Corset cover

This is what I am going to do as the underpinnings Challenge make a corset cover the one I decided on is the crossover one with bows to fasten the era is 1897. I chose this easy challenge as I had such a bad time doing my UFO.

1873 Bustle Gown

Well here it is my UFO not quite there but nearly done.  I felt like throwing it out of the window as it was so hard to pick up from where I had finished it in  2008/9 and if that was not enough I had grown somewhat as you can see from my dummy the bodice doesn't fit at all.

I will leave it now and hopefully will get it finished with all the embelishment on it which I am sure will make a big difference as you cant see any of the detail that has already been sewn.

The Challenge: UFO

Fabric: Cotton silk mixed
Pattern  Truly Victorian Parlour Skirt and Apron and the Bodice self drafted
Year: 1873
Notions to be added  at the embelishments challenge
How historically accurate is it? 85%
Hours to complete: too many to remember
First worn:  not yet
Total cost: I think the material was bought on 'special' at a very low price a number of  years before 2008

1912-15 Edwardian Evening Gown

In order to save money and reuse some beautiful old gowns that I have grown out of (as well as improve their historical accuracy), I decided to redesign my 25th Anniversary Wedding Vowel Renewal dress. I made this gown long before I had begun learning about historic garment construction. The Anniversary was a Titanic themed evening with 11 courses and 4 different wines. One wine, was the most amazing tasting champagne from New Zealand. We even had waiters to serve the meal. The entire family dressed up and each guest took on the name and persona of a person on the Titanic to add to the atmosphere. It was a lovely evening and one I will never forget.

Betty and I at my vowel renewal, showing the original dress.

Inspiration for the new design.

For the komodo sleeves and front panel.

 For the front panel. Another example.

The main inspiration for the draping of the skirt and the overall shape and sleeves.

As I said this was long before I had begun learning about historically accurate sewing. There were many aspects of this dress that I was unhappy with in my current knowledge. It was also sewn a unspecified number of years ago, in which my body has unhappy changed in some aspects. As the dress still had a lot of emotion attached to it I researched originals for ideas for a few months before beginning to pull the dress apart. I also found that I required a contrast fabric as I did not have enough of the original to make the final design. This worked out well as the contrasting dark green silk brings the dress more to life and makes it pop.

 My best friend Lynne and I at a Delhi Debar Dinner. This photo shows the front of the completed dress. The back is almost an identical copy.

 A close up of the details on the top of the bodice.

 I just love this photo with my friend Danielle, due to the contrasting colours. I also really like the composing of this photo.

Augusta Auctions 1820s Inspired Dress

While perving on the amazing creations on the Augusta Auctions website I found this amazing 1820s dress. I had previously cut out some yellow cotton damask to make a regency dress quite a few years earlier. I was inspired to dig it out of my ufo's (unfinished objects - mostly unidentifiable) pile. After digging for some time I found the cotton and with some consultation realised that it was possible to make a yellow and dusky green version of this lovely creation.

 

The original dress from the Augusta Auction website.

I had in my stash a beautiful dusky green  silk chiffon fabric that was perfect for the sleeves. Unfortunately, I did not have enough of the yellow damask cotton to create the beautiful decoration on the bottom of the skirt. I do not believe the feature would have the same impact as the stripes have in the damask (which makes me feel better for the lack of fabric).

In trying to replicate the dress I consulted with friends on the different construction techniques possible for the decorations. Most of it is bias tape and piping, which ended up looking far more complicated than it actually was. This was a wonderful and joyous thing. I did have to construct most of it by hand. This was a challenge as I am not overly confident in hand sewing due to my arthritis. It did turn out wonderfully though and I have now started to use hand sewing more, as my confidence builds. 

I also decorated a straw bonnet to go with the dress. It was shaped off an original from the Kyoto Museum book on page 160. I also used this image as inspiration for the trim placement. Overall I am very happy with the resulting dress and bonnet and look forward to being able to wear it soon.

 

The front view of the completed dress.

 The back view of the completed dress.

 Regency Bonnet

Back view of the bonnet.

More Christmas presents

Today I started making one of the four aprons I am going to give as Christmas presents I finished it so only two to go.
 
I don't know how I am going to get everything done for Christmas what with cleaning the home and decorating it then make a dress  to wear on Christmas eve, I am  exhausted just writing about it.

Trying to do a bit crafty things for Christmas

Today I have been trying may hand at making pin cushions etc which I intend to give as Christmas gifts.
 I am not one for doing things like that but I am willing to give it a try. Up to date they dont look too bad but not great either. It is very funny I will attempt a period costume with less trauma than doing this kind of thing.

Last week I did make a Victoriana sewing item which I have on my pinterest board and it took me five hours and it sits in the palm of my hand if I had to do this kind of thing to get money I dont think people would want to pay me.  Still I will keep at it until i have all my christmas presents made.

I will have to be shown how to get pictures of my phone to put in my blog as I think it will be quite boring.

Regency Picnic

Well, yesterday was just lovely the weather was perfect and we all had our Regency outfits on .   I stepped back from the rest and what I saw was something that looked as though I had stepped back in time it was a lovely picture. There was beautiful crockery and tables were set  with scrumptious food of the time and most of us had a glass of wine to drink, there was of course tea and coffee.

I wore my blue cotton 1810 dress with my lace Fichu, I  was so comfortable, I had my curls and my cotton day cap on and I looked just like "Mrs Bennett" out of "Pride and Prejudice".  Among many photo's taken there is one which I am looking forward to seeing  "Mrs Bennett (me) and her  five daughters" (all the daughters looked as though they had aged a bit since the filming) but it was all good fun.


For entertainment some played croquet, some were sewing and others, like me just chatted and caught  up with other members of the Society.

The highlight of the day was our brand new associate member who was all of  five weeks old and in her first regency costume and of course "Mrs Bennett" had to have a cuddle (another picture was taken).

Then it was time to go home we said our goodbye's all agreeing that it had been a very enjoyable time and looking forward to our next Christmas break up.

 Me and our newest member Isobelle. She is wearing the dress and cap that I made for her.

 Victoriana Group Photo.