Hard to believe, but I SEWED. Really sewed. For me.

[gwendolyngrey]

It's felt like an eternity since I was last able to say this regarding any new sewing project, but I finished my new Civil War day dress!

*cue confetti*

I'll definitely add more trim before I wear it next, but it feels SO good to have something new!  I wore it this past weekend at the Mariner's Museum for their 150th anniversary event of the Battle of Hampton Roads (the fight between the Moniter and the Merrimac).  Obviously, I had very little to do with the naval history side of things, but myself and a few other ladies had a display of various sewing and needlework and fashions which we talked about and gave demonstrations of.  It was a long weekend and very exhausting, but quite fun.  It's always so refreshing to be able to do Civil War events every now and then...

But more importantly; the dress! 



It's made of silk taffeta, which languished in my stash for a long time on the grounds that I already had too many blue costumes... but considering I don't wear them all at once, that reason fell apart under the weight of a non-existant budget.  The bodice lining and hem facing are brown polished cotton, and the trim is velvet ribbon.  Hopefully next time this dress appears in public there will be a great deal MORE ribbon on it.

I also finally got pictures of the sontag I crocheted over a year ago.  This weekend was very chilly, and I was able to put it to good use.





And then the wind picked up, and I flew.

Comments

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Really lovely work! I can see why you have a number of blue costumes--it's a great color on you.

[idlewild-grey.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I do love using blue, but I really really have to start branching out a bit... ;)

[reine-de-coudre.livejournal.com]

oh, it's SO pretty! and i love the red accessories with it! hurray for new dresses! :D

[idlewild-grey.livejournal.com]

Thank you! There's nothing quite like having a new dress after a long dry spell! :)

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

That's lovely!

[girliegirl32786.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous work! That is a really lovely shade of blue.

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Whee! I like the flying picture! :D

Yay for a new dress - it looks great! And such a pretty color.

[demode.livejournal.com]

Very pretty! And you made the scale right for you.

[idlewild-grey.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I feel like getting the scale right is perhaps THE most important thing when patterning historic clothing, so that's a really lovely compliment!

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

So pretty! It looks absolutely perfect.

[ktlovely.livejournal.com]

Very lovely! Beth Miller-Hall earrings, by any chance?

[idlewild-grey.livejournal.com]

I think so? They were a Christmas present which Nicole picked up when we were in Gettyburg. I love them. :)

[ktlovely.livejournal.com]

They're adorbs, and they're a great size for you. I know that sounds a little silly but we've discussed how things should be to-scale before. *maybe a weeeeee bit jealous* ;)

[the-aristocat.livejournal.com]

It's so beautiful! And I think it looks quite perfect even with less trim.

[idlewild-grey.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I do like the clean look of less trim, but since I get bored easily it's better if the dress eventually changes. ;)

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

You look amazing!

[idlewild-grey.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I had lots of fun, but now it's full steam ahead on Titanic stuffs!

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

Yay Titanic stuffs - I can't wait to see your creations! :>

[ashamanja-babu.livejournal.com]

Pretty! It's so nice to sew for one's self.

[idlewild-grey.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It certainly is... what with sewing all day at work, it's kind of amazing to be able to have and wear something of my own!

[marcine.livejournal.com]

Very pretty! I love the pointed bodice.

[jade-nolan.livejournal.com]

The fact that you made a Civil War dress that you might even cajole me into, I think you know how much that says! ;)

[idlewild-grey.livejournal.com]

Wow! That certainly says a lot! And it's all about the clean lines... I'll bet there would actually be a fair number of dresses I could manage cajole you into. ;)

[jade-nolan.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right about the lines! It looks clean and polished and sophisticated all at once :) And I think the other that you do really well is let the garment speak for itself. The fabric doesn't overshadow and hide the lines. *sigh* And yes, as much as I hate to admit it, there probably are quite a few you get me to at least try on.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

Very pretty! don't feel bad about having so much blue in your dress up wardrobe - it suits you, so why not!!?!!
I love your sontag though, so much! What pattern did you use? I couldn't find a crochet pattern, only knitting. I don't knit, but I love to crochet, I tried to make up my own pattern, didn't work :(