FASHION wrapping gown

I've been promising to make my dad something for a long time, since he's always been so helpful and supportive of my sewing projects.  He and I are both morning people, so I thought that a nice wrapping gown to wear while we had our morning coffee would be appropriate and appreciated.

 The wrapping gown is just a big T-shape cut out of one continuous piece of 45" fabric, with extra length added on at the sleeves.  It's constructed just like a woman's bedgown in every other respect.  I decided not to give it a lot of volume, so there's only a slight angle on the side seams.  I also added silk satin cuffs and a tie to dress it up a bit.  I think it looks awesome, he seems to like it, and I hope he lets me dress him up more often!

The seams are all machine done and finished (I'm trying to get my sewing mojo back, but it's tough, guys).  I actually think it turned out perfectly - mostly thanks to it being so simple.

I'm currently in the middle of my next project, which might take a bit longer... a lot of silk bands to applique.  Totally worth it.

FASHION banyan

I actually finished this project a while back, but I had to get my laptop repaired* so I didn't have access to the pictures.

This was supposed to be a present for my dad, but I liked the fabric way too much (don't worry, his version is pinned and ready to be sewn) so I decided to make it for myself instead.  It's a modern take on an 18th century banyan - a man's fitted wrapping gown - intended for modern use.  I blame Vincent (Mouse Borg Designs) for this.....damn cute banyans....

Take a look at this grown college graduate taking selfies!

It's a Colonial Williamsburg floral print with a matching stripe, lined with silk taffeta from a really nice furnishing store in Richmond (only got 4 yards 'cause it was ugly, but I wish I'd gotten enough for a proper gown...)

I used my 1860s bodice block and my 1780s gown sleeves as templates and winged it as I went along.  In retrospect I could have done a lot better at matching the size of the fashion fabric and lining to avoid hem weirdness, but there's nothing that I can do about that now, and the skirts are so full it's hard to tell.  I will probably need to reset the sleeves at some point to resolve armscythe weirdness, but it's surprisingly well-sitting considering the fact that I set them on myself and it usually turns out poorly.  I am considering putting self-fabric ties on it to hold it closed, but I also like wearing it open to show more of the garish lining.

Unfortunately it's too hot and heavy for summer wear but I'm looking forward to rocking light wash capris, wedges and a minimalist top with this in the early fall.

I hope you all look forward to seeing my dad in his wrapping gown when it's done. It's gonna be great!

*Coffee and computers do not mix.

Finishing a UFO

I finally sewed something blog- and era-appropriate!  I did make myself a banyan for modern use, but it still needs some last additions.  I wanted to finish a late 1790s gown that I started last summer with fabric that I got near Sturbridge, especially since I have such nice memories of the place and time that I got it.  I thought the nice, lightweight sprigged cotton was very regency-esque.

 

I patterned this gown myself, basing the design on a gown in the OSV collections.  The original (which I can't show for copyright reasons) is made from a heavy dove grey silk-faced satin; the pleats are stunning and the gown itself is immaculate.  I took so many pictures of it so I could recreate it later.  

The gown is lined in linen.  The bodice lining closes separately with pins and the front is tied underneath the bust.  The hair is totally not accurate but I recently cut it short and didn't have much time to put it up so that's all I've got.  I'm wearing it over my old short stays and a linen shift, and my 1860s American Duchess ball shoes too, since most of my flats are not era appropriate.

It could use some minor alterations, including lengthening the hem and fixing the armscythe, but considering the fact that it almost didn't get finished I think it's pretty good.  It's also nice and cool for the summer, so I can stay cool while not going to the Jane Austen festival in KY. Thanks adulthood...

I'm going to finish my banyan and start on a few other small projects.  Hopefully this summer I'll get around to a 1880s inspired cosplay project and maybe some random historical piece as well!  We'll see how inspiration strikes.

A Short-Sleeved Silk Gown!

Hey! This won't be a full post because I've ripped the photos from other sources but I want to update you all on what I'm making. 

I guess I love italian gowns because I made another!  The grey one has some serious issues that need to be dealt with and I don't like re-doing things, but luckily enough B&T had a workshop that I was able to take where I made another one.  Sarah taught us how to draw out a quartered gown back and how to drape the rest.  

I worked with some brown silk I had from Vogue that I'd planned for an 1860s dress but decided at the last moment to use for this project, and I'm glad I did.  I'm probably getting more use out of it than I would otherwise.

These were taken by the lovely Angela (B&T) and are on their facebook page!

From the Colonial Williamsburg Friends facebook group

I'm working on a petticoat to match, and I'm planning on getting some nice buttons to loop up the train - maybe also some nice puckered cuffs eventually, too.

Later on - Megatron kigurumi (which might or might not end up here - it isn't particularly historic?)  I don't have a lot of events or time for sewing in the next month or so thanks to graduation, so we will see.  On a related note check out my etsy - I have my white silk gown up for sale and will be putting more up as the need arises.

A long-sleeved silk gown

I know that I'm late on the quarter backed italian gown train... In my defense, these sleeves are a menace to set and once Prelude to Victory was cancelled I lost all desire to work on them.  Here's my adaptation of a 1780's long-sleeved gown, at long last.

I used my chintz jacket as a template for this gown.  It's four pieces connected with Abby's patented gown stitch, with 'butterfly' sleeves (each sleeve is one piece, but it opens up into a Y at the elbow to accommodate the change in angle.)  I didn't trim it yet, although I plan to get some gauze onto it once I have the chance to.  I sort of like it plain too, though, and I can bring it up into the 1790s with various accessories if I want to.

This gown is a walking Vogue fabrics commercial!  The gown and petticoat silk are both from the home dec section.  The muslin millinery is courtesy of B&T and the facing is scrap silk from my stash.

Thanks for the pictures, Rebecca!!!!

 The front still needs to be taken in.  If I could have helped it I would have set the sleeves about 5 degrees more forward so that the bodice wouldn't be so wrinkled at the underarm, and I would have made the skirts longer - but I can just polonaise them up if I'm deeply unhappy about that.

Today's lesson: measure twice, cut once, piece it if you did it wrong!

Buff Stuff - Half-boned Stays

It's been such a busy summer so far for me!  Living in the 1830s for 9 hours a day, with all the physical labor involved, is a pretty exhausting proposition.  But I'm learning so much and I'm getting to put my pre-existing skills and knowledge to good use, too (and probably gaining a lot of cheese weight...ugh.)

But I have made some sewing progress!  First and foremost, I needed to make a new pair of stays before the year started, because my red wool ones are trashed - I made them before I had a good grasp of, well, anything.  So I've been working incrementally on making up a new pair that fits me better.  I did a half-boned pair this time, since I really don't need the amount of support that full boned would give, considering the work that I do most often!  It was a little scary, since full-boned means that all you have to do is follow the line of the last row of stitches that you did, as opposed to making non-parallel lines like I did here.  But, in my opinion, my first try wasn't too bad.  Nicole's tutorial on leather binding helped immensely.

The pattern, and really the whole piece except for the stitching and materials, was engineered by Abby.  I'm so grateful!  They fit me better than any commercial pattern could have.  They get my waist to where I want it to be comfortably, but don't dig into my waist (25", baby!) and the lacing down the front allows me to adjust the bust thrust as needed.  I did have to take it in a good deal to get the amount of constriction I like, but that was all ironed out during the fitting process.  The back gap is pretty small and I'm concerned that it'll get smaller as the fabric stretches, and  need to bring the chest points in a little further.  I also need to put on straps and tack a piece on to the center to keep the bottom straight, but that'll be simple.

The fabric is beige wool stuff from B&T, lined in 2 layers of linen osnaberg, boned with zip ties and bound with Larkin & Smith's kid leather.  Hand done, as usual, with cotton and linen thread.  Laced up in this case with shitty rayon ribbon.

And the pictures are terrible because they're from my ancient phone.  No room in the car for my big, clunky camera, apparently...

After spending a week or two indulging in the dulce far niente of binging Grey's Anatomy, I need to make a new shift or two.  The situation (or shift-uation, hah!) is getting a little ridiculous.

Actual pictures, wouldn't you know!

Anyways, I'm happy to be home.  I didn't get around to making a late 60's beach outfit or bathing dress like I'd dreamed about last summer, but that's because in a week, I'm going to Massachusetts for an interpretative internship!  I'm really excited.  But the lake is beautiful at this time of year, so I pulled out my 1840s jacquard that never got a good photo shoot.  I rediscovered my love of photoediting, which hopefully explains the gratuitous filters.

I would ideally have a nice 1840's bonnet to go, but I don't have an event to go to that would necessitate making one.  I'm accessorizing with anachronistic pieces; a late 60s tilting parasol and lace shawl.  But I wanted to show them off!

Hey, that's a nice ol' lake over there, ain't it

As I wrote in my official post for this dress, it's a silk jacquard I got from my summer job, lined in cotton, done in a mid-late 1840s style.  Amazingly it still fits perfectly after a year, although it could have benefitted from an ironing (and the hem front still needs to be taken up! egads!)

If y'all want to use one of these for a gothic romance novel, at least ask me first.

I hope you all have a great summer!  I have some choice projects to share with you and I look forward to seeing what you all have put your hands to.