A sentiment I've seen around, lately, in regards to workers' rights: "There's no such thing as 'unskilled labor.' There are only undervalued skills." That definitely applies to shirt making.

@pheart2381

2 жыл бұрын

Calling it unskilled is merely an excuse to not pay the workers properly!

@guiltriple

2 жыл бұрын

Honestly, it's bizarre to me that any kind of garment-making can be considered unskilled. "Not accredited", perhaps.

@anska7475

2 жыл бұрын

I guess, it means that you can‘t get a job-title or regulated education in it but still, how something with so much detail can count as unskilled is beyond me. „Unskilled labor“ is a term we should get rid of.

I LOVE how Nicole's videos aren't just 'I'm going to make a shirt' but instead are 'I'm going to make an historically accurate shirt but first let me place this garment in context' ❤

@devinbaggs7542

2 жыл бұрын

Masterpiece Theater for garments :D

@anarosareyes6269

2 жыл бұрын

I love that tío❤️

Can't BELIEVE the muppets christmas special is more historically accurate than all of disney's adaptations

@adedow1333

2 жыл бұрын

It's very entertaining

@threadsandpurrs

2 жыл бұрын

I can. It's still nice though

@LadyOndyne

2 жыл бұрын

Actually, I can XD

@twobluestripes

2 жыл бұрын

It’s like, the definitive adaptation of A Christmas Carol in my book. So faithful to the book and the era. Michael Caine in the performance of his life, the all time best Scrooge I’ve ever seen!

@carolilseanne2175

2 жыл бұрын

I can! Muppets actually give credit to the original author of the story!

All of the discussion about the shirt controversies of the 19th Century makes me realize how far we _haven't_ come as a society. We still exploit labor in the name of capitalism just as doggedly. It's incredibly disheartening.

@fruitygarlic3601

2 жыл бұрын

Instead of burdening the local women, we burden the children 'over there.' What benefit does this give the average person, when so many goods like food and clothing are destroyed because people don't consume as much as a corporation feels they should? It's maddening.

@agcons

2 жыл бұрын

The poor still get slagged off as well. I agree; nothing much has changed.

@sonipitts

2 жыл бұрын

@@agcons Don't forget the whole "if you pay them more/give money to that destitute person, they'll just spend it on booze and drugs/avocado toast/Starbucks!" nonsense, same as it ever was. Like, first of all, perhaps if we didn't create a society where everyone from the working class on down were forced to live a life that was pretty much nonstop 24/7 pain, exhaustion, suffering and stress just to scrape together enough to survive, drugs, alcohol and treat-yo-self purchases wouldn't be so damned attractive/necessary to keep everyone from going completely postal and burning the whole thing down. But also, hypocrisy much? Because that's all the rich are spending their money on, too, but no one cares because they "earned" that money off the backs and lives of the poor they mock for wanting and doing the same, so it's okay. Yeah. Might be just a wee bit salty about that one. 🧂🧂🧂🤣

@Xloi63

2 жыл бұрын

Free trade agreements and unregulated free export zones, the IMF and World Bank (which are american backed) pushing market disregulation and neoliberal policies on 'developping' countries, all of these displace communities and ruin local, generations-old economies just so that the land can be taken over for big business. american imperialists fight so hard to destroy labour laws internationally

@availanila

2 жыл бұрын

Ugh so true. And looking down at the idea of welfare and poverty eradication.

It took me about 10-12 hours to entirely handstitch Bernadette's 'pirate' shirt. A day and a bit in real time, and very sore fingers. And that's with no real decoration and a VERY simple construction method. The second time I made one I used my machine on every seam that wouldn't show because I just... COULDN'T do that again.

@caithemburrow5569

2 жыл бұрын

The quickest I have hand sewn a shirt is 6hrs

@breedlejuice8691

2 жыл бұрын

That was my first wearable and I thought I was close to done just by getting the pieces together. NO! What killed me were the yards of felling. It did prepare me for the patience I’d need to have to proceed into this hobby, so a very good first project

And the mistreatment and underpayment of garment workers is STILL an issue today. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was 1911, Rana Plaza was 2014. Not much has changed.

those victorian attitudes about the poor are still popular now. how modern society treats poor people now is VERY similar.

@mcwjes

2 жыл бұрын

As Nicole was explaining, I thought, "oh. I know this. This is still happening." I guess not everything changes.

Hell yeah. I explain my gender by saying "I'm a whatever, like Gonzo" and love an over the top historically inspired costume so this video is perfect.

@alli_mode

2 жыл бұрын

That's how I started explaining it too! Gonzo is the best.

@TheMetatronGirl

2 жыл бұрын

Same!! My nickname in high school was Gonzo, too.

@godfrey_approves

Жыл бұрын

Samesies!!! 💛🤍💜🖤

This movie has better costuming than a lot of actual historical costume dramas, and it’s kinda bonkers. Like, if you look at the very first scene with Gonzo and Rizzo, Rizzo is wearing a tiny workman’s smock with elaborate hand done smocking. It’s not used in any other scenes or anything, it’s just there to add a bit more color and realism to the world of the film.

Genuinely love hearing the workers rights discussions throughout history and its really interesting (and infuriating) that we truly have been dealing with people being paid much too little to make clothes for centuries now

I love the way you introduced this project with such a rich history of the garment!! The specifics of how much people were paid as well is always so fascinating (and frustrating) to me. The shirt came out beautiful, makes me want to make one too! Can't wait for the rest of the pieces!

@euansmith3699

2 жыл бұрын

When I saw the thumbnail for this video, I though, "Cool, Kaz Rowe is making a Gonzo shirt."

I can imagine that many artists or craftspeople are not 100% satisfied with the result. There is always some detail that might have been added or done differently. However to my eyes, this shirt is well-made for any century.

In "Little Town on the Prairie", Laura Ingalls Wilder tells of her first paid job working with a shirt maker. She did the basting and the woman who employed her used a sewing machine. (1870-74, I think)

@susanrobertson984

2 жыл бұрын

I remember that she got tasked with whipping button holes because she was fast. She was fast because she hates doing them so much.

The shirt came out well! And I love all the history you’ve included. We really haven’t learned anything when it comes to mass manufacturing, we’ve just moved it out of sight.

I always love how much extra information you include about the political and social trends of the time period! It really helps make the garment come alive.

I love how you're talking about how even for the time the wages were pennies, that's such a common excuse people give because they don't know the context of the past at all and what things cost etc. This even happens today when talking about other countries' wages being terribly low, they think 'oh but things over there cost less!' But they don't to the extent that people should be paid a few dollars a day!

I was so engrossed in your storytelling, I was rather startled for a moment when the actual shirt making part started. Like: 'oh right, that's what we came here for...' 😅. The second part of the video was no less interesting, however. All these little details about garment construction and historical vs modern approaches are endlessly fascinating to me. I especially like the idea of doing gathers like that. They just look so neat and perfect and not flattened from sewing over them by machine.

the tip about holding your gathering thread by wrapping it around the pin is incredible! Sure it seems obvious once you know, but I know I wouldn't have thought of it on my own Gonzo's performance in The Muppet's Christmas Carol is amazing and I'm still so glad that the costume department was able to do everything they did

"Noodly Appendages" 😂😂😂 Thanks for another great video; covering so much interesting and depressing history. Those earrings make a lovely little splash of contrasting colour in the warm colours of the make-up and background. The work on the shirt is wonderful. I'd buy that for 1/-

One of my favourite parts of your videos on historical garments and shoes is how you explain their history and contemporary context! It's such a strong complement to your actual crafting and explanation of the creation process. I could listen all day lol

I didn’t know that I need a history lesson before bedtime, but I feel strangely more prepared for the night now. 🤨 Thank you so much!

I always thought the HP wizarding monetary system was bonkers, but after the pre-1971 British money breakdown, it makes a lot more sense.

@caithemburrow5569

2 жыл бұрын

She didn’t even include guineas

even in the uk we know nothing about old currency!! Love the shirt and that on your channel you seem as excited about "mens"ware as "womens"ware! I also really appreciate you not shying away from the ethical side of things and pointing out that the clothing industry (and pre-industry!) has always been a lot of time and effert for very little recognition...

Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny a ha'penny will do. If you haven't got a ha'penny then God bless you! Love the Muppets Christmas Carol. Love their John Denver Christmas special too. Another fabulous video, Nicole. Thank you! 💜

@TheMetatronGirl

2 жыл бұрын

Me too! I heard the song in my head while reading your comment. Thank you for the wonderful reminder of my childhood!

Beautiful shirt. This is a great start for the series. Thank you for giving voice to the women who made the shirts. I wonder if the women recruited their older children to help; these would be the children who were not employed elsewhere.

Ooh, great shirt, thanks for the shoulder gathering advice- Excellent historical information. Crazy side deal; I had a glow of affection this whole watching cuz I love me some Gonzo. When I was a kid I thought he was the best. That chicken fetish? wow. he really just lived his life honestly.

I had no idea how much I needed to hear your perfect elocution take on the words "noodly appendages"

@Eloraurora

2 жыл бұрын

I just went ...is this a Pastafarian reference? It has to be, right?

You’re like the Caitlin Doughty of historical fashion, the similarities in cadence are crazy

I love Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone and (spoilers) part of the plot involves someone hand sewing a nightgown overnight. This always seemed impossible to me but obviously women of the era were doing this and more every day.

@adedow1333

2 жыл бұрын

His "The Woman in White" is really wonderful too!

I don't think I've ever clicked on a video faster, so excited to see this human-sized historical Gonzo outfit! Really interesting history at the beginning too, thank goodness we've learned so much and are so much more progressive now (/sarcasm). The final result looks great!

The way the victorians treated the poor, saying they have to work their way out of it etc., is almost word for word how people still talk about the poor in England today

It's fantastic that you gave voice to the actual situation these women were in! And the shirt is lovely!

Beautiful shirt. Thank you for going into the reality of shirt production. In Nicholas Nickleby the eponymous hero while still a child is set to work in a boot blacking factory, adding labels to bottles. An extension to all this was the second hand clothing market, as not everyone could afford new. As with today, exploitation of the labour does not necessarily equal affordable for everyone else. The second hand clothing market was a very important part of Victorian life, with seamstresses working to repair and in many cases alter garments for resale. There were also instances of shipments of second hand clothes being stolen and then altered in order to disguise for resale. And speaking of second hand. Or third hand. Or worn till it literally fell apart, it could be interesting to do a video on stuff.

I love this so much. I really need to make a shirt I can wear in the cold weather. Love The Muppets Christmas Carol too, my favourite of all the Muppets films.

This was such an adorable idea!! 😊 I saw this video in my feed and got a huge smile on my face. Not only is it a period Charles Dickens costume, it’s GONZO as Charles Dickens. 😂 Love it!

24:54 - the whole video was worth this hack alone. I honestly stopped using pins a while back because they slip out so easily when moving fabric around but this technique is priceless!

This is amazing! I love the 1840s and think and its an underated era for costubers. BUT PLEASE IF/WHEN YOH MAKE THE JACKET/COAT PLEASE HAVE AT LEAST A FEW SHOTS FOCUSING ON HOW THE BACK PLEATS AND VENT IS MADE MY GOSH THAT WOUPD BE AMAZING AND WOULD CLEAR UP SO MUCH!!!

Hooray for a historically accurate(-ish) Gonzo shirt. Also, kind of points at the exact spot to look at when corporations say they aren't evil because they aren't humans. Bravo.

I love it. Looks wonderful. Makes me want to set up my machine again. One thing I wish we had seen before the sewing portion is the design. I’d liked to have seen the design so that as you were explaining this or that part of the process, we could have referenced the design for a better understanding. As always, I love the detailed history.

I just wanted to say I came to this channel for the amazing sewing, but stayed for the absolutely brilliant research!

Everything about this was lovely, minus the working conditions and exploitation. Always good to think about. Thank you.

My favorite muppet, gets his time to shine! ✨ thank you!!!!🤩

Thank you for sharing your research on these shirts and their making. The horrific inequity of what these women were paid versus what males made for far less work is disgusting. That such inequity continues to exist is unforgiveable and we all know that it does in EVERY field in EVERY country. Your shirt looks great. I look forward to seeing the completed outfit.

i very much appreciate you going into the history of who made shirts and how they were consumed. there are a lot of videos on shirts out there that are just about how people make their shirts, and a muppets cosplay video could have been the same. it's nice to see the people whose labor was denigrated and unfairly compensated finally get the recognition they deserved.

I love the in-depth history lessons you give before showing us the creation of the garment. Makes me want to learn more! Wonderful job!

I love the shirt!! While I see what you mean about placing the gathers in the front a couple inches lower, I think they’re quite attractive as a “modern” design element. It would be so much fun to style!! I’m also super excited to get my patron hands on the pattern. Thank you so much! Really looking forward to the rest of the outfit. I find fascinating and horrifying that making shirts was considered unskilled labor…yet most of us couldn’t do it today (or then, for that matter), and that little has changed in the last 180 years regarding unskilled labor and treatment of the poor.

This couldn't be more timely! I just ordered a couple of shirt patterns that are quite similar. Will definitely be referring to your video as I make them up. And really forward to the rest of the outfit!

This is *so exciting*!! I'm kind of hoping blue hair (or wig) might be involved in the finished outfit.

@davidbriggs7365

2 жыл бұрын

While I can understand her reluctance to paint her face blue, since this is the day of the Mask, I still think she should make a mask (with nose) that would make her look like Gonzo when she wore it.

Oh my just lovely. Now I want to make one. I made the Elizabethan kinda shirt that morgan did and I love it. I think I will love this version too. Pluss I'm stuck on bed rest and it'll give me something to focus on besides boredom.

@adedow1333

2 жыл бұрын

Feel better soon! I hope your body cooperates with you!

@KattGothica

2 жыл бұрын

@@adedow1333 thanks I'm pregnant and on bed rest so hopefully it will be a few months, if baby can get closer to full term.

*The absolute BEST retelling of A Christmas Carol, ever.

I love watching you sew. You are so meticulous and detail oriented. And you make it look so easy! I can never get my edges to turn under that well.

Thing is, for sweatshop operators, be they today or in the 18th century, clothing is low hanging fruit. Everyone needs it, everyone will purchase it, especially if things are arranged-ie: people making so little and needing to work hours such that they didn’t have any time to spare- so that they had little other choice. THIS is the basis of capitalism…..exploitation…..yes it’s gussied up as “supply and demand” but given that this naturally devolves to its lowest denominator- pay as little as you can get away with, for as much as you can get away with- it MEANS exploitation.

The first half of this video is a testament to how *everything* has a history that is full of fascinating and controversial details and facts, no matter how 'ordinary' or 'mundane' that thing is. Top notch, always a pleasure to learn context in your videos.

Brilliant version of Christmas Carol, including the costumes! So pleased you are running with the joy of muppet mode.

I am so hype for this project! Also, your story telling skills are getting better and better, very interesting information about both shirt-makers and Dickens!

I wish I could like this twice just for all of the historical info you gave. Great video! ✨

I LOVE this!! The second I saw the headline of this video, I felt like it was made just for me haha. Thank you so much. I wish this video had existed when I was trying to make a shirt from the 1830s because all I had to go off of was an 18th century shirt pattern and my vague understanding of what I wanted, so it turned into a bit of a mess. I would love to try it again, but with the knowledge you've provided here on how to do the collar in a style similar to what I wanted. The shirt you made it gorgeous and I'm incredible excited to see the entire Gonzo ensamble!! Wishing you all the best :)

Aaaaaand suddenly Charles Dickens makes a whole lot more sense, now knowing his background.

I love that you go into this much detail - both about the history and the sewing

I have never been more excited to watch a cosplay/costume video in my life. This is one of my all-time favorite characters from one of my all-time favorite movies. Thank you thank you thank you. Btw, we just started the video…

I think this is one of my all time favorite project ideas! The shirt came out beautifully and I honestly can’t wait to see every part of this ensemble. Super fun and I think it will end up stunning!

13:39 That's the same stupid argument that some people use today about the poor, don't pay them because they're going to waste it...... WTF.....

This is such a great series! The way that you teach and present your research findings and educate us on the historical, cultural, and political contexts of everything that you make, combined with your practical skills at making such beautiful garments… not to mention your cinematography; has just come together in such an amazing way that I look forward to your “class” every week!

Love the look of the finished shirt. I'd happily wear one of those as regular clothing.... Hmmm.... I have some tie-died cotton that is a lovley weight for a shirt....

Such a gorgeous shirt and such a terrible origin story. And just when you think the garment industry probably improved, you start looking into fast fashion. 😱 Edit: OMG, as an LMT, that spinal column picture made me blanch.

I love love Nicole’s videos, she is so erudite and skilled. I wish I had 1/4 of her tailoring skills

Nicole, you eloquently covered so many critical issues here, especially women and children working conditions of the mid 1800's. Actually it fit like a glove with chapter 15 of a large book so I shared it with my reading group. And clarifying the Sterling coinage was so helpful too. Thank you.

I can't wait to make something I get to enjoy!! I started sewing quilts and they're for other people. I think I am eventually going to make clothing.

the clothing version of @tastinghistory great content, especially since I'm just learning how to sew

For me the look of this shirt feels too bulky and square looking but I love all the details and the construction. It's fascinating me so perhaps a slimmed down version is in order. Thank you for another great video!

First of all, very cool that you discussed labor rights on a video about making a Muppet outfit. Second, when you were talking about the way Victorian England treated the poor, I just kept saying, "So just like now?" Plenty of people STILL think that poor people wouldn't be poor if they just worked enough. All these horrible attitudes are more than present in society today.

Well done! When you’ve been hand sewing from an early age you get faster at it I think. I can usually do a tunic dress in seven hours.

@ragnkja

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve heard that Nicole started sewing when she was three.

It's wild that making a shirt by hand in only 4 hours was ever considered "unskilled labor"

You look terribly handsome in the shirt! And how serendipitous that your hair is jut the right length to imitate a young Dickens.

This is the level up from Bernadette's "pirate" shirt. (Both in terms of era and skills needed) I haven't even made hers yet and now I need to make this too!

I always learn small tricks when watching you sew. Like how you hold the fabric or manipulate it in other ways when sewing, that makes things so much easier. Those are details nobody tells you, but when you get to see someone else sew, I get so many new things to try to make things easier. Especially with all the fiddly bits. I never thought sewing (historical) shirts required to much small tequnice knowledge before I tried it for the first time this summer. Also, the fact that our society still, over 150 years later do not know how to pay garment workers living wages are so wierd.

Yay Muppets Christmas Carol is my favourite movie!

I had a right fit when the buttonhole scissors came out. I had no clue such a wonderful invention existed.

Holy hell those poor ladies!! Thats such little pay!

I honestly think that with a few adjustments that would make a ridiculously cute summer dress.

For a Gonzo cosplay that sure took a dark turn

This is a beautiful shirt! I can see why you want to be able to wear it more often!

Thank you for this video. I discovered you a few weeks ago and I *love* the historical research you share with us. Please don't stop! 💕 Thank you!

You knocked it out of the park. Again. As usual.

I’m fascinated by your hand sewing. I have zero patients, so my hand sewing is always a mess and ugly because I try to get it done as fast as possible. Oddly enough, I like watching you take your time and do your stitches neatly. I find it satisfying. You’d think I’d apply that to my self, but no haha I hate hand sewing but I like watching people do it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yay so excited for this upload... thank you.

I am weirdly just so excited for this whole series 💕

Thank you very much for showing how to sew gussets!

I am so ready for this!!!

I love this series!!!

This is the content I live for!

My 2 Great Aunts hemmed handkerchiefs (at home). This is 1890’s. 2 of my Great x3 Uncles were assistant silk throwers (aged 9 and 11) 1870’s. They all worked at home.

Stunning work as always!

YES!!! I am super excited to see this all come together!! 😍❤️

You're so awesome! Love this and love Gonzo! 💜💜💜

I always find it so interesting to see such a "basic" clothing item being constructed. There is SO much that goes into it (at least from my very unexperienced viewpoint when it comes to sewing). Also, my mind was blown at seeing those special scissors at 30:07, I need some of those ^^

Can't tell you how much I love this and appreciate your work!! Keep it going!

We love these videos, the skill, the history, the knowledge, thank you so much!

"Hand sewing garments was unskilled labor" said no hand sewer ever.

I so enjoy that you present the history!