At Her Leisure

I made an early 1930's dress from a navy and ivory striped wool/rayon blend fabric back in the late spring or early summer. It was part of the run-up to Costume College so I didn't get pictures taken right away and didn't get it posted. I wore it on the Queen Mary and again for awhile on Sunday at Costume College.



The pattern is from Bright Young Things on Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1474840893/1930s-30s-vintage-sewing-pattern-summer). I scaled it down from a 38" bust to a 36" bust. I really like the pleating details in the skirt that release a lot of extra fabric at the knee. It's based off an original pattern from a 1932/33 German pattern magazine.





The neckband is the same navy silk twill that I made the slip for my 1920's navy voile dress from. There are problems with the neckband pieces. One of them says to cut both center back and center front on the fold, but it is not a full half-circle so that's impossible. The other doesn't align with the placement line on the bodice pieces. I think I had to make it have a tighter radius.

The pattern didn't discuss fastenings, and it actually fit fine to pull it over my head without fastenings of any sort so that's what I did.

I like the way it came out, and the fabric is very nice.

I wasn't quite sure how I wanted to handle the medieval gown so I started the 1930's dress. As with most modern sewing, it's moving along pretty quickly. There's been a lull in all needlework this week because the band solo contest is on Saturday, and I'm accompanying all of the children. We've been practicing every night. That doesn't mean no needlework has been accomplished, just that it's not very much. The 1930's dress made good progress over the weekend, and I've done a little cross-stitching this week.

I also decided I really wanted to make a bag to go with the 1930's dress. Last year I felt like I really needed more period bags to carry my things in. I remembered that I had bought this pattern: https://www.etsy.com/listing/210070057/1940s-beret-and-bag-vintage-pdf-knitting. It doesn't cut into my sewing time, at least not much, because knitting I can do while riding in the car or eating lunch or attending the band boosters meeting or whatever. I stopped at the yarn store down the street on Monday and bought yarn and started it. It's been a fast knit so far - I've finished all the main parts of the bag and just have the handle left to make. I need to get everything pressed and sewn together, but it's not a rush. I'll probably also be able to make the beret in time for Costume College, though I have another hat that will also do so it's definitely in the completely optional category.