Just after Christmas time I was asked to join some friends in attending a Jane Austen Romance Ball. Aaron did not refuse the invitation to join me so I quickly started a frenzy of costume study, fabric shopping and sewing. I started out with these patterns:
I don't think I will use this Burda 2767 pattern again. The jacket was difficult to follow (I'm pretty sure this was translated from another language and I believe some of the directions were "lost in translation") and there was a piece missing from the pattern that I had to draft myself. Some of the pieces did not line up. Maybe if I had sewn a suit jacket before it might have made more sense. Although the jacket didn't turn out the way I wanted, the pants worked quite nicely.
The corset pattern from Mantua Maker was very easy to follow. If you choose to try this pattern, make sure to read through the pattern BEFORE you buy your supplies. The supply list forgot to mention that you need fabric for interlining and later in the pattern it discusses what type and how much boning you will need for your body type. When cutting out the pattern the only pattern pieces that you need to cut 4 of are the gussets. You don't need 4 strap pieces or 4 center back pieces as the pattern pieces recommend. The other thing that this pattern failed to mention was how to close the back seams. All I did to solve this problem was cut a 4 inch strip of the outer fabric that was the same length as the back seam, sewed it right sides together through all layers and ironed it to the inside BEFORE I added the bias tape. (see picture below).
This pattern from Period Impressions was the easiest to follow during my sewing frenzy. As you will see, I changed the sleeves and had to re-draft the bodice pieces resume modesty. The only thing I would do differently was choose a size larger and hem it a little shorter. Dancing in a floor length dress was a little challenging or maybe it was wearing a corset...
For my purse, I made this from a pattern from Australian Smocking Magazine issue #80 called Velvet truffle. It came together nicely, but I would have added two extra rows to the smocking or sewed a larger seam allowance on the bottom end. It did not quite cover the bottom of the bag.
Results:
Not a very good picture. I wish I would have thought to recharge the battery before the party.
Here is Aaron's "Joseph Smith" shirt. I made the vest out of a very soft deep red velvet. The scarf is out of the same silk my dress was made from. Our secret to the scarf tack, an earring. :)
Here are the pants. I'm not too sure what the flap was used for. It reminds me of a diaper, but I won't let the gentlemen know my thoughts.
Here is the jacket that took me 3 weeks to make. Not my finest work, but it still looked good
Here I am. I thought it turned out handsomely. The only thing I would do differently is make it a little shorter for ease of dancing.
It's an interesting dress. It is a puzzle of sorts. There are no zippers or buttons, no gussets with ribbon. The arms and back are one piece with a long tie that wraps around to the front. The front is a bib with another tie that wraps behind and also ties in the front hence the bow. The bib stays up with straight pins, but I choose to be a little more modern and use safety pins for the safety of my husband.
The purse
I made this necklace/choker with a little silk left over from the sash and a pendent from a necklace my mom sent me a couple of years ago.
I was worried that my hair ribbon would fall out of my hair. For a solution I hot glue gunned the ribbon to a head band...
added some embellishments...
and another ribbon to tie it to my head. Gwen makes a beautiful model, don't you think?
Some of my friends wanted to know what my... ahem... "underthings" looked like. If you wish NOT to know what they were like please go no further. Otherwise, here you go.
Here is the corset I made with the shift (slip that you wear under the corset). I used a cream colored denim for the inter lining and a cotton sateen for the outer fabric. I made my own bias tape out of a white cotton fabric I had laying around. I ordered the busk and boning from
http://www.corsetmaking.com/CMSpages/CMShome.html. It was reasonably priced and arrived quickly.
I took a little time to do a little quilting on the front which adds extra support.
This is the corset turned inside out so you can see where I had to make an addition to the back seams. As you can see I added an extra strip of fabric. I believe I cut about a 4 inch strip for either side. In the end, it adds more support for the grommets. I ordered the lacing from the same place as the boning. It's like a very long shoe lace.
This is a pair of pantaloons that I made for a 1850's pioneer costume a while back. They are very comfortable. I added a few tucks, some lace at the bottom and a little bit of insert to make them pretty of course.
This is the last "underthings" that goes on over the corset. I call it a slip. It fastens with a button on the side. I added some ribbon, a tuck and lace trim for beauty.
So to get dressed this is the order that proceeded. Shift, pantaloons, stocking (this is important to do before the corset because I leaned that a corset makes it hard to bend over), corset, slip, dress, hair accessories and last but not least, shoes. So I felt very tucked in and tight, but feeling beautiful for the ball.
The whole way to the ball I talked to Aaron about how amazed I was that ladies actually wore all this everyday. I can't imagine doing housework in all that. Phew, I have great respect for those who came before us!
