1912 Dinner Gown | Take Two

After stressing, thinking, planning, and stalling, I finally started the second mock-up of my 1912 gown. 

Things that needed changing from the first mock-up:

1. The skirt was horribly uneven. I mean, it was BAD!

2. It was too tight. I don't understand it, but when I measure my dress form, she meets my measurements, but when I try to do things on her, she seems to shrink. 

3. The darts. This is mostly what I was stressing about. I was okay with how the darts were on the 1st mock-up, but kept wondering how side darts would look, since they'd be covered up by the overlay anyway, and it would look more similar to Sybil's dress. I went back and forth for so long, trying to decide if it was really worth it to have to re-do the whole bodice just for 2 little darts. In the end, I decided to try it because I'd kick myself later if I didn't. And I am SO thankful that I did, because I like it a ton better now!

4. I needed to try it with some drape-y fabric. The fabric I used for the first one served it's purpose of holding shape really nicely, but I needed to see how it looks with something that isn't stiff. I have no idea what this fabric is made of, since it was just in our stash, but the drape was similar to the silk I'll be using for the real thing, so it worked perfectly. Plus I liked the color... and it's more fun to work on something that is bright and cheery. 

Here are the photos of the 2nd mock-up. It will have a lace shawl/overlay on the top, and a beaded waistband. And again... I didn't iron the skirt, so it's wrinkly. Sorry.

So now I just have to rip it all apart, and get started on the real thing! Whoopy! I got my Edwardian shoes, my jewelry (it's not exactly Edwardian/Titanic, but it's really pretty, and I don't get a chance to wear it very often, because it is so formal), my gloves ( !!! ), so I just need my dress, and a hairstyle. 

Oh, and here's a photo of my little boy for your enjoyment. It's a little blurry, but he wasn't too thrilled about getting put in an outfit and didn't want to stay still. He looks quite dashing, don't you think?

Quote of the Day

"The written notes seem to me just the physical bodies of the tones. Is it not strange that one black dot can stand for such sweetness or pain, fear, anger, peace, love, or praise?"

-Doris Avery, The House of Love

It's been a while since I posted a quote. I came across this one a couple days ago, and just loved it. What can I say? I love music!

Of Corsets, Colonial Dresses, Liberty Day, Illness and Spring

I've been terrible about blogging lately. But (as always) I have excuses. :)

1. I have a puppy. And puppies require attention. So my time for things such as sewing, singing and blogging are somewhat limited to when he sleeps.

2. I've been sick. And it wasn't just a cold. It was a terrible flu virus thing that had me on the couch without being able to get up without fainting for 10 days.

3. It is spring. And I enjoy spending time outdoors, rather than in front of a computer screen when it is 75º, with a light breeze, sunny, birds singing, ducks swimming in the pond and altogether perfect weather.

Okay, so now I've got rid of those excuses, let's get down to sewing, shall we? Prepare yourself for a picture-heavy post.

Late is better than never, and I'm finally getting pictures of the 1912 corset and chemise that I made a while ago. I already told you about the corset here and here, so I won't talk too much about that. The chemise I made without a pattern, just fitting it on the dress-form. I had the basic idea of how I wanted it to look in my head, and just pinned and cut until it was what I wanted. To make it match the corset, I put the blue trim on the top and arm-cycles and added lace. I rather like it.

Apologies for the wrinkles... it's had the corset on it for the past few weeks!

The back of the chemise

It closes in the front with a hook and eye

Now for the corset pictures...

A little closer look of the front

Eyelets down the back. It's so exciting when you finish the last one and then look at your neatly hand-sewn eyelets!

Recently my friend came over for two days and we sewed a colonial dress for her. It was a really fun project, and I loved the fabric she chose. It suited her perfectly! We used this pattern, but did a  different sleeve ruffle, (no flounce and lace), and altered the bodice to fit right. She wore it to Liberty Day (the same event Patrick Henry's costume was made for), and she looked absolutely gorgeous! But what else would you expect when you put a gorgeous girl in a colonial dress?? I really need to get pictures of her *in* the dress, but for now, you'll just have to deal with only seeing it on the dress form.

Isn't the fabric darling?

  I adore ruffles on sleeves.

...and I also adore pleats.

Oh, and speaking about Liberty Day. I was rather afraid I wasn't going to be able to go to it, because I had *just* gotten over being sick. That would have been a big bummer, because my Dad was playing his violin in the evening performance and I did music arranging for it and had been looking forward to it for quite sometime. But in the end, I only missed the conference part of Thursday and Friday, but made it all day Saturday, which was loads of fun! And the music went really well! :) I don't have any pictures (my sister only came for part of the evening, and you all know by now that she is the photographer in the family), but I still have some great memories! Maybe if we get some video footage I can post some of the music for you all to hear! :) I was very thankful that my sister *did* make it for the dance at the end, because she called the Virginia Reel and if she hadn't made it *I* would have had to call, and probably wouldn't had done such a great job and she did! :)

Upcoming posts about more Titanic stuff should be coming soon.... if I would just set to work and sew Mock-Up #2. :) But I really don't get as much sewing done as I should when this adorable face wants all my attention:

Alright... that should bring you all up to date on my life. :) Now get off the computer and enjoy the beautiful spring weather!