An Unusual Sight

On the way home last night I was passed by a truck pulling a trailer containing a cannon and flying a Confederate flag. I assume they were headed home from the Gettysburg festivities, but it was definitely odd to be driving along with a cannon pointing toward me.

Sewing!

For the first time in a couple of weeks I actually spent a little time sewing, not knitting or cross-stitching but actually sewing! I had cut out the pieces for my late 1860's crinoline while waiting for the washer repairman a couple of weeks ago and stuffed them in my sewing drawer. Last night I pulled them out, ran up the seams, and put in the hem/bottom bone casing.

From a quick holding it up around my waist, I can tell I'll have to take it in at the waist, but I want to get the bottom bone in there so I can work on leveling it at the same time I take it in. The only times I've seen this pattern made up, the crinoline had a distinct droop at the back, something I want to avoid in my version.

I'm using the pattern for an 1866 crinoline that used to be on the VandE Historic Costuming website but is no longer there. The Dreamstress made one, but that's the only other one I've seen made up. I'm using an 1868 plate from Harper's Bazar that's printed in Reconstruction Era Fashions as inspiration so I'm going to skip all the ruffles and the flounce.

So far it looks like it will go together reasonably well. I hope so because my goal is to finish it and a petticoat by the end of the month while still devoting a lot of time to my husband's cross-stitch picture