After completing my Underskirt, with all of its layers of ruffles, it was time to start on the overskirt. Obviously, this was going to need ruffles too, and I wanted to make a double apron front (like I had done for my 1870s Tartan Dress, and for my Blueberry), as it gave me an excuse… Continue reading Cherryblossom Dress: The Overskirt
Category: Sewing
Cherryblossom Dress: The Underskirt
You will have seen my post about the hat I made for the Cherryblossom Dress, and now here is a post about the first garment completed - the very ruffly Underskirt! When I first started working with my fabric for the Cherryblossom Dress I knew that it demanded ruffles and definitely not pleats - which… Continue reading Cherryblossom Dress: The Underskirt
Cherry Blossom Dress: The Hat
Usually, accessories are the things we leave until the end of creating our dresses, an afterthought on occasion that we scrabble to get made on the edge of our project deadline. Oddly, however, the hat for my Cherry Blossom Dress is the first item that I have completed for this project. Probably because I got… Continue reading Cherry Blossom Dress: The Hat
2021 Wrap Up
Well, it feels like 2021 has been unproductive and uneventful (thanks Covid) so this is probably going to be a rather short wrap up. But, nevertheless, here it is... Events I attended a grand total of two costumed events in 2021 - my trip to Christchurch to visit Kate Sheppard House, and to Oamaru for… Continue reading 2021 Wrap Up
1870s Tartan Bustle Project
At the end of last year I came across a cotton tartan shirting from The Fabric Store that I felt really drawn to. I bought several metres of it, with the plan to transform it into an 1870s bustle dress. Unfortunately... I got into a debate with myself and lost to the argument that an… Continue reading 1870s Tartan Bustle Project
Striped Tissot Dress: The Overskirt
After completing the Underskirt for the Striped Tissot Dress it was time to move onto the Overskirt - hopefully with less liberal use of the seam ripper. I decided to use the Truly Victorian Bustled Overskirt (TV305) pattern, which is the same pattern I used for my Pretty Princess Dress. I had shortened the pattern… Continue reading Striped Tissot Dress: The Overskirt
Striped Tissot Dress: The Underskirt
The first part of my Striped Tissot Dress that I made up was the underskirt. This turned out to be a bit more complicated than I expected due to my stubborn perfectionism, and liberal use of the seam ripper as I undid and redid some parts. I used the Truly Victorian 1870s Underskirt pattern (TV201)… Continue reading Striped Tissot Dress: The Underskirt
Striped Tissot Dress: Introduction
Still On Top c.1874 From the first moment I laid my eyes on a picture of James Tissot's painting Still On Top (which is held in storage at the Auckland Art Gallery) I was absolutely smitten with the amazing striped dress featured. I wanted that dress in my wardrobe so badly - and I first… Continue reading Striped Tissot Dress: Introduction
2020 Mid Year Check-In
Is it really June already? I would ask the rhetorical 'where has the year gone?' question but I think everyone living in 2020 knows where the last two or three months have disappeared to. Time has gone a bit wibbly-wobbly because of Covid-19 and the resulting Working From Home, Lockdowns, and other No-Longer-Normal situations. I… Continue reading 2020 Mid Year Check-In
2020 Vision
It's a Brand New Year full of brand new possibilities and potential projects!Because I have a couple of major non-Historical-Costuming events later in the year (my best friend is getting married, and my parents will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary), I am hoping to get ad much of my sewing done earlier on in… Continue reading 2020 Vision