1800's Red Silk Spencer

[atherleisure]

With some Regency events coming up through the winter and spring, I thought a spencer would be in order. I finished it up last week, and I think it will suit nicely. It's based on a brown holland spencer in Costume in Detail dated to about 1810. The original is unlined, but mine is lined with cotton.

The pattern is based on the pattern I draped for my pelisse a couple of years, but I put the front on the straight of grain instead of the bias. It took about a 1.25 yd of fabric and lining and 2 yd of ribbon for ties. The belt pins closed.

The body and collar are handsewn, but I had the machine out for something else near the end of the project and ended up doing most of the work on the sleeves by machine.









The trim on the back is silk sewn over cardboard bases with tassels glued to the back. The threads of the tassels were too had to sew down so they got glued. It's not hot glue so maybe it's period!

Comments

[hiraimi.livejournal.com]

Simple, but so pretty! I really, REALLY like the diamonds+tassels. Like a lot. 'Scuse me while I stare at them....

[atherleisure.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I like the tassels myself. Feel free to stare.

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Looks awesome! The back decorations are great! Tassels are such a period-perfect trimming for spencers.

[atherleisure.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's pretty much all based on the one in Costume in Detail.

[ashamanja-babu.livejournal.com]

Quite lovely!

[jaelie.livejournal.com]

Are the sleeves cuffed? I like the tassels and diamonds, and the peplum. What a lovely touch!

[atherleisure.livejournal.com]

Yes, the sleeves are cuffed. Other than the material, I tried to copy the one in Costume in Detail as closely as I could. I just didn't bead the diamonds because I couldn't find any beads that I liked with my tassels.