Monday, October 01, 2007

Victorian Sewing - June 1879 Dress

I have actually been able to do some sewing since we have been in NM. Not as much as I would like but with such limited space it’s a challenge.

This first dress has been on the drawing board for a couple years now. Then on the Carolina Belles site they started a “Dress of the Month” sew along for 1879. I have been eagerly awaiting the post of each new dress. Then one day as I was flipping though my Fashions of the Gilded Age, Vol 1 I realized that this dress is from Harper’s Bazar June 1879! Auhhhhhh! I already had the fabric so I decided to jump in!

Here is the inspiration fashion plate:
Inspiration - Harper's Bazar 1879

This is how far I have gotten so far…..

Front:
Front - Harper's Bazar June 1879

Back:
Back - Harper's Bazar June 1879

I drafted the overskirt (yellow print) from Fashions of the Gilded Age & used Truly Victorian Tie Back Underskirt (solid yellow & pink). I am going to add 2 more pleated ruffles to the underskirt but I wanted to see where the hem of the overskirt would hit before adding these ruffles.

For the bodice I am going to use the Truly Victorian French Vested Bodice as a base. I will alter the back to make it more appropriate for the Natural Form Era. Then I need to figure out how to modify the front to get the crossed effect above the printed “vest” part in the fashion plate. Hmmmmmm. I haven’t fully worked that part out in my head yet but I hope once I start on the pattern that things will fall into place.

6 comments:

Chara Michele said...

It looks so lovely already! I can't imagine sewing in such a small space:) I have half a room to myself for sewing and I still manage to take over the other half (which is supposed to be my husband's office:).

Anonymous said...

Nice to see you back again.
Love the dress and the pics on Flickr are fantastic. Love the bodice.
I can see you are on top of yourself in your little home.
Hope to hear more soon
Hugs Fiona

Rebecca said...

it's gorgeous, but too much pink to suit me. and this is for you? no doubt you'll look lovely and victorian-appropriate, too!

Connie B said...

I love the colour! For some silly reason, whenever I contemplate a Victorian pattern, all I can picture is dowdy black or cranberry. Yours is so pretty

LLA said...

Wow, Wow, Wow! That is some seriously gracious lovely right there...

But even more exciting, to "hear" from you again! I've been missing you and wondering how the wilds of NM have been treating you!

Anonymous said...

You are Truly Talented!
And i love victorian fashion....keep it up ;)