Stitch, stitch, stitch... Ahh...

What a nice feeling. I missed sewing!

My husband and I have been fixing up a house and we've been staying there for about a month now. It's been totally fun, but I started to really, really miss my sewing room. I finally went and got some UFO's to work on.

Most of last year was spent in the 19th and 20th centuries, so, it's been a while since I've been in the 1700's, and I really missed it!

I took some time today to get moving on my chintz dress remake. It's coming along!

The sleeves are pinned and ready to be attached and the shoulders fitted. The fronts are basted and ready to be stitched, and the skirt panels are hemmed, ready to be stitched to the bodice. They still have the pleats from before, so hopefully I can easily adjust them to fit the remade bodice. 

Is it bad that I kind of hate the fabric now? It's a little too... bold? I dunno... I will finish it, though!

Quarter back progress, new stays and a new horsey!

Lately, instead of new, shiny, exciting projects, I've been trying to be good and get some things done that I've been meaning to do for a while. 

First, I've been reworking my old chintz gown. I've been reusing the patterned fabric pieces, re-lining with linen (had been cotton), re-shaping for fit and style, and sewing them together in a more period appropriate way.

It still has a long way to go, but I've been avoiding actually putting on stays to try it on and finish it up. I have literally done everything else I could do except try on the darn thing to finish it. Maybe today... I've been lazy.

Speaking of stays, I've started on a new, better-fitting pair. The last pair I made, I love, but they're just too short on me. I did love the yellow linen, though. These will be light blue wool. I traced the pattern from my old stays, adjusting as I went, for a better fit across the bust. Hopefully they will be better. 

So far, over the years, I have made five pairs and bought one, too. Never been completely happy with any of them. Maybe this time!!

And my biggest, most fun news this month... I got a new horse! I just had to share, I'm so excited.

A black silk bonnet, a cotton polonaise and redoing my chintz gown.

I've been spending the last week getting old, half-finished projects out of the bags and boxes they invariably end up in, and finaly finishing them up. Yay me!

Last night was a good one.

I had purchased Hallie Larkin's 18th century bonnet kit a while back, started it, and somewhere along the line, got frustrated attaching the brim to the caul, so I chucked it aside. Last night I pulled it out and had it finished in about an hour and a half. I really don't remember what had been frustrating me so much...

I think I put it together correctly. I'm not really the poster child for following pattern directions, but it looks pretty good. I think I might add a nice big bow to the front. I just have to round up some more black taffeta for that.

Another project that is almost finished is a summery, cotton polonaise I started last year. The jacket and petticoat are basically finished now. All I have left is to add trim. But at least now it's pretty much wearable, if a little boring.

It looks very sad and limp on the dress form :( I'll have to take better pictures of it when it's all trimmed up.

And lastly for today, I made a cotton chintz gown a few years ago. I love the fabric, but my knowledge of historical sewing has advanced since then, and I could never see myself wearing it again and being happy in it. So... I took it apart!

The pattern was J.P. Ryan's anglaise. The pieces still work (and the fabric was too valuable to toss), so I will be resewing them and refitting where necessary, to make it both a better fitting garment and a more historically accurate one. Yay! 

Reusing fabric and updating style... Quite in the 18th century spirit, I'd say :)

Has anyone else ever redone a garment like this?

Independence Day Parade

Happy Independence Day all! I hope everyone has some yummy barbecues and parties to look forward to. And fireworks! Gosh, I love fireworks. 

I'm planning on relaxing the rest of the day because I was up early this morning getting into my 1776 best. Well maybe not my best, but I thought this chintz was red, white, blue and very appropriate.  

I walked with the Southern Nevada Living History Association in a "timeline," ranging from Ancient Rome to WWII. Marina, from Enlightened Age, and I represented the 18th century.

My dress is pulled up through the pockets, to keep it
off the ground. This way of rucking up the robe is called
"retrousse dans les poches," and is not to be confused
with "a la polonaise," which uses tapes.

My red American Duchess Kensingtons. I totally love them. So comfy!

And after the parade was over we popped over to the park and took some cute pictures. I'll have to take better pictures of my accessories and show them in detail. Maybe tomorrow...

Chintzie Has Sleeves and a Skirt Now

Progess...

So she now has sleeves and the skirt has been attached, but not yet hemmed. The edges of the skirt were pressed over and sewn up with a running stitch. The pleats in the back and front are pleated toward the pocket, and the pocket slit is hidden between the pleats. This makes the gown much more attractive, with no chance of a gaping pocket. How embarrassing! Ooo!

The pocket slits are sewn up with a running stitch and are reinforced at the end with a buttonhole stitch and a thread bar. The stitching isn't super small, but the fabric is so crisp, it's not moving anywhere.

Next will be the front closure, the hem, securing the lining, and the petticoat. And when my organdy comes she will get some pretty ruffles.

1785 Robe a l'Anglaise of Chintz

Tonight's project. I've had the fabric and I just felt like starting something new...

This robe a l'anglaise of painted silk is from the Kyoto Costume Institute. The dress is from 1785, but the fabric is from the 1760's. Originally from England. It is boned at the center back and has a trim of pleated sheer fabric (maybe a organdy - and it looks like it's got a rolled edge), folded in half, and wine-colored ribbon. Ignore the neck ribbon, thats not actually part of the original dress. It is also shown with a fichu that blends a bit with the trim.