Friday, November 27, 2009

New Day Dress Bodice

Greetings to all you dear folks. I do hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving yesterday and may I likewise extend my wishes that you all have many leftovers to make tonights dinner prep a breeze.
We had a nice Thanksgiving although we all are sick. The bronchitis has left us but now a stuffy sinusy and runny nose type sickness has taken its place. We were not able to have our friends over as planned so we had a quiet family meal together and later in the evening David set up the Christmas tree and we watched The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. I was too sick to feel like decorating last night so we plan to do that this evening instead. I have rearranged the living room and put the lights on the tree. The older two boys keep trying to blow them out. I suppose they think they are like the candles they recently had on their birthday cupcakes. Alas. Electric lights aren't as fun as real ones. The durn things won't blow out and the poor boys are blowing themselves ragged.
I got quite sick late Wednesday. I've been working on a sewing job for a customer but since I was so sick I decided to put her things up for a little while so I wouldn't spread germs to her gowns. Instead I started a new day dress for myself. After all, it is getting colder and colder and so far I have only made one new dress for winter time. This one I wanted more of an early 1830's style. I used the same basic bodice pattern as for my pink gown but am making the sleeves a tad bigger. Instead of gathering the fashion fabric at the waist, I darted the lining as usual but tucked the fashion fabric and tacked the pleats down by hand. The sleeves have a slender undersleeve with a full puff sleeve mounted on top of that. Bethany has recently posted a great instructional article on how to make these style sleeves. The neckline I cut in a V shape. I want to make a chemisette to wear with this dress but haven't decided if I want a standing frill style or a collared style. I love how the frilled styles look but I have no idea how I'd keep the fabric starched well enough to hold the shape. I'm hoping to finish it up today. All it really needs is the skirt attached and the hooks sewn on. Then hopefully I'll feel well enough to get back to my work sewing once more.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Love,

Sarah

18 comments:

  1. Lovely dress, Sarah! I really like how your sleeves are turning out and the fabric you are using!

    I am praying that you all get better soon!

    Blessings,
    Bethany

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  2. As always, beautiful work. Very sorry to hear you are all still sick. :( I know it can just feel miserable to constantly have some sickness or other hanging about the house. Hopefully you'll be over it soon -- sending prayers up for you all. Happy Thanksgiving, my friend.

    -Amy

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  3. Very pretty dress. You are so talented. I hope you start feeling better soon. I hate it when sickness just lingers and lingers. Have fun decorating. Love ya!

    Lauren

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  4. I should have looked at your blog before I emailed you about any new sewing projects lol :P.
    Hope you feel better soon!

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  5. Oh yes, what a lovely way to end a Thanksgiving evening by watching The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe :)

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  6. What a coincidence, I'm starting on my 1830'dress this week! Having chucked my adjustable waist dress in the corner (not literally) because it *will* *not* look right, I need a dress that goes together fast and looks well, a near impossibility with me. I'm praying for a smooth ride on the new one. Yours looks great.

    Paris

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  7. I'm so sorry that you are all still under the weather. I pray you all feel well soon!
    The dress is looking lovely indeed!

    I pray you have a restful night!

    Lots of love,
    Sommer

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  8. Love your historical dresses! I've been wanting to sew on for a long time, but since I don't go to any historical affairs, I wouln't know where to wear one.
    Any suggestions? I'am looking so forwatd to wear one!
    Love,
    Betty

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  9. Thank you all for your well wishes! I think we are all getting better. When sickness has to run its course through five people, all at different rates of recovery, it does seem to take awhile to get rid of.

    I CANNOT wait to see your dress Paris!! What pattern are you using, or are you making up your own? I think 30's styles will be sooo pretty on you. Are you making early 30's with the big upper pouf or late 30's with the low pouf?

    Betty, there may be lots of places you could wear a historical gown, depending on where you live. Right here in the midwest, in our local vicinity, there is a c. 1840's historical courthouse museum, an 1830's timber log house historic site, Lincoln's New Salem (1830's reconstructed village), plenty of Lincoln-era sites in our capitol of Springfield, a lesser-known but to me, well-beloved 1840's/1850's era Jubilee College where each year there is usually also a medieval Faire, a schoolhouse/farmstead mid-19th century site, just a little drive away is a late 19th century restored village. These are just some of the places around here that one would wear historical gowns to, either as specatators or volunteers or reenactors.

    One good way to find out about such sites is to contact any local historical societies you have nearby. Usually they are thrilled to have someone interested in local history and you may find lots of opportunities to wear historical gowns.

    Also, if you have any dance groups in your area check those out too. Around here we have dance groups that perform dances from pre-Revolution to post-1940 - lots of room for lots of historic styles!

    This time of year it is especially fun to don historic costume to go Christmas Caroling. Nursing homes are great places to go where the residents usually have great interest in the older styles.

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  10. P.S. I forgot to add that since I reallly love historic styles so much I just wear them on an everyday basis. Why not wear a gown in a style you love all the time? :)

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  11. Lovely new gown, Sarah! I still am boggled at the way you manage to have time for so much sewing whilst keeping house and watching three active boys!

    I hope you all recover quickly, and I'm glad you had a nice Thanksgiving. Sometimes the quiet ones are the best. :-)

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  12. Sarah, I'm using the Past Patterns 1830's pattern for a base but I'm making it front opening. The sleeves are either going to be a way tamed down gigot or a coat sleeve type deal as pictured on one of the dresses from the Tasha Tudor collection. The first one will be in a homespun, that way all the tweaking will be done on a less expensive fabric before I buy the repro Colonies Cheddar & Poison Green fabric that I really want. I need to finish the baby dress that I started last night first, but that's OK because I'm nervous about getting involved in another dress quagmire anyway. :-)
    Paris

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  13. I can't wait to see how this dress turns out Sarah! We shall be twins maybe?! lol

    Glad beth's tutorial was able to help you get the sleeve you wanted. Can't wait to see the finished product!

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  14. Thanks so much for the tip! It's a start. As for everyday, I don't know, I can't imagine wearing one to the supermarket, imagine all the stares I'd be getting! lol.

    Hope your all feeling better,
    Love,Betty

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  15. I have been silently reading your blog for months now without ever commenting. Your work inspires me. Thank you for sharing such great thoughts and projects.
    I would like to add a link to your blog on mine. Please let me know if this is okay with you.

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  16. Betty, actually I don't usually notice really odd looks at the grocery store. But maybe I'm just oblivious to them, I don't know. :) I usually stay at home all the time so it's no big deal for me to wear these kind of dresses everyday. If I had a job and went "out" every day, I might feel differently and a little awkward, I don't know.

    Rachel, that is very kind of you! I would be honored to have a link from your blog. Thank you very much!

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  17. So lovely! The fabric *is* so beautiful!!

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Thank you for your lovely thoughts!