History Hands On

01/09/2026

https://studyfinds.org/men-are-sewing-too/

Who ever said sewing was reserved only for women? More and more men are trying their hand at sewing as the hobby builds popularity.

08/18/2025

Jay Howlett passed away on Friday, a loss to all who knew him. We held the first leather breeches workshop together in 2011 in the basement of one of the homes in Colonial Williamsburg. Believe it or not, his future partner in crime was one of the students. We'd go on to host several more workshops over the years, expanding membership in the Society of the Crimson Seal and adminstering many Disney Princess Band-Aids.

A GoFundMe campaign is collecting money to help cover Jay's medical expenses; please consider giving what you can in his honor. https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-jay-howletts-fight-against-cancer

02/03/2024

Lots of coats being made today…

07/03/2023

Man tells sister-in-law to sit down and shut up after she mocks his sewing skills. Was he right? 🧵😤 https://diply.com/10030776/man-snaps-at-sister-in-law-for-mocking-his-sewing-hobby-justifi?utm_source=fbphotore&utm_medium=fbphotolowdown

04/08/2023

Last week, we lost Jan Tilley, a good friend and an instructor at the many leather breeches workshops I’ve organized in the past. Jan was a student in the first workshop and went on to become Jay Howlett’s right hand man at future workshops. He was a good man and will be missed by all who had the honor of knowing him. https://wydaily.com/obits/2023/04/07/jan-rhodri-tilley-53-of-williamsburg/

06/07/2022

There is still space available in the 18th century clothing workshop with Henry Cooke July 16-17 in Manassas, Virginia. Email [email protected] for a registration form!