1810 Friendship Dress

Finally, a completed project post!  Whew! 

I've been so busy sewing things for others that I've completely neglected the blog.  My bad.

Behold!  My 1810 Friendship dress...

Challenge #9: Brown
What I call my friendship dress...
Fabric: brown synthetic shot with burgundy flower pattern. 
Pattern: Laughing Moon 126
Year: 1810-ish
Notions: thread and two straight pins
Accuracy: pattern is based on extant examples. Fabric pattern and style is appropriate, but it is a synthetic. Maybe 70%? 
Hours: about 8 
First worn: photo shoot on Sept 26, 2015
Total cost: $0! 

One day, a lovely friend brought this fabric to me and said, it's just so Meg.  You must wear it!  And so, I did.  As cheesy as it sounds, I feel truly blessed to have people in my life that sacrifice fabric in my honour.  Ok, maybe that was too cheesy...

In preparation for the Regency Sewing Guild's dressmaking class I figured maybe I should make the dress I was going to be teaching.  Probably a good call.  I completed this dress in under 8 hours.  I'm getting faster and more accurate.  Huzzah!

It's made from the Laughing Moon pattern #126, which I absolutely adore!  My heart belongs to Laughing Moon anyway, but this dress pattern is just divine!  It cuts and sews beautifully.  I also discovered that I am exactly a LM size 14.  No adjustments needed.  First time for everything.

I'm pleased to say it was ready in time for my photo shoot with the lovely Natalie D'Aoust photography.  We work together in our 9-5 lives, but have connected through our own creative endeavours.  She agreed to take photos of my outfits!  Yay!

A sneak peak:

How great is it that she travels with a step stool? 

Once the photos are done, I'm sure you'll enjoy them as much as I do.  Can't wait to share!

~M

The To Do List

Since I'm home sick with a cold I think today is an excellent day to take stock.  Between commissions and personal projects I have some many things to do!

I have four regency gowns on the go, with a fifth coming this weekend.  What fun!  I love building dresses for each client to suit their personality and use.

I'm also making some rompers and baby things for a local photographer.  Totally new market, but so nice to try something different!

And did I mention I'm coordinating and designing a friend's wedding?  Yeah, super fun!  A Frozen theme is the best way to start the holiday season.

For me, well...

- Net overlay for my gold silk ball gown.  Beaded, of course, because I can't make my life easy.
- Wool winter coat.
- Miss Fisher trousers
- 1780s Robe a l'Anglaise

That's doable, right?  Right...?

I'm also involved with the newly formed Regency Sewing Guild.  Beginning on October 16th you can join us for Regency stay-making classes complete with tea and scones.  Details here.  The fee includes all the materials and pattern so you just show up, sew, and eat scones.  Did I mention scones...?

Catching my Breath

The past few months have been complete chaos.  Good chaos, but still.

I opened my website mid-July, which took considerable time considering I have so few proper pictures of things I want to showcase.  Check it out at NutmegSews.com!

Have I mentioned how great Instagram is?  It takes wonderful photos!  I know it's just a social media app, but truly the filters make my amateur photography skills look good.  I have professional photos scheduled for September so Instagram will have to do for now.

Now that the site is mostly up and running, I can refocus on my blog.  Oh wait, no, because I have so many new clients!  I'm terribly pleased to be working with some lovely ladies to make a total of 5 Regency gowns.  I took a week off work to try and catch up, though I'm not entirely sure I did.  I have 1.5 dresses done and two projects for me done.  I'm also 2/3 done my friend's wedding favours.   And almost done B's 1932 housecoat.

Yesterday I came home with 20.5m of fabric and I didn't spend a single cent!  Not that you can spend a cent in Canada anymore...

Behold!

I bartered time helping friends for ALL THE FABRIC!  Victory is mine!

August is another super busy month for me.  I'm working a second job as a production assistant, which is terribly exciting, but of course takes time.  As I mentioned, I still have custom work to do.  And of course trying to get as many things as I can into my Etsy shop.  Oh, and did I mention there's another ball coming up?  Details here: Regency Encounters.  So many exciting things!

Clearly writing 'what's next' at the end of my blog posts has nothing to do with which project I actually post next.  I have no idea what I'm finishing next, but it likely won't be for me.  For the September ball I will wear my gold 1811 silk gown.  I've decided to make an open robe to go over top, but who knows if I'll actually finish it.  I also have to fix B's breeches as they were a tad big.  And make myself garters.  And a spencer.  Oi!

I should probably get sewing before I hyperventilate.

Cheers,
~M

Overdue Post and Lost Stays

It's been so long I hardly know what to write!

So many things have happened in the last few months.  First, Regency Encounters was kind enough to host a ball in Calgary.  As you've seen I made an outfit for B to attend with me.  He decided to be more Darcy than Bingley and sit pridefully looking on from the corner.  He did look dashing if I do say so myself.

I finished sewing all our garments on the way to Calgary.  On four hours sleep.  Not my brightest move, but necessary.

Sewing-wise things were quiet for a few months after that until last week I was asked to participate in a promotional photo shoot for an upcoming Regency event: a Promenade and Tea!  How exciting!  That's when I discovered my stays did not come home from Calgary.  They 'stayed' too long at the ball.  (necessary pun)

I already needed a day dress for the Tea, but now I needed stays too.  Somehow I managed to get my new stays and day dress done in 4 days in time for the photo shoot.  Go me!  I still want to add some Van Dyke trim to jazz it up a bit, but I'm quite happy with the stripes.

Photo by Bryan Young/St Albert Gazette

The St Albert Gazette did a wonderful job on the photos and article!  See the whole article here:
http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/20150711/SAG0302/307119981/-1/sag/regency-tea-party-brings-style-to-st-albert

The dress was based around my new bonnet. It was made completely of stash materials, which I'm super happy with.  I recycled some sketchy interfacing, repurposed some satin, and used up the last of the random ribbon I bought for my wedding.  I'm quite pleased with the results.

Up next, a new stove pipe hat and Van Dyke trim.

~M

Regency Waistcoat

Two projects in one weekend.  Boom!

Challenge #4: War & Peace

Fabric: poly brocade, cotton lining

Pattern: Laughing Moon #123

Year: 1806 - 1830

Notions: thread, interfacing, lion buttons

How historically accurate is it? 60%.  Fabric pattern is ok, but not natural.  Modern interfacing.

First worn: Will be worn May 16th

Time: Maybe 4 hours including a fabric store run for the buttons.

Cost:  $8

This was a really easy pattern.  I'm loving Laughing Moon patterns.  Super easy instructions, great diagrams, and a bibliography!  I love how the collar stands up and frames the face.  Obviously will look better once the cravat is done.

Next up is the tailcoat.  Any advice?  I'm feeling a little apprehensive.

~M

Getting Back on Track

My sewing has stalled of late.  I'm working on a gaggle of projects for a Regency ball in May, but stopped to make a lovely Spring dress for myself for a fundraiser I was volunteering for.  It's a beautiful SpoonFlower fabric I bought last year.  It's a buttery yellow with a pink and turquoise flower border.  What could be better for a springtime-themed event?

Of course I was still sewing the day of the event.  Of course.  I just finished the zipper and tried it when I realized that I've somehow changed shape since I padded out my mannequin in January.  The dress was 3" too big!  All that work for naught.

Blast and damn!

I won't lie, this set me back a few weeks.  I was planning to make a new set of Regency stays since I've had so many issues with my February set plus make a new ball gown for May, but it's a tad tricky when you don't have an appropriately sized mannequin.  (Note: I drape as many patterns as I can because I don't particularly like drafting.  Draping cuts out the first round of fitting which saves time when I'm making things for me.)

Last weekend I decided to tackle my stays.  I was debating whether I should stick with the pattern I have or buy a new and start from scratch.  When I get in these indecisive moods it can take quite a bit of time to sort myself out.  I usually spend my time 'researching' on Pinterest and convincing myself of several different things at once affectionately known as procrasti-pinteresting (not a word, just a Meg-ism; note variations as procrasti-sewing, procrasti-cleaning, and procrasti-shopping).  I was also trying to find buttons for B's 1932 housecoat, his frockcoat and vest, and figure out if the silk I bought for my gown was even appropriate or it pogey bait.  For a description on pogey bait, see the Dreamstress' posts here.

Anyway, I decided to stick with my current stays.  I'm trying to limit the amount of UFOs and miscellania I keep around.  Truns out, I only needed to add a busk pocket, tie the ties higher, and take in one hip gusset.  Victory!  I will spare you the photos of my Regency 'shelf' until I have a proper chemise.

Since I'm starting from scratch for B's outfit I've decided to put his sewing first.  As much as I wanted to sew his shirt entirely by hand I just don't have time.  Yesterday I finished the shirt.

Historical Sew Monthly Info

The Challenge: #4 War & Peace. Though I'm also counting this a #1 Foundations since this is the first time I've strayed into men's clothing and done these type of hand stitches.

Fabric: Hankerchief linen

Pattern: Kannik's Korner Man's shirt, 1790-1830

Year: 1790-1830, will be worn for a Regency ball

Notions: Cotton thread, buttons (eventually)

How historically accurate is it? I'd say 70%. Accurate fabric and pattern, but mostly machine sewn. Edges are finished by hand so you can't see the machine stitches.

Hours to complete: 7

First worn: Will be worn May 16 to a ball. Fingers crossed there's a frock coat to go with this or madness will ensue!

Total cost: $32

The vest is cut and ready to be sewn.  Maybe done by tomorrow...?  Then frock coat mock-up.  And I suppose I should make him breeches...

~M

Why I shouldn't carry my own credit card

So... I went fabric shopping yesterday.

Fabric stores in Edmonton are pretty limited.  The cheapest silk I can find is $45/m.  Ouch!  Thankfully we were in Calgary this weekend so I could take time to find a few things I can't get at home.

Since I've convinced my husband, B, to come with me to the Regency ball in May I figured I should maybe make him a costume.  I ordered all the patterns I need from Spencer's Mercantile in Hamilton, Ontario.  I lived 45 minutes away and never knew it existed!

Back to fabric - there's a odd little fabric store in Calgary called Reena's Fabric and Saris.  You'd never know from the outside, but it has a great selection at reasonable prices.  Plus, saris!  Great for making Regency dresses.

We found B's fabrics right away.  Nice cream satin for the breeches, green and gold damask for the vest, and a heavy wool suiting for the tailcoat.

Pretty!

Of course I spent more time figuring out my dress... I was thinking about making a crossover dress, but now I'm thinking I should make a gold gown with a red overdress.  Yes, I think yes.  Now that I've written here I'll stick to it.  Yes...

Sari with beads already attached!  Yay!

 New projects are exciting and all, but I still have to finish B's 1930s housecoat.  It's one of my projects for HSM Challenge #3 - Stashbusting so I have to get a move on.

~M