Blue Semi-Sheer

I realized that I never did a post solely for my blue semi-sheer dress.  So without further ado, here it is!


In the design process, the dress went through many changes! I finally settled on an open coat sleeve and a plan gathered front bodice with waistband. 

Before any trim

I used this dress as inspiration for the trimming.  The trim is just a small frill down the center front around the neck and then on the sleeve edges.  The neck started out as a jewel neck and then ended up being a V-neck that is basted back to form the V.

For the first event, I wore a regular rounded collar with it, but I didn't like the way it looked (I don't think it was long enough), so for the next event I made a white lawn frill to go inside the neckline.  I ended up just using the selvedge edge and sewing it to a muslin bias band.  

The fabric is super light and floaty! Truly dreamy! Sadly, it is now late fall and I won't have another opportunity to wear it until at least March (more likely May-July), but, I can't wait to wear this again!

Chemise and A Big Project...

 

 I finished my chemise that I started back when the power went out for 5 1/2 days! I used 100% cotton muslin and it's sewn 100% by hand.  I used Kay Gnagey's Simplicity pattern 2890.  It went together really well and I'm very pleased with how it came out.

I am currently working on what's-turning-into-a-big project: an article/pamphlet/book for new lady reenactors.  I will be posting it on here as a free resource that you all will be able to print and hand out or read online.  It's turning out to be a lengthy piece of literature, so hang in there, I think it will be worth it ;)

Brown Plaid Wool Dress

Well! It is finally finished (almost ;)--still have to baste the bodice and skirt together and add some boning to the back point)!! I wore it to an event this past weekend (boy was I glad I had it done, because it was COLDDDD!! I was very thankful for my paletote, too).

I bought the wool when it was on sale back when Fabric.com had their big fabric sale.  I found out I was pregnant right after I got the fabric, so it was set aside to marinate until I resumed "normal" measurements. ;)

 I completed the skirt probably a year ago, and didn't touch it for a long time because of more relevant projects.  Let's face it, a wool dress (even if it is tropical weight) compared to a nice semi-sheer lawn will lose when it's 90 degrees and sunny out ;)  However, the beginning of September rolled around (and along with it, cooler and rainy weather) and I got thinking that I would need to get going on my wool bodice if I was going to have it done by our next event (October 1 & 2).  So I started researching and planning on what I wanted to do.  I searched off and on for 3 weeks for inspiration by looking at CDV's, pictures of original dresses and fashion plates from the 1860s.  I just could NOT find anything that jumped out at me.  Good sleeves are very important to me and I really just wanted a sleeve that popped out at me.  I also wanted a sleeve cap, since I'd never done one before and I like the way they look. 

Inspiration Image

The bodice is lined in premium bleached muslin and the sleeves and caps are lined in brown Egyptian cotton.  I didn't have enough of either to do both.

 In my original planning, I was thinking of doing a yoked dress, but during the process of looking for a sleeve and mulling it all over, I decided that I wanted to go with a pointed bodice.  I searched for pointed bodice threads on The Sewing Academy and as I was reading through, I came to a picture that another member had posted.   Ironically, it was from a site that I had already been poring over! I don't know how I missed it, but I did! Because I'm always second-guessing myself, I put it to a vote on FB whether I should do one point or two--and it got unanimously voted for two (I was leaning towards two, anyway).  I also decided to do a back point.

I need to bone the back point, apparently ;)

 

 I really am so pleased with how it came out! I probably will evenutally trim it like the inspiration image, but I have to ruminate on what color to trim it with ;) 

Now a good, well deserved rest and then on to my Winter Sewing Projects (list forthcoming).