I mostly disappeared from the face of the Web lately. I'm still reading (although a tad behind, so I might have skipped some interesting stuff, errr... sorry about that. And not commenting much), I figured I should pop in again a bit ( Read more... )

I've been going through my books for my 1890s research... project... thingie. All in the name of going back to basics and looking for what's really typical in terms of shape and trim for 1890s lingerie. Turns out colored lingerie seems to be all the rage. I can't find a single fashion column between 1893 and 1898 that would mention lingerie and NOT ( Read more... )

So the good news is : I've sewn some ! I thought the 1893 blouse from Ageless Patterns I had lying around was a good starting point and it was. It worked even better once I figured out the seam allowances were included in the pattern. Tried it on, adjusted the fit and I can now proceed to cutting out the lining. I also realised I could use it as a ( Read more... )

And it feels weird that I'm turnign into a researcher, me, the "OMG it's prettiz I wants its "-girl. I'm looking through my magazines collection, compiling tartan occurrences and looking at silk vs. plain petticoats and at how to get the correct fullness at the bottom. Mighty ruffles of Doom ! Lots and lots of ruffles on top of ruffles on top of ( Read more... )

... you make me want to wrap myself in ham and dance around in the moonlight ( Read more... )

I am not tansfering the 1872  fluffed monstruosity petticoat pictures to my website and using the Flickr I uploaded them to. Shame on me !

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... and also to some extent to prove to the world that yes, I AM crazy.

After completing the monster 1872 bustle from period instructions, I went on to the patching petticoat. Which calls for ruffles, LOADS of ruffles at the back. 4554 centimeters of them. Eeeeeep !

The stiff-ey poly-cotton blend is not longer stiff after washing ( Read more... )

I keep forgetting I need a PETTICOAT over my Big Big Bustle. No petticoat I have will fit over THAT ( Read more... )

Still in the process of figuring out how to make my 1872 bustle instructions work. There are of course mistakes and gaps the size of Texas in it, but I think I have it. Mostly.
Exhibit one : sewing the boning channels and preparing the gathers.

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