Historical Sew Monthly 2016 Planning

I wasn't exactly successful at completing all of the challenges last year, but I'm hoping to do better this year!
The challenges are:

January –  Procrastination – finish a garment you have been putting off finishing (a UFO or PHD) or make something you have been avoiding starting.

I plan on finishing a mid-19th century apron I started a while back!

February – Tucks & Pleating – make a garment that features tucks and pleating for the shape or decoration 

Maybe a chemisette with some pretty tucks. Or a petticoat; petticoats are always a good idea.

March – Protection – make something to protect yourself (from weather or injury) or your clothes (from soiling etc.)

I'm thinking an earlyish 19th cent. chemise (which protects your outer garments from sweat and other gross things)

April – Gender-Bender – make an item for the opposite gender, or make an item with elements inspired by the fashions of the opposite gender

Maybe a shirt for Dylan. I've been wanting to make him one but haven't gotten around to it.

May – Holes – sometimes the spaces between stuff are what makes a garment special.  Make a garment that is about holes, whether it is lace, slashing, eyelets, etc.

Corded stays. I've been wanting to make them forever, and I think I should be recovered and "settled" enough to get a good fit in the bust. (holes would be the eyelets for lacing)

June – Travel – make a garment for travelling, or inspired by travel.

I have no idea, I'll have to research a bit! Maybe a bonnet veil.

July – Monochrome – make a garment in black, white, or any shade of grey in between.

Ooh I don't know!

August – Pattern – make something in pattern, the bolder and wilder the better.

My green 1830s dress! I have sleeves and a skirt cut out and sewn. The pattern is rather bold and wild!

September – Historicism – Make a historical garment that was itself inspired by the fashions of another historical period.

Maybe something regency. Regency drew lots of inspiration from classical greece/rome.

October – Heroes – Make a garment inspired by your historical hero, or your historical costuming hero.

Who knows!

November – Red – Make something in any shade of red.

A dress out of my beautiful pink cotton print, maybe. I think pink counts as a shade of red!

December – Special Occasion: make something for a special event or a specific occasion, or that would have been worn to special event of specific occasion historically

I shall have to find a special occasion for which to make something!

Gold Dotty Skirt progress

I'm actually doing some sewing! I'm making the cutest skirt on earth.

From my Instagram

It's all just pinned up on Phoebe, but it's coming along nicely. I've sewn up the pockets, and they are waiting to be sewn in. I've also used fusible interfacing for the first time! It was surprisingly easy to use.

Once I finish it, I'll be putting it up in my etsy shop as a made to order, if you happen to want your very own! I'm sure it's going to become a staple in my wardobe.
xx,
Kate

Christmas Goodies!

I just got some amazing fabrics from Fabric.com. I ordered them, thinking that they wouldn't come until next week, but here they are!

Taken from my instagram

The fabric on the left is this stunning metallic border print. I am so in love with it. It will become a skirt! The three on the right are scrummy rayon challis (x, x, x)  The black will become a skirt that may go up in my etsy as a made to order item. The gingham and dot will probably become tops after my surgery.

xx.
Kate

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate! I hope your Christmas (or just a regular Friday) was wonderful!

I got a lovely new dressform! It's actually my size, and it's so much prettier than my adjustable one!
Her name is Phoebe. Bought from here in size 18/20. I'm currently a bit bigger than her, but I am scheduled for a breast reduction and a bit of lipo in January, so it's all good.

Isn't she so beautiful?

I also got my very first serger! I don't have a picture of it because I haven't been able to set it up yet, as I'm currently bunking with my mom. I got the Brother 1634D. I'm very excited, well excited and scared, to use it.
As my Christmas present to myself, I've bought a gorgeous vintage cream and green floral taffeta that is dying to become a 1950s dress, and I have some very exciting fabric on the way from Fabric.com.

xx,
Kate

Indie Pattern Suggestions

Does anyone have any Indie Pattern suggestions for me? I usually make my own patterns, but there are things I don't feel skilled enough to pattern (and also too lazy). I'm mostly looking for tops, sweaters, and tights/leggings. It would be preferable if the patterns went into plus sizes, but I can usually deal with xl/18ish. Thanks everyone!

HSM: Sewing Secrets

I've been taking a bit of a hiatus from HSM, not on purpose, but life happened. Part of my halloween costume somewhat went along with October's challenge, though! I hope to get back in the groove soon.

Excuse the awkward face and the weird bodice lacing

The secret!

The Facts:

The Challenge: Sewing Secrets
Fabric: Poly (probably) damask, cotton duck for interlining, tan cotton for lining, checked cotton for secret armhole facing, poly satin for piping
Pattern: My own!
Year: Vaguely 16th/18th century
Notions: Heavy duty cable ties for boning, cotton yarn for piping, beading lace, poly satin ribbon
How historically accurate is it? Not very. The bodice is a very stylized version of stays
Hours to complete: lots and lots
First worn: Halloween!
Total cost: I think everything was in the stash, so none at this time, but I'd guess $15-$20

Purple Paisley Dress!

I actually finished this dress and got pictures a couple of weeks ago, but I never got around to writing up a blog post. But here it is! (Sorry for the headless pictures again, I can't seem to control both my face and body at the same time for a picture.)

  

(Sorry for the long line of pictures! I had them arranged nicely, but apparently they wanted to go all wonky,)

It's made from the same basic pattern as my floral border print dress, but I adapted it to have a cross-over neckline. 

This dress is made of 3 yards of 36" wide vintage cotton with a woven self stripe and a purple paisley print. I'm so in love with this fabric. Not only is it beautiful, but it was lovely to work with. I just barely got my dress out of the yardage, but I did it! The bodice is lined with white cotton twill, and the skirt is lined with cotton gauze. The dress closes with a hand-sewn zipper on the left side. I even put a patch pocket for my phone!

I'm very happy with this dress! It probably cost me less than $10, because the paisley was gifted to me. 

I've got a couple more dresses on the to-do list! They'll most likely end up being 1950s-esque fit and flare silhouettes, because that's my favourite style right now. And I've made a pattern for a wrap skirt to wear to ballet class, which I'm going to make up in purple chiffon. I've also been wanting to try my hand at making some tights/leggings, some cropped cardigans, and maybe a coat for winter. (I'm dreaming of a sunshine yellow or aqua full-skirted coat in wool, a cardigan in every colour, and comfy, non-itchy tights!)

xx, Kate