• Regency Spencer Jacket •

I *finally* finished my spencer jacket! The reason it took so long was because I had no buttons. And I simply must have the perfect buttons for what I'm making. To me, the buttons can make or break a garment. Therefore, when I pulled out my little two-pack of these buttons, I knew they had to go on this jacket. So two full weeks later, we went to Joann, and do you think they had them in stock? Why, of course not! These were the one kind of all the buttons that they had none of. Was I defeated? No. I went online and bought them straight from Blumenthal Lansing for the same price, with free shipping. That made me happy, except for the fact that I had to wait yet another week for them to arrive. It was, however, totally worth it. I love my buttons, and I think they look really well on this jacket.

This project wasn't originally intended for the HSF, but when I was looking through the Historical Fashion and Textile Encyclopedia, I noticed that osnaburg was on the list, and decided to nominate it.

The Challenge: Terminology

Fabric: Osnaburg from a local shop, and American Made Brand cotton

Pattern: Butterick 6074

Year: 1811-1820 (?)

Notions: Buttons, interfacing

How historically accurate is it? Quite, I think. The only thing that isn't would be the fusible interfacing

Hours to complete: 5? That's pretty much a wild guess. It did not take very long as it was an easy pattern

First worn: Today, for pictures.

Total cost: $25. I got the osnaburg for $1 a yard!! 

This jacket reminds me of Kitty Bennet's jacket in Pride and Prejudice:

Since the deadline for the HSF is tomorrow, we had to go out in the 85 degree weather and pretend it was fall. I even decided to go heat-stroke style and wear my chemise AND my petticoat. Was I warm enough? Um, yes. If it keeps me this warm in the fall, I will be quite content.

This was definitely an easy pattern. Even though the whole entire jacket is lined, it came together very fast. I am really happy with it - the length, the shoulder width, the sleeve length and everything is just about perfect. The only problem I had was that you cannot iron osnaburg. Can. Not. Thankfully, I discovered that on a scrap and didn't melt it all over the iron. The good part is, it ironed and pressed very well with a damp press cloth, and it washes up almost wrinkle-free.

I changed the pattern only slightly, making it a complete button closure rather than one button at the top with a buckle at the bottom. Other than that, I actually made it like the directions! Yay!

My current project is a fall dress like Lily's. I can't wait!

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Photography by my mom.

• A Regency Petticoat •

A while back I was planning on making a Regency bodiced petticoat, but I decided that for now, an un-bodiced one would be much more practical. I had some really lovely muslin, so I finally decided to whip up a petticoat. I used the Simplicity 4055 skirt front piece for the front, making the edges go straight in rather than curving in and back out. For the back, I just cut a piece the width of the fabric, and as long as I wanted it. 

There are four big pleats in the back, and four tiny ones in the front. I also added a placket and put on a waistband with a tab closure.

Originally, I was planning on putting in four rows of cording, but finally decided that I wanted ruffles instead. They look so cute peeking out from underneath the dress, like in this picture:

Source

I made a 2" ruffle out of a double layer of fabric so that it would be stiff, and I wouldn't have to hem it! The hardest part of the whole petticoat was gathering up all that ruffle! Other than that though, it was a fast and easy project.

And even though it's a Regency petticoat, I can totally see wearing it with Victorian and Edwardian styles as well.

Front

Back

Inside view of ruffle. (I know....they didn't have sergers in 1814. Oh well.)

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Other sewing room news:

I've got buttons coming for my spencer jacket, so that should finally be done by this weekend.

We're sewing fast and furious in preparation for a fall vacation. Long sleeved 1950s dresses, plaid half circle skirts, Regency dresses, all kinds of goodies. I can't wait to share them with you!

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• 1950s Polka Dot Dress •

Ever since I first saw Lily's polka dot dress, I knew I had to have one. Originally I was going to make this into a nautical themed dress, but I kind of wanted to be able to wear it with any color, not just red. I got the fabric and buttons (big ones..hehehe) at Joann, and I love it. I never even ironed it after I finished it, nor have I since then. It has a little tiny bit of stretch to it, which makes it even more comfortable. 

I used Vogue V9000, but I left off the cuffs, and narrowed the skirt down. I got 5 3/4 yards of fabric, which is a good yard more than it calls for, but since I am 6' tall, I have to lengthen everything. Normally that's not a huge problem, but with a six-gore skirt, it was. The pattern layout had you laying the skirt pieces side-to-side, using up the whole width of the fabric. Therefore, when you have to add 3 5/8" to the length of each piece, you're in trouble. I folded the pieces over until they fit on the fabric, cut them out, and hoped for the best. I couldn't be more happy with the results - it hangs beautifully!

I also made the shoulders two sizes bigger than the rest of the bodice. (I know...weird, right?) It doesn't look bigger, but it makes it comfortable for the shoulder area. This was also my first lapped zipper ever. I was scared to death, but it came out wonderful!! Now I'm armed and ready for all the side zippers in other vintage patterns!

It was a little bit windy out....

There just *happened* to be an air show in town Saturday, so I had the perfect opportunity to take pictures of my new dress! It gets pretty boring taking them in the back yard. There were all kinds of planes there; World War II planes, modern planes, and even a 1929 biplane! It was so much fun!

We had random strangers walking up to us and asking if they could take our pictures, and wondering if we had something to do with the air show. Usually we just get blank stares from most people, so it was nice to have a positive reaction for once! :-)

I got my Malco Modes 591 petticoat last week. It took some adjusting to get used to wearing such a full skirt, but now that I'm used to it, it feels fine. Since it is made of a fairly crisp material, it had quite a few wrinkles in it from being shipped, so I put it in a sink full of warm water with a tiny bit of fabric softener, then hung it out in the sun to dry. It came out perfect, and I love it!

I also got new shoes (and sunglasses) from Modcloth. I couldn't be happier with them. It's always risky ordering shoes online, but they fit perfectly, and are so cute!

Next up is my regency spencer jacket, and then a Butterick 5920 dress out of a 1950s reproduction print.

Shoes, sunglasses, Modcloth.

Petticoat, Resashay.

Photography by my mom.

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• This and That •

Alas, I don't have my project (a spencer jacket) done for today's HSF challenge...*tear*. However, my mom did get her first HSF project done; a 1950's nautical dress! It is posted on her blog, Create It Vintage. Head over there and check it out!

Meanwhile, yes, I did finish my polka dot dress, but no, I didn't take pictures yet. I was waiting for my petticoat and shoes to arrive! I'll be taking pictures tomorrow though, so don't give up hope. 

In the Apron Stash • Crazy Daisies

A couple of months ago, I had an idea about selling some crafts (aprons, totes, baby clothes, etc) at our local farmer's market. I went to JoAnn and bought some fabrics for that, but about that time we got busy with gardening and sewing for ourselves. (Selfish, huh?) I would pull out some of the fabric and look at it. And stare at it. And glare at it.

Nothing. No inspiration, no ideas, nothing. So, I just set that whole idea aside, since it is pretty late in the year, and I still have TONS of self-sewing to do. 

My current game plan is still the same, but, when I have spare moments of inspiration from time to time, I'll pull out some fabric or other and sew it up. This way, maybe next year I'll have the opportunity to sell some crafts, and by then I will hopefully have my "crafts-to-sell" stash going strong.

Long story short; I had a spare moment of inspiration yesterday, and sewed up a crazy daisy apron. I made it a half-apron style, with a sweetheart waistband and a three panel pleated skirt. I think it's pretty cute. Actually, I think it's very cute. So much so, in fact, that I want to keep it! (As does my mom) :-)

We're going to resist though in order to build up the apron stash.

How 'bout some pictures?

The bow....

The tails are pleated onto the waistband.

I love ric-rac lately, so I couldn't resist putting it on this apron.

Pleats

Back view of the waistband

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I am nearing the finishing line on my polka dot 1950s dress. I am in. love. with. it. Like, wear-it-every-single-day-of-your-life in love. 

I'll get some pictures of that up as soon as I'm finished! 

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