Uhh, look at that!

This is my first Victorian dress, I made it in the spring/summer of 2010. I'm really proud of this dress, as I made it without any real know-how about sewing and pattern making. At the time my knowledge came from historic costume books and google. I remember spending many hours online to figure out just the design of the dress. I'm glad that I didn't know how much goes into making a dress such as this or I might have never made it to begin with. It taught me a lot.

 ... and I won 2. prize in an online contest! Whoo! Scroll down the list and you'll see me...

There are many things wrong with this ensemble, but it still looks good. The sleeves are so, so wrong. I had problems moving my arms... I mean at all, there where barely any up-and-down movement, let alone back-and-forward with the first set of sleeves I made. So I made 2 new upper sleeves not knowing that that was not the problem. The new ones as seen in the picture, gave me a bit more movement, The problem was the back of the dress. I have wide shoulders and back so I need more room in the back than the average Jane. First lesson of many.


The start:
I used this pattern I found in Norah Waugh book "The Cut of Women's Clothes 1600-1930" as my basic pattern for my bodice. I enlarge it on my computer and printed it out and taped it together.

 After 2 mock-ups (without trying the sleeves) I started on the bodice. I learned from looking a pictures from ebay, how I was going to make it up.

I basted the lining (ramee fabric) to the silk the best I could, then I tried it on with the sleeves set in and you already know how that went. I then bound the seams with silk ribbon normally used for ribbon embroidery, with fast uneven stitches, as it was done in the day. It's such a nice way to finish a bodice and it doesn't take super long to do.

I found this to be a great way of making covered buttons.















This are the cuffs that are then sowed on to the sleeves and trimmed with covered buttons. I used the 'Perfect Pleater" to make the pleats. Hurts your fingers but worth it.

I don't really have any more pictures of the dress in making, but I have of the hat I made to go with this outfit.

I bought a straw hat and took I apart and put it together again the way I wanted it to look, Not really hard to do, but like anything els, practice makes perfect.

The finished hat, trimmed with vintage brown moire ribbon, ostrich feathers and artificial flowers. I combined 3 feathers and sowed them together and then with a little help from the stream iron made it fall just right.





I hope this shows you that with a little knowledge and a lot spirit you can do it! and next time, you will have a little more knowledge and make an even better one... unless you are me... (Ô_o)