Katelyn Kearns

When I do the getting dressed videos (particularly for women), do you prefer the captions with period style music or me talking and describing the items in the background? I think for now, the children's clothes videos have to have me speaking as there's a lot less general knowledge of children's clothing and the purpose. As soon as we move and get settled, I plan on restoring the 1850s box grand piano and we'll have some actual period style music on a period instrument for background music so after I get some practice in, we will no longer have 20th century recordings of 19th century music, but I would still like opinions on which you prefer. Thank you!

1 week ago | [YT] | 37

Katelyn Kearns

Good morning! Due to moving (fingers crossed we close next Tuesday!!), I have not been able to edit today's podcast. The "Employments of Women" series has been so much fun, and the scripts are basically pre-written but editing them and finding photographs/paintings/etc for each profession and then editing out all my speaking mistakes has been a BEAST and it takes so much longer to edit these series than I am used to. I thought about just editing another pre-filmed podcast that was for after we finish the little mini series but then I decided I didn't want to break up the series so we're just going to skip a week :). We have two more "Employments of Women" podcasts and the final one for this year will be a very super easy to edit one, which I am very much looking forward to. Thank you for your understanding! Y'all are awesome!

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 68

Katelyn Kearns

Good evening! Just an FYI-there will not be a long form video tomorrow. I dropped the ball and forgot to edit Monday's video and then I was out of town all weekend for a rehearsal dinner, a wedding, then teaching at Pioneer Farms all day today and I have a funeral of a local friend to attend tomorrow morning so there is no way I'm going to have the video finished by our usual 9:00AM central time. I might be able to finish it tomorrow evening, but if not, it will be released either on Tuesday or Thursday this week depending on when I get to work on it. I did already edit the short for tomorrow so that will be scheduled to come out at the normal time. Thank you for understanding!

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 39

Katelyn Kearns

Hello all!

As we are nearing the end of the year, I would like some feedback on the Improve Your Impression series we started. We have been looking into 1843-1852. What lingering questions do you have about the 1840s? In December, we're going to do a wrapping it up episode and answering any questions that I didn't answer in the series so please use this space (or comment under any of the series videos) to let me know what I can clarify/research for that December video.

Other Videos in This 1840s Improve Your Impression Series:
How to Research: https://youtu.be/bjWHZdR6nr4
How to Pick Fabrics: https://youtu.be/xItkekVWlJU
How to Pick or Draft a Pattern: https://youtu.be/_pBPxMbGmRw
How to Make a Dress (1): https://youtu.be/ogNnAsj9MKY
How to Make a Dress (2): https://youtu.be/7y98RkzXwmg
How to Make an Outfit (Poor): https://youtu.be/fZqfqJs4JGY
How to Make an Outfit (Rich): https://youtu.be/8Uspjo_3mVo
Dressing from the Skin Out: https://youtu.be/GwvkdjaDIos

I think next year we're going to do 1857-1862 but I'm happy to take suggestions for 2027. I'm wanting to stick with the 19th century for a while since that's a time period I know well. Here are the basic time frames I've hashed out: 1805-1814, 1815-1824, 1825-1835, 1836-1842, 1852-1856, 1863-1866, 1867-1871, 1872-1876, 1877-1882, 1883-1885.

Thank you!

1 month ago | [YT] | 14

Katelyn Kearns

For those interested, here is a sneak peek in September for videos, shorts, and podcasts. Here are this month's scheduled videos:

9/1 – How to Keep Busy and Feed Yourself || Improve Your Impression 1843-1852
9/5 – The Beetle Wing Dress Vlog #9 || Embroidering the Skirt Front, Part 2
9/8 – Remaking an 1840s Cotton Dress || Dressing the 19th Century Woman
9/12 – 1860s Drawers and Pants for a 3 Year Old Boy || Dressing the 19th Century Child
9/15 – Early 1850s Capsule Wardrobe (1850-1853) || Random Research Rabbit Holes
9/19 – Getting Dressed for Working at Home 1859 || History in Action
9/22 – Hand Sewing an 18th Century Bedgown || Dressing the 18th Century Woman
9/26 – Hand Sewing an 18th Century Infant’s Bedgown || Dressing the 18th Century Child
9/29 – Let’s Do Some More Mending || Mending Monday

For this month's shorts, we look into Godey's Lady's Book September in the years 1842, 1861, 1872, and 1849 and I share some of my antiques such as an 1850s silk dress and an 1860s silk bodice.

For the "One Woman is Twice Two Soldiers" podcast, on the 2nd Wednesday of the month we are talking about types of historic resources and how to use them and the 4th Wednesday will be on 1860s out of the home employments for women (part 1 because the book I am referencing is long and had to be broken up).

3 months ago | [YT] | 35

Katelyn Kearns

Today's video is going to be an hour or two late in publishing as I'm still fishing around for how many beetle wings I have used each month because I forgot to make a list! So as soon as I hunt down that information, I can finish editing the video and uploading it.

For those interested, here is a sneak peek in August for videos, shorts, and podcasts.


Here are this month's scheduled videos:
8/1 – The Beetle Wing Dress Vlog #8 || Embroidering the Skirt Front, Part 1
8/4 – Dressing from the Skin Out || Improve Your Impression 1843-1852
8/8 – 1860s Underpinnings for a 4 Year Old Girl || Dressing the 19th Century Child
8/11 – Making an 1860s Slat Sun-Bonnet || Dressing the 19th Century Woman
8/15 – Getting Dressed in 1848 (Working Class) || History in Action
8/18 – Can I Tell the Difference Between Historic and AI Photographs?
8/22 – 1910s-1920s Toddler Hats || Dressing the 20th Century Child
8/25 – Making a 1910s Chemise and Corset Cover || Dressing the 20th Century Woman
8/29 – Making Dresses for a Historic Cloth Doll || Dressing Historic Dolly

For this month's shorts, we look into Godey's Lady's Book August to include 1855, 1841, 1884, and 1831 and I share some of my antiques such as a few mid 19th century baby dresses.

For the "One Woman is Twice Two Soldiers" podcast, on the 2nd Wednesday of the month we are talking about living history vs. costuming and why living history is important and the 4th Wednesday will be on mid 19th century chicken care/tending.

3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 20

Katelyn Kearns

For those interested, here is a sneak peek in December for videos, shorts, and podcasts.

Here are this month's scheduled videos:

12/2 – Fitting a Ready Made Dress to Your Body || A Historical Dressmaking How To
12/6 – The Homespun Fabric Vlog #7 || Weaving and Debuting the Cloth
12/9 – Making an 1860s Cotton Fancy Wrapper || Dressing the 19th Century Woman
12/13 – 1850s-60s Infant Dresses for the Poor || Dressing the 19th Century Baby
12/16 – Making a Skating Outfit for a 1860s Doll || Dressing Historic Dolly
12/20 – A Day in the Life of a Mid 19th Century Dressmaker || History in Action
12/23 – 1930s Tap Pants and Bra || Dressing the 20th Century Woman
12/27 – 1930s-1940s Girl Toddler Underwear || Dressing the 20th Century Child
12/30 – The Wedding Quilt Vlog #8 || Binding and Debuting the Quilt
12/31 – 2024 End of Year Review


For this month's shorts, we look into Godey's Lady's Book December of 1850 and I share some of my antiques such as an 1840s parasol with its original box, an 1890s family Bible, and an antique wall clock.


For the "One Woman is Twice Two Soldiers" podcast, on the 2nd Wednesday of the month we are talking about mid 19th century diseases around menstruation and the 4th Wednesday will be on Christmas celebrations in the mid 19th century.

1 year ago | [YT] | 16

Katelyn Kearns

For those interested, here is a sneak peek in November for videos, shorts, and podcasts.

Here are this month's scheduled videos:
11/1 – Homespun Fabric Vlog #6 || Dressing the Loom, Part 2
11/4 – They Wore Mismatched Clothing and Other Victorian Clothing Myths || Random Research Rabbit Holes
11/8 – 1840s Embroidered Infant Dresses || Dressing the 19th Century Baby
11/11 – 1860s Riding Habit Remake and Saddle Restoration || Dressing the 19th Century Woman
11/15 – “It” is Being Delivered || A Historical Short Film
11/18 – Undisclosed Doll Project || Dressing Historic Dolly
11/22 – 1910s-1920s Boy Toddler Underwear || Dressing the 20th Century Child
11/25 – 1940s Production Corp Dress || Dressing the 20th Century Woman
11/29 – 1880s Natural Form Historic Capsule Wardrobe (1877-1882) || Random Research Rabbit Holes

For this month's shorts, we look into Godey's Lady's Book November of 1884 and I share some of my antiques such as an original 1860s photo album, silk from a 1940s parachute that few on D-day, and my 1850s spinning wheel.

For the "One Woman is Twice Two Soldiers" podcast, on the 2nd Wednesday of the month we are talking about looking "poor" in the mid 19th century and the 4th Wednesday will be on finding my place within WWII living history.

1 year ago | [YT] | 18

Katelyn Kearns

I want to start sharing my event schedule for living history for the purposes of people who live in the area may want to come out and see living history in action!

For most of these events I'll be there the whole event-Friday through Sunday morning or whenever the event is open and finishes but I'm putting the Saturdays down because I know I'll be there then.

Oct. 26 - Fort Belknap Historic Site in Newcastle, TX
Nov. 9 - Museum of the American GI in College Station, TX
Dec. 7 - Fort Concho National Historic Landmark in San Angelo, TX
Dec. 14 - Fort McAllister State Park in Richmond Hill, GA


Fun events I was invited do, but am saddened I can't attend due to scheduling conflicts. If you want to go as general public and see some cool historic sites, please go support these places!

Oct. 25-27 - Fanthorp Inn in Anderson, TX is doing a funeral program
Nov. 1-3 - Fanthorp Inn in Anderson, TX is doing a stagecoach day (go ride a restored 1850s stagecoach!)
Nov. 9 - San Felipe State Historic Site in San Felipe, TX is having their Father of Texas event
Dec. 14 - Fanthorp Inn in Anderson, TX is doing their annual Christmas event, which is probably my favorite annual event that unfortunately conflicts with a Georgia trip this year.
Dec. 21 - Fort McKavett in Fort McKavett, TX is doing their Victorian Christmas Fair

There may or may not be events added to this list but I'll put them as comment updates down below for October, November, and December. I'll make a new post for next year.

1 year ago | [YT] | 28

Katelyn Kearns

For those interested, here is a sneak peek in October for videos, shorts, and podcasts.

Here are this month's scheduled videos:

(F1) 10/4 – The Wedding Quilt Vlog #6 || Quilting the Quilt
(M1) 10/7 – How to be a Good Researcher || A Historical Sewing How To
(F2) 10/11 – 1840s Print Infant Dresses || Dressing the 19th Century Baby
(M2) 10/14 – Making an 1870s Overskirt || Dressing the 19th Century Woman
(F3) 10/18 – Historic Sourdough Bread || History in Action
(M3) 10/21 – Making a Bonnet and Hood for a Porcelain Doll || Dressing Historic Dolly
(F4) 10/25 – 1910s-1920s Girl Toddler Underwear || Dressing the 20th Century Baby
(M4) 10/28 – 1904 Traveling Bags (Part 1) || Dressing the 20th Century Woman


For this month's shorts, we look into Godey's Lady's Book October of 1861 and I share some of my antiques such as a few book ends, a 1890s sewing box, and a pair of 1830s painted folk art.


For the "One Woman is Twice Two Soldiers" podcast, on the 2nd Wednesday of the month we are talking about menstruation and gynecological health in the 19th century and the 4th Wednesday will be on where I find research materials.

1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 22