I sewed lacy Edwardian underwear without getting out of bed | Historical Sewing While Disabled

I'm on partial bed rest, so I made hand-sewn Edwardian combination underwear with tons of lace insertion. Combinations were a Victorian underwear fashion, but this style is from the 1900s, covered with frothy ruffles and lace trim everywhere! I cut out and sewed these combinations entirely from bed, so I could take care of my disabled self and still create beautiful things.

Victorian combinations were a merging of the chemise and drawers, or separate top and bottom underwear, into one garment. As bodices became more and more fitted later in the 19th century, combinations did too. The expanding skirts and full-fronted bodices of the Edwardian era were echoed in 1900s combinations, with the drawers so flared they look like a petticoat! Ruffles, frills, and lace trim also became more and more common on underwear, so I chose to embrace the slow, detailed nature of handsewing and decorate my combinations with a shaped leg ruffle, lace edging, and a lace insertion design. They are made up in extremely fine, semi-sheer 2.4 ounce linen, and cotton crochet lace.

With my fibromyalgia and scoliosis both flaring up, I haven't been able to sew by machine or work on bigger projects. Sewing with a disability is hard, but the things that can be made by hand, or slowly, or while on bed rest are just as beautiful and worthwhile. I found the experience of sewing from bed oddly freeing, because I wasn't feeling ashamed that I couldn't sew the way an abled person could. Making art is an essential part of my mental health, and it's been hard to keep that up when my chronic pain is bad, but letting myself do it in an accessible way makes it much easier! While I do look forward to being back at the cutting table when I can, these combinations have been the project I needed to keep me going until then.

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[pay]

I am fully convinced that productivity is a myth created by a capitalist world to reduce people down to a shitty measurable standard of "usefullness". There is more to life than productivity, and nobody should be defined by the people that can "do more". I'm glad you shared your experience with us, my own health problems have been rearing their head lately and i haven't started any of my plans. I hope your pain will get meanagable soon ❤

[OrangeCat]

“We have this idea that if someone is ill or disabled they shouldn’t be able to do anything but suffer… why shouldn’t disabled people have happiness or accomplishment?” It’s ingrained in us, by society, that our worth is related to our productivity. We need more people like you who can show us that life doesn’t end with disability. Thank you!

[aj]

If you're interested in a historical example of a disabled seamstress, you may want to check out Hazel Hall. She was a wheelchair user born in the 1880s, and became both a very talented poet and a seamstress in her lifetime.

[MiffoKarin]

I haven't left bed for 3 days because of a migraine, so this video was appreciated. I've been finishing the seams of a thrifted linen suit jacket after ripping out the horrible polyester lining. It's been relaxing, I'm being productive, and nobody will see if I mess up the insides of a garment.

[ironducks]

I watched this while crocheting with a partially dislocated shoulder and only one working wrist, and I'm right here with you on 'we matter'. I'd also like to say it back: you matter.

[azastudioart]

Coming to the comments to say, "I feel seen" and I'm not alone. I cried. I'm so thankful for you and other YouTubers who bring a voice to the disabled (or however you like to call yourself) I have spent the last year and a half hand sewing a quilt because that's all I can physically do. It is calming and I'm so thankful for it. Thank you.

[astonbean]

I am not physically disabled, but I am neurodivergent, and I struggle a lot with tasks neurotypical people do so easily, hearing "My worth is not tied to doing what an abled person can" really means a lot. Thank you so much for sharing <3<3<3

[historiansrevolt]

THANK YOU for normalizing working within your disability. Physical and mental disabilities and challenges are so common but don't make us less valuable. Take care, and thanks for sharing a bit of this. It means a lot.

[judyreynolds]

Amen sister! As a fellow chronic pain sufferer; I find work, crafts a great distraction to help deal with the pain! Sometimes it’s to severe to concentrate on project. Thank you young lady for pulling us out of closet of shame!! Thank you!

[a.parker]

Man, imagine how terribly selfish people must be when the phrase "my pain makes others uncomfortable" has to escape one's mouth. Why do people have to make other people's lives their business? I'm still glad you found ways to ease your boredom despite your circumstances, and just hope better days will come sooner than later V

[coreygilles]

I hate when my health ties me to bed. Thank you for reminding me that I should not compare “sick” myself to others or even my “not as sick” self

[_ZombieDoll_]

As someone who is both disabled and a dressmaker/craft person, really all I can say is thank you for making this video. It feels good to be seen

[Nico-vwsc]

I didn't expect to cry during a sawing video. As a crafter who struggles with chronic pain and disability, I needed to hear this. Thank you!

[GingerSnapping]

"My worth is not tied to doing what an abled person can."
I've been suffering pretty bad from a flair-up of endometriosis. This has coincided with a bad need for my medication to change and other health stresses and this happens a lot to me. But hearing what you say, how people have innate worth outside of what an abled person can .... that moved me and I apricate that. I needed that.

[BankruptMonkey]

I loved the "no medical advice please" disclaimer! I should be firmer with people in my life on that.

[duncanward]

As someone with arthritis in the spine I think it so important that you made this film. When people only see you on the good days they don't realise what you go through. You see it in their eyes that they don't believe you, that they think you're either lying or imagining things and just want to live at the public expense, something that no one with real problems want. We ALL want to do as much as we can to stand on our own two feet, even if we eventually end up in a wheelchair.

[alonerawnut]

I have chronic tension headaches and I knit or cross-stitch when my headaches are so bad that I can’t bear to lie down or sit with my eyes closed listening to an audiobook.

[krisb]

You, Cathy Hay, & HTGYST were on point with some things I needed to hear this week! 🖤
I pushed myself way to hard this past weekend (trying to keep up with some neurotypical able-bodied friends), and then felt super guilty for having to sleep through Monday & Tuesday, as well as being slower than usual the last few days.

[lorisewsstuff]

Thank you for sharing this. The last couple of years have not been a beautiful time in the world. This shows that we shouldn't put our appreciation of beauty on hold because of an illness or a pandemic. Our lives have not ended so why should we stop living? This is such an important lesson. Thank you.

[samkelly]

As a fellow disabled human and crafter (I primarily do self-designed hand art embroidery) I love this. I've struggled for a long time with trying to reconcile having a life and hobbies yet also not always being physically able to do things like grocery shopping or laundry or cleaning the kitchen. I've felt trapped in this awful false dichotomy of either you can do nothing but suffer silently or you can do all the things. Sometimes I still feel guilty for "indulging" in my hobbies (which I can do in a comfortable rest position that doesn't cause pain) when across the room I can see dishes on the counter that need to be soaked or scrubbed or otherwise put in the dishwasher (which requires moving in a way that can cause excruciating pain). Our society has such an unhealthy obsession with work and productivity, and it's good to see others being open and outspoken about their experiences like this. Sometimes you can't do a whole lot, but you can work on some fun little craft projects. And there should be no shame or guilt associated with that. You are more than what you can or cannot do.