Hello!

Someone asked about my sewing projects and I thought I'd share them with you. I'm not an expert by any means. I'm a novice, really. I can read sewing directions and what I don't understand, I fake. LOL

I took this hobby up in 2009 when my husband and I joined a local historical group. Appearing in period garments, although not required, is a part of this process. Having none laying around, I went looking for them and was blown away by the prices I found. These elaborate dresses can be very expensive so, I thought, why don't I try to make my own?

I borrowed my mother's old (and I do mean OLD!) sewing machine, bought a pattern and started my first dress. It was a simple affair, more a 'work' dress than anything and it didn't turn out bad at all!

Here's what the work dresses look like, modeled here by my daughter. (I didn't actually make this one. It was made by my friend, Chrissy. I don't think I have a picture of me in the work dress as I'm always 'behind' the camera. LOL)

 

 

 

 

Once I found that I could make a dress, I jumped in feet first and bought a brand new machine and took on a massive project. An elaborate 'Southern Bell' dress. I had no idea what I was doing and it took me a month to finish this project.

The 'ruffles' around the sleeves and the front of the jacket were hand made out out 92" long strips of fabric, 2 colors laid on top of each other, and were hand gathered. The strings broke several times and had to be re-done numerous times. The ruffles alone too me 3 days to make. The white shirt underneath, I also made, along with the white sleeves of the dress.

Historical fact: Sleeves were not made into most dresses. They only came up to the elbow and most times were 'pinned' to the inside of the jacket sleeve. This was so they could take them off during warmer weather and made the dresses cooler. The same for the 'shirts'. This particular shirt is only a 'half' shirt...sort of like a Dickie. It was also removable in warmer weather but only after 3 in the evening! No respectable lady showed her bosom before 3 in the afternoon! Especially a married one. Only those unmarried dared show that cleavage!

As you can see from the picture below, there were a few problems with this jacket. My stripes didn't match and it was way too big.

 

 

 

 

I finally managed to fix it. It required me remaking the jacket and re-sewing the sides several times to make it fit. Apparently I'm not as big as I think I am. *wink*

Here's me in the finished dress. (My slip is showing. How un-ladylike!)

 

 

 

There were a few more dresses made, most not as elaborate as the first one. I even made a little girls version of a period dress for my niece, complete with her long-legged pantaloons hanging out. She is sooo cute in this!

Historical fact: The pantaloons were made to come all the way to the ankle. It was unacceptable for any part of the legs to be showing, even in children. This version of undergarment was made for boys and girls and could be plain or embellished at the ankle with lace or fancy edging.

 

 

A few of the more simple dresses I made.

 

 

I have a collection of ladies 'under-things' I've made as well but we'll save the photos of those. LOL I've made a period chemise and Pantalettes.

Historical fact: Did you know that pantalettes were actually 'crotchless'? Most were just two 'tubes' of material held up with string tied around the waist. Their main function was to, just like the girls, to hide the legs and were also adorned with lace and ribbons at the ankle. They were not 'underwear', not in the traditional sense.

 

 

This last dress I made for my daughter. She was married last year and we did a traditional 1800's wedding. She picked out the pattern and the colors. This dress has a 'half shirt', detachable sleeves, and a Zouave jacket. The skirt is two pieces. The printed over-skirt is embellished with flowers and can be removed so the green skirt could be worn alone. (This allowed for reusing the dress later.)

Making this dress nearly drove me crazy. I wanted it 'perfect' and perfection isn't something that's ever achieved. The dress had a few flaws but only my daughter and I know where they are. The overall outcome was beautiful and she shined in her period Wedding Dress.

Historical fact: The traditional 'white' wedding dress didn't become popular until 1840 when Queen Victoria wed Albert of Saxe-Coburg. Photo's of her in the white wedding gown were widely distributed and many woman 'copied' the style. It grew in popularity and was later seen as 'virginal', which explains why many women opted for the color.

 

 

 

So, there you have it. My unusual hobby. I have an entire room filled with sewing projects still to be made but I'm finding that making time to get to them all is almost impossible. I'll get back to it soon though. I still have a man's vest and more shirts to make. (I've made men's clothing as well, and a coat. I'll add photo's of those soon!) I'm not yet finished with all these creations and making them is only half the fun. Wearing them, complete with period undergarments, is the real adventure!