In The Beginning

Lissa (my fellow seamstress) and I began our gowns today. Well, actually I started cutting out the pattern pieces a few nights ago before I went to bed (usually I can't sleep until my mind has been emptied a little by doing something). And it is not the ball gown, but a day dress that will be worn before the dance as we walk around the town. The ball gown was getting too complicated, and I was confusing myself, so I settled for a simple, but elegant day dress to get my inspiration flowing before attempting the exquisitely detailed ball gown.

I found the perfect fabric at a secret place I think only Lissa and I know about (don't even try to get it out of me). It is an iridescent taffeta that looks, blue, purple, gray. or brown depending on the angle of the light. A photo would not do it justice. I am using the pattern above with a few personal touches.

First, I would like to make the bottom of the bodice slightly more pointed to add a touch of high fashion (very pointed bodices were very fashionable). Then , I am going to add a different collar which goes down further and resembles a collar on a modern blouse - the kind that fold out to the sides and make a narrow "v" shape below the neck. I might make the collar out of a different taffeta to give it more color.

And last, but not least, I am going to sew the entire gown by hand! Yes, it will take forever, but I know that it will look so much better, and I will be able to make it just perfect with the control a needle and thread give me. The sewing machine is very nice for those things we don't really see, but a gown of this quality needs the detail and perfection of hand-stitching.

A Head Start

It is once again time to begin my gown for the first ball of the year (in June). This will be the third year that my friend and I have been attending the Civil War balls in Virginia City. We look forward to them so much that we begin designing our gowns far in advance simply because we love to feel like we're in a different era for a few days every year ( we would probably do it more often if we could!).

This year I am drawing my inspiration from the three fashion plates above. The two yellow gowns and the white and blue one on the right of the center plate mainly. The fabric is a light periwinkle satin, and I am going to trim it with light peach lace.

Yes, we may be a little crazy, but this is what we love doing.

I will keep you updated on my progress, and I hope to have some photos soon.

The Problem With Wool

This is a dress I made recently. Well, I am still working on it. Because it is made of a very heavy wool, the hem isn't laying flat, so I will have to take it out and try something different. It is hard to see in the picture, but the fabric is a dark blue/black herringbone wool (an ebay find). There are also two side pockets that I think would look nice with some embroidery.

A Quick Glance Back

This is a dress I made last summer out of $2/per yard blue - grey fabric. It is a polyester/cotton shirting - type of fabric with a subtle stripe pattern. This dress was so much fun to make! I had never really done buttonholes, so it was good practice since I had to do so many of them. The buttons are a shiny iridescent blue that adds same personality to the more subdued color of the fabric. I feel so pretty and girly in this dress. It even makes a lovely rustling sound when I move!