At Her Leisure

I took pictures of my Regency shortgown and petticoat yesterday afternoon. They're both completely hand-sewn and completely from supplies I already had. The main fabrics for each are not only from the stash, they're leftovers from previous projects, which is a kind of double bonus.

Without further ado, here are the pictures.



( More pictures under the cut )
While I was getting dressed up, I tried on my 1790's stays with a couple of different things to see what I need to do to make a dress with the right neckline for them. It looks like the pattern that fits with my 1780's stays has the right neckline for the 1790's stays so that will give me a starting place when I decide to make a 1790's dress. I really don't know when I'm going to do that, but at least I have the information I need to make a first swipe at that project when I am ready for it.

I took a couple of pictures of finished items this morning.

First the evening bodice laid flat on the bed because it doesn't even remotely fit on the dummy, and I didn't care to put on stays and a dress.



I used ideas from a couple of fashion plates, particularly this one held by the Museum of London


and this one, though I'm not sure where it comes from


Second the petticoat, which does fit on the dummy reasonably well.





The construction for it is based on a riding habit in Patterns of Fashion. It has pocket slits and hooks and eyelets on the left, but the right side is sewn to the little bodice.

My project count exploded yesterday. I cut out a pair of shorts from the same pattern that I used for my playsuit shorts last year but in more serviceable brown twill. I cut out three linen Regency bodice linings because it was probably easier to cut three while the linen was out than to get it out again later. I started knitting a vest. So now I have seven projects that are in some state of completion.

The exciting thing is that I'm halfway through the knitting for my shamrock purse!



The center section is running about 30 rows to the inch so I've got about 55 more rows to go before I get back to the much faster-moving and more interesting beading. At least I can read a novel while working this part, even if I wouldn't dare read something serious.

My 1916 dress is progressing. It got some nasty looks for a bit because the chiffon ended up being too opaque to work well with my inspiration image so I'm reworking it a bit. The skirt is making good progress. Currently it's hanging, letting the bias drop. I'll get back to it later this week. I'm not sure how far I'll get since I am having bodice fitting issues that I'll have to resolve. Ah, well.

With the mitts finished, of course I needed another mindless knitting project. The vest is from 1912 pattern book published by Lion Brand yarn.


I suspect the model is not wearing the size given - somehow she looks a lot more buxom than a 34"-36" bust. This is interesting because the back is in single ribbing up to the armscyes, which should ensure that the vest keeps a close fit. We'll see how it goes. I've wanted one of these knitted vests ever since I saw a picture of one from a DAR museum exhibit. (I've linked to it before, but I don't want to go and find it right now.)