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10/10/11

This blog has moved!!

Permalink 01:33:22 pm, by Heather McNaughton Email , 30 words   English (US) latin1
Categories: Dress Diary

I am moving this blog to another sever.

You can keep up with new posts at www.trulyvictorian.net/blog1/

That is with a .net instead of the .com.  Thank you very much!!

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10/07/11

The 1861 Raphael dress - Episode 1

Permalink 03:20:30 pm, by Heather McNaughton Email , 675 words   English (US) latin1
Categories: Dress Diary

I love the idea of a dress diary, and enjoy reading the how-and-why journey of other people's blogs.  So I have decided to make the foray into my own diary.  Usually, I don't think about writing a diary until the dress is almost finished.  But this dress will take some time, and here I am at the beginning.

So here is the plan, an 1861 Raphael Evening Dress.   I ran across some fashion plates of this dress while looking for something else.  The first plate was Petersons November 1860, the second was Petersons January 1861.  It was love at first sight, and I knew right away that I need to make a pattern for this dress.  My sister jumped on it as well, and was able to coombine the two plates into a fabulous illustration for the new pattern.  Originally, the dress on the left, the polka dot one, had only 5 flounces, but Laura changed it to reflect the 7 flounces I want the pattern to have. Here is  the converted pic:


I had recently read an online article about cotton organdy, and thought I would see if I could find some for this dress.  Ebay has quite a bit from India, so I made a purchase of 20 yards.  It is a beautiful yellow with woven plaid stiff organdy.  It may be too stiff for what I like, but hopefully it will work out fine.  The good part is that it is amazingly sheer.
I tried washing it to see if it lost any stiffness, but no, whatever finish they used is permanant.  Yay, that the fabric stayed light and sheer, rather than puffing up and becoming a fat cotton weave.  (Which I have had happen before with other fabrics.)

My first thought with this design, was the seven rows of ruffles all need to be hemmed.  Hemming 40+ yards  of ruffle sounded to tedious, I wanted to come up with something better.  I had bought a used Designer 1 Ebroidery machine a year ago and I never used it, so I decided to save the  time and energy of hemming by embroidering an edge on my ruffles.  Of course, this meant I had to buy a program, and fortunately, the one I wanted happened to be in stock at JoAnns.   $200 later purchaseing the needed items for the embroidery machine and I was in business.

Now the hard part, getting out the manuals and remembering how to use the silly machine.  After several hours and test runs, I finally figure out the best way to get the job done.  I am going to cut doubel wide strips of fabric, sew them together in a long strip, and sew 2 rows of edging back-to-back.  2 ruffles  with one hooping.  I have a continuous hoop, so it is pretty easy to  keep moving down the stip.  Of course, I have to monitor the machine, and cut the fabric away in the middle of each pattern, reset for the next section, repeat.  It is taking my about 20 minutes for each 1/2 section, which is 6" long.  At this rate, I figure it will take me about 3 weeks to make enough ruffles for the skirt.  Hows that for saving time.  I should have just hemmed the thing and been done in a few hours.


But I have to admit, it looks awesome.  Because the one side is mirrored of the other, I think I will alternate the rows on the skirt with a left facing ruffle and then a right facing ruffle.  Not sure anyone will notice, but heh, I will know.



I have already drafted out the pattern for the bodice, so I think I will get started on that this weekend.  I will most likely get it done before these ruffles are ready!!!

I still need to find some yellow lace for inbetween the ruffles, JoAnns had some, but not enough.  Maybe I can order more?  And I need some yellow tulle for the sleeve puffs.   I did fond some green ribbon in my stash, so will use that for some bows or some other accent.
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10/06/11

New pattern - 1863 Sheer Dress

Permalink 11:47:42 am, by Heather McNaughton Email , 70 words   English (US) latin1
Categories: New Patterns

If you saw some pretty summer sheer dresses at your reenactments this summer, and now you want one for yourself for next year, we have the pattern for you!  Light and airy, with a half-high lining, it will keep you cool and comfortable on the hot days in the field.

TV447 - 1863 Sheer Bodice

You can find this pattern available now, or get more information,  at the
Truly Victorian Catalog - TV447.
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09/11/11

New Edwardian Blouse Pattern

Permalink 11:55:47 am, by Heather McNaughton Email , 68 words   English (US) latin1
Categories: New Patterns

 


 

I guess I forgot to list my latest pattern for our Edwardian line!

This is the 1903 Plain Blouse - TVE41.  It has the pouch front, center closure, and the sleeve full at the wrist;  all popular features of the Early Edwardian styles. It is a perfect match for with the 1903 Trumpet Skirt - TVE21

You can find more details at the Edwardian section of the Truly Victorian catalog!

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08/01/11

Costume College 2011, what a weekend it was.

Permalink 05:09:39 pm, by Heather McNaughton Email , 117 words   English (US) latin1
Categories: In Other News

Truly Victorian only does one show a year anymore, and that show is Costume College.  And having just come back from a fantatic weekend, I just want to say Thank You!! to all the wonderful people who were there.

I can't tell you how huge a treat is it to see so many wonderfull outfits, so many happy faces, and be around so much enthusiasm and good will.  You all have rejuvenated my  own enthusiasm and energy, and I have come away with so much I would like to accomplish in the next year.

I had a super wonderful weekend, and I hope everyone else had as much fun as I did.  See you all next year!!

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