Well, it started as a square...

For April's Historical Sew Monthly's challenge (circles, squares and rectangles), I decided a finishing up a fichu was a good (and easy) idea. And it went toward finishing with one of my current outfits. I like using the challenges as inspiration to get things finished that I have left lying around.

It all started easily enough as a nice square, but because of the body and crispness of the silk gauze,  when it was doubled and put around my neck, it was like huuuuuuuge. Way too much of a good thing. So, I cut it in half, and then kept trying on and trimming until it looked ok. It ended up resembling one of the shaped-neckline kerchiefs, like this one, from the Manchester Art Gallery.

A Bow Tie and Accessories for The Derby

I bought this horse print cotton a while ago with no real intention for it. When I started packing for the Derby I had a lightbulb moment!

It started with the bow tie, and that was so easy I went onto the pocket square and eventually did up some cufflinks for good measure. A lot of matchy matchy for everyday wear, but for the Derby, it was tame!

Like the ladies with their hats, gents at the Derby go all out! Bright colors and horsey prints were everywhere. And I have never seen so much seersucker! It was a lot of fun to see all the fun menswear. I can't imagine many of the outfits could be worn anywhere else!

Vogue 7464 Goes to Kentucky

When I'm not sewing, my other passion is horses. 

This year we were lucky enough to attend the Kentucky Derby, which has been on my list since, well, forever. The tickets we got were actually for two days, the Oaks day and the Derby day. I bought a hat for the Derby (I found a totally rad one and couldn't pass it up), but for the Oaks day I decided to make my hat.

Pink is the color of the day for the Oaks; it's the Race for the Lilies. So, pink it was!

So, this is happening...

It may take years, but hey, gotta start sometime! It's one of my favorite gowns and I thought, hey, why the hell not?!

Metropolitan Museum of Art
1991.204a, b

Ah, sigh. I can't wait!

1930's Undies

To go under my beach pyjamas, I needed some era appropriate undies. I chose white crepe de chine, so they would look better under the very obvious facings of the white linen pants. Crepe de chine also has the advantage of sewing easily and it washes well, too. 

These are made up from Mrs. Depew #2023. I am really liking these print at home patterns. So convenient! I like them even more now that I got one of those guillotine paper cutters. Oh my, the cutting of the paper edges goes SO fast now! Highly recommended!

These were done with a mix of machine and hand sewing, so they went together quite fast. The hand sewing was really only needed for the fiddly bits, like the button holes and gusset.

The waistband was faced with self-bias and the hem was just turned up and stitched. I can see these being a lot of fun to make up with a lace hem or embroidery. 

So, after being in the 20's and 30's so many months in a row, I just dove into the giant UFO pile and lined up a selection of things to finish up. Expect to see some 1780's and 1860's coming soon! Back to the really fun stuff!

Have a happy Sunday, all!

More Beach Pyjamas!

Oh, these are so fun! 

My second set of lounging pyjamas, in polkadot silk crepe de chine, made from Wearing History's Lounging at the Lido pattern. 

Beach Pyjamas for HSM 3: The Great Outdoors!

For ages I've been in love with beach pyjamas. They have such a great look! I especially love the styles from the 1930's. I've been on a bit of a thirties kick recently...

Well, I took a recent trip to the beach as an excuse to make some. I was only going to make one, but got a little carried away and made two! Yay! One from earlier in the decade and another pyjama outfit from the later 30's. 

Oh, and then I threw in a 1920's negligee (which just looks a heck of a lot like a modern beach coverup) for good measure. It was a very productive couple of weeks! 

Today, I will start with my favorite, the later 30's set.