Gifted

This past weekend I ventured down to Wilmington to have one more fun filled weekend to celebrate graduation!! While there 2 of my greatest living historian friends gifted me with a tintype of myself. We went to Harry Taylor's studio on Market street to get the image made. (http://www.harrytaylorphoto.com/) We met Mr. Taylor this past winter at the event at Fort Anderson and got an image or 2 from him there. However, this was the first image that I had had taken of myself, just me.

I am very pleased with it! The most curious part is how the buttons turned out. They look very dark, however, they are bright yellow glass. Oh the complexities of period photography!

The photo was taken in the green dress that I made earlier this year. I only wish that you could see the sleeve trim a little better, 3 rows of pretty blue soutache!

Dress Complete

I have competed the green day dress! This dress was totally different from any of the cotton dresses that I have done before! I pleated the fabric rather than gathering it. I did a nice coat sleeve with trim. The skirt seems so full to me since I'm used to wearing my work dress so often. This skirt is 4 panels of 45" fabric, bringing the total to about 180"! Plus I heavy starched both of my pettis over my cage, and I can't get over how full the skirt looks, but I like it! :)
Better pictures of the dress coming...

I also added decorative buttons on the bodice, the same buttons are on my wrapper, but I like them. I also made a bustle from the Work womand Guide (http://books.google.com/books?id=JCsBAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=workwoman) I always have issues while measuring in nails, so it turned out a little odd, but still does the job.

Sewing Frenzy

As I'm preparing for the biggest event in the state, 145 Bentonville, I have been in a sewing frenzy. My list keeps getting longer and longer, but with good intentions I doubt it will all get done before the 19.

I have made progress on my new dress! A friend of mine helped drape a new bodice for my new corset, you can read all about it and enjoy pictures of the adventure at http://whynotthen.com/Blog/How-to-Drape-a-Bodice-in-119-easy-steps. The lining and fabric bodice are cut out. The skirt panels are cut and stitched with hem tape and facing attached!! Also, the sleeves are drafted, cut and sewn. I actually drafted these sleeves all by myself! This is the second sleeve that I have drafted, and I like the process, though this time I went through 3 drafts before I got to this.

I also started making a belt to wear with this dress, well ay dress really, but this dress in particular. It is a bright pinkish velvet ribbon with a faux 2 piece buckel of gold filligree squares, a picture to come later when it is complete!

More updates coming!!

Change of Plans

Ok, I'll admit it, I have changed my mind again! I had planned on sewing my silk dress for Bentonville to look all nice for the dance, but since I have changed my mind. It is a late war event anyway. So, I have switched to do my green cotton dress. I am going to make it a better day dress, full skirt, pretty sleeves, trim, the "nice" dress I'm missing. I have at least 6 dresses, so why do I need another....just because! :) And I don't have one like this one.

PLANS:

Full skirt, "O" Bodice, probably with pleates rather than gathers, gauged skirt, coat sleeves of some sort, and some blue trim that I have on hand. Right now I am torn on the sleeves, I have 2 options, both a pretty coat sleeve, one with a cap, one without. I do want to make the sleeve slim at the wrist so that I do not have to wear an undersleeve with it.

These are the two that I like: I like the cap on the first one and the cuff. I like the general shape of the second one. I also like the trim placement on the second one. I found another image where the trim makes "x"s downt the sleeve which is what I may end up doing, but we'll see how much time I have to trim it in.

Another neat thing about these pictures is that the fabric seems to be the same on both dresses :)

Images taken from www.thegracefullady.com

Corset Chronicals- Pt. 7 and some other projects

This is the final stage, the one that I call completion! I finished the corset tonight and wore it around the house to make sure that everything is ok with it. I am going to add some decorative lace at the top, but for now the corset is done! And it fits pretty well. I must say that I surprised myself with it. *Pictures to come* It is the most in depth project I have had to do yet.

While waiting for the boning to come in, I did some other sewing that needed to be done. I finally put the pockets on my wrapper. I also added a front panel to keep my pettis/nightgown from showing. I had planned on making a nice petti and keeping the front of my wrapper open, but that hasn't happened yet.

Here you can see the pocket. I used some leftover brown cotton for the "ruffle" and added some blue soutache braid to the edge before gathering it and attaching it to the back of the pocket. Then I stitched the pocket on. There is one on each side. They are both decorative and functional, I have a feeling that I am going to love them! I want to trim my wrapper some more, I'm just not sure how to.

Next up: Green print cotton day dress and a Brown Stipe Silk dress!! Hopefully both can get done before March 19, but the silk is taking priority, though I think the cotton will get done first. This will be my first dive into silk!!

Godey's- March 1861.

I am using the sleeves on the striped green dress here for inspiratoin for my silk dress! I found this and just loved how the stripes are played with on the sleeves. Soon I will start this next project, after the event at Fort Anderson this weekend that is!

New Projects

With a new year just around the corner I have much to do! I have started on 2 new projects for this upcoming season.

One is a nice warm petticoat to go over my cage. It is an olive brown color wool with a cotton yoke at the top to reduce bulk. The petticoat still needs to be gauged into the waistband and a button and button hole added for closeure. I need to double check the length of it right now to make sure it is not too long to wear with my dresses. The original plan was to have it tucked at the bottom, so if it is too long I will put at least one tuck in it to be both functional and decorative :) This one will hopefully double as a layer of warmth and as a wool work petticoat if I need it.

Another project is a new pinner apron that I have been wanting for a while. The first pinner I made was not right, so I wanted a new one in plaid this time. I found the perfect fabric 50% off of its redtag price at Joanns and got all that was left (2 2/3 yards) Just enough to make my apron! It wasn't until I got home that I realized it was 55" wide which meant I had more than enough. With the extra fabric I am going to do some bias trim on the pockets and at the top of the bib. I have finished the skirt of the apron, now I need to do the waistband and bib. I think I am going to make the ties of this one button instead of tie.

I was able to get another great find at a wonderful price at the Joanns sale- a 8 1/4 yards dress length of green cotton print :) I wanted a dress length for a good cotton day dress I could wear over my cage (other than the yellow & blue plaid lawn I have now). The fabric is gorgeous! I have already started planning the dress!

I still haven't started my new corset mockup, but I have been looking for the supplies needed for the corest. I will probably pull the pattern out and start cutting the paper in the next day or two to get started on it.