Sewing a 270 year old pocket entirely by hand because why not | Elise Jean

That's right! ENTIRELY BY HAND, and boy I really need to get a thimble.
After several months, please join me as I unveil some interesting history of 18th century detachable pockets, while I go down a rabbit hole as I try to remake my own pair for my Robe a la Polonaise ensemble.
The pair I attempted to replicate, though not perfectly, but close enough for my liking, lives in the Met Museum dated 1750, colonial America.
**NOTE** This video is not meant to be a tutorial, but merely a documentation of the process I took to make such an elaborate item, and was my first attempt at fully recreating an extant garment by entirely sewing by hand from start to finish.
I hope this inspires you to try your hand at sewing something completely by hand, as well as adding some embroidery into the mix. I find it quite relaxing after a long day.
Please let me know in the comments if you've been working on a project at home that you are proud of!
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My Works:
Check out my blog: welldressedhis...
Follow me on Instagram: / welldressedhistorian
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Resources:
Extant Pocket: MET Museum | www.metmuseum....
"History of Pockets" by Victoria & Albert Museum | www.vam.ac.uk/c...
"The Pocket" by Barbara Burman (reprint July 2020) | www.google.com...
"18th Century Embroidery Techniques" by Gale Marsh
"Crime and Punishment in Georgian Britain" by the British Library | www.bl.uk/georgian-britain/articles/crime-and-punishment-in-georgian-britain
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Music:
"Butterflies In Love" by Sir Cubworth (TH-cam Library)
"Secrets of the Earth" by Lama House (epidemicsound.com)
"Wake Up and Smell the Tea" by Arthur Benson (epidemicsound.com)
"One Picture, Two Frames" by Martin Gauffin (epidemicsound.com)

[@icevet]

Why aren't we all wearing pockets like that instead of lugging around handbags that get caught in the hair and constantly fall off the shoulder?

[@gilreznik9388]

The embroidery looks incredible!

[@welldressedhistorian]

Gil Reznik thank you so much! I really love how it turned out. ☺️

[@pamfrank3962]

Exquisite workmanship. Thank you for sharing this wonderful tutorial ❤️

[@christenagervais7303]

I love watching hand embroidery, somehow machine embroidery seems like cheating on this style of pocket...

[@asmaa_6042]

Very nice ! I am planning to making pockets by hand too, so loved the video :)

[@welldressedhistorian]

Thank you so much! I’m so excited for you! If you tag me on Instagram I’d really love to see it when you’ve finished it!

[@asmaa_6042]

@@welldressedhistorian Thanks! I will only have the time to sew after the holidays, so it will probably be finished (hopefully lol) by january, but I will remember to tag you :)

[@a.lindsay]

I want to make myself a pocket this was the inspiration I needed!

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

“...even alcohol.”
I respect that

[@marissabianco784]

Love your videos! Please keep posting if that interests you...

[@silvarainbowsparkle]

Perfection! Wonderful work and thank you so much for handsewing :)

[@hopemartin7673]

can you tell me where you acquired the small boxes for your embroidery floss bobbins

[@welldressedhistorian]

Of course! I got them at any craft store. Mostly these are used for holding beads but they work for anything. Joann Fabrics or hobby lobby or Michaels has them in you’re in the US.

[@hopemartin7673]

@@welldressedhistorian did you cover them with fabric or paper, they look to be like a cardboard box

[@katieking6460]

This is amazing!!

[@karlahovde]

I'm getting started on recreating this pair of pockets (vads.ac.uk/digital/collection/POCKETS/id/821), and this video was good inspiration!

[@welldressedhistorian]

These are so cute! Glad this inspired you!

[@sandyp2485]

How wonderful that you used historical pockets as inspiration to recreate. It came out beautifully.