuffing made that a bust. I don't know why I didn't just finish it from the outside lol. I was also thinking about making inserts for blocking more air around the hands, but your idea handles both of those. My pocket is in the inner seam, but might have just been making work for myself lol.
It is unfortunate that muffs fell out of fashion. They are clearly very practical!
I used to have one of these as a child. I completely forgot about it until watching this. Thank you for the memories. I think I'll make one now for my adult self too
Excellent. I hope you have cosy hands in the future.
This is truly lovely! I am going to make one of these for next winter. I have Raynaud's disease, and even in otherwise warm gloves my finger tips hurt horribly in the cold weather. I think a nice warm muff would be a lovely solution when I don't want to wear my huge ugly heated gloves. Thank you for the wonderful inspiration!
I think you could make yourself something practical and beautiful and I do hope it keeps your fingers warm.
If the muff on its own isn’t warm enough, the pocket is a perfect place for a discreet hand warmer.
Oh my gosh.... I had one of these as a child and loved it! (late 70's!)
Your videos are a joy to watch and I always learn something new.
Excellent thank you.
I have one now, it's so warm! And I enjoy the casuals looking at me weird.
I had one when I was little. Used it on Sundays only when I wasn't supposed to go play outside and muss my good clothes.
I actually have a vintage muff and I live with Canadian Winters. Why am I not using this more often...
Yours looks absolutely comfy and lovely warm. Well done.
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown
Thank you very much. You should give it a try it might be just perfect.
@@stanceymackenzie I suspect it will be perfect. I think I can remember the blue-haired Grannies using them on the bus when I was very, very little. Wonder if I can reverse-engineer a pocket...
I have vintage furs that I need to do something with, and I think they would look lovely on the exterior of a muff! Beta match my vintage fur scarf that I was able to snag up at the thrift shop as well, and thankfully it's Recycling and appreciating
What an amazing and practical addition! I might also be tempted to use it as a pillow laying on a blanket in a park somewhere 😂
Oh, a hand warmer pocket!❤️