Showing posts with label regency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label regency. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

A Huge Faux Fur Muff, Of Course-Part Deux

So upon searching the internet I came across Katherine from The Fashionable Past tutorial on a removable muff cover!

Awesome!!!

But would it work with fur?

The satin/silk she worked with made it easier to create channels that you could pull a ribbon through. So my brainstorming session was reactivated.

A plan was devised!!! 
Muahhhh hahhahahahahaha (maniacal laugh for those who weren't sure what was going on)...

Materials:
1/2 bag polyester fiberfill
1.5 yards cotton or muslin 
3/4 - 1 yard faux fur
3 yards ribbon
1 package of double wide bias tape
Bodkin/large safety pin


So I cut out my cotton for the muff base.
29 x 21 inches doubled (cut on fold/ I eventually cut off the folded edge).
So in actuality it was 58 x 42.
I wanted a pocket to put my cell phone securely in, so I measured my cell and cut out the corresponding rectangle.
Pocket top, not trying to be fancy....
Pinned everything down and sewed it to one side of my lining (lay your muff body on your table how you would hold it- place your pocket- pin corners and stitch). Add a button hole and button.
Place the two pieces on top of each other with the pocket on the inside. Making sure that when you turn the pieces inside out that the pocket faces/opens in the correct direction.

Sew one side of the 21 inch ends to create a large panel (not pictured).



Fold that panel in half (longest length) and sew down the side. Creating a long 56 inch tube. (Above)
Turn the tube inside out. Iron
Flip the tube so the pocket is on the inside right side up.
My Goodwill find for $1.99. Slowly begin to stuff the tube. I did this layer by layer. 2-3 inches around another 2-3 inches around until I got the desired thickness. Pat and roll the tube to distribute it evenly.
Slowly fold in your edges and pin all around top of your tube. Whipstitch this closed.
Measuring for the fashion fabric. Or Faux fur in this case. Make sure to add a inch in either direction for seams.



My Black Faux Fur that has waited patiently for over ten years to be used. My piece ended up being 21x 28.
Using black bias tape extra wide double fold. I ironed one side semi flat.  I still wanted to see crease to stitch in the ditch.
Pinning every 2 inches or so I sewed the bias tape onto my fabric (both 28 inch sides). Bias tape to fur side of fabric. Make sure to stop the bias tape at least an inch before the fabric end. This will give you room for your final seam and allow you to insert your tightening Ribbon ties into the bias tape channels.
Turn over -iron.
Turn to the inside and pin to the inside of the fur.  Securely whipstitch the bias tape to the wrong side of the faux fur. Make sure the ends are nice and strong.
Fold fur in half (fur to fur or fashion fabric to fashion fabric) and stitch down the side. Make sure you do not catch the bias tape channels!


Tada!!

Turn inside out and using a large blunt needle/bodkin/safety pin thread your ribbon through the bias tape channel.

I unfortunately did not have any black ribbon so for now I used some brown ribbon that I have loads of!

Go slow and pull gently to work it through the channel.

Once finished, gently pull the ribbon to create your finished muff!

Fin!

I'm in my 19th century underthings but with my 18th century red cape. I know, I know!! But as I started to get dressed I realized most of my mid Victorian wear is very dark and the muff would be hard to see.


In the works I have a matching red flocked velvet cape with black trim.

Sneak peek!!!

But more about that later....


Hope this helps and its understandable!

P.s. Because of the ease of making this I will eventually make a lavender taffeta version to go with my gown worn at Costume College 2014.
 I have a day bodice made up and a white velvet Talma in the brainstorming stage!!


Monday, December 22, 2014

A Huge Muff Of Course, Part One



So I've had this faux fur fabric FOREVER!

I attempted to make a muff in the beginning of my sewing adventures but it came out less then stellar.... I mean it was BAD!!!
stamp courtesy of : http://classic.meez.com/community.dm?furl=http%3A//forums.meez.com/forums/showthread.php%3Ft%3D1256716
Fast Forward 10+ years.

Yes, I don't need a muff in Arizona weather but it was too pretty to pass up.
Plus I'm on an accessories kick for all my costumes.

While researching period outerwear for another planned accessory, I kept coming across these gorgeous muffs on Pinterest.

Small (ca. 1860's)


Medium  (ca. 1880's)

 

Large (I think this one was ca. 1890's)

 

Huge  (ca. 1890's)

 

Humongous   (ca. 1810's-20's)

 

And Finally Ginormous or it could be the other way around!! That regency muff is huge compared to the model!


Anyway, I really wanted to use my faux fur.  

But I felt that a muff that large out of fur would be a lot of work for an accessory I wouldn't use often. 

So the brainstorming began! 

Plan of action formulated!

To be continued....
Da-da-da





Wednesday, October 1, 2014

My Lil Bit Gets Costumed!


I've made a to do list for my 'lil bit' as well! 

Whether I get to them all who knows...

I do have to say that patterns for infants/toddlers (other than animals & flowers) is rather limited. 

That being said this necessitates that my patterns be self made and or from larger adult patterns I've worked with and have been able to scale down.

So to prepare I've been doing a lot of searching on Pinterest and created a board called Children's Historical Garb

And this is My 'Lil Bit's' Costume To Do List:


  • Late Victorian jacket (possibly a matching dress)

    I have several options for black trim but they are packed away! I'll provide an update soon! Gotta work out a pattern...



  • Augusta Auctions 1810's Regency Dress







Such cute inspiration dresses! 

I picked up the above 100% Cotton Prints from Walmart for $2 dollars a yard!!! 

$4 bucks for each of her little dresses! 

Can't beat those prices.. 



 `````````````


As a side point I've also have seen some of the most adorable child's boots ever! 

I don't know if it will be possible to make but these boots are Precious!!

Maybe if I find the leather and a website on shoe making....?


We shall see!
Ta ta till later ....

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

So I've Been Thinking...

Very early in my costuming and historical clothing obsession I stumbled upon the Victorian Trading Company. My grandma had a subscription to their store and would on occasion order trinkets and do-dads.

Some of their items are purely in the nick nack trinket realm (albeit still expensive) but they every now and then would have a item that I thought was gorgeous or a must have. 

One item that I've been lusting after for some time (from reading historical fiction and non fiction) has been a ladies calling card.

How cool would I be, if when perchance, I happen to meet someone at an event and I handed them not a business card but a calling card! 

Sophistication to the max! 

It would totally be the 'bees knees' the 'cats meow'! 

Lol, I know I'm mixing my eras. 

But 'squee'!!! 

A calling card for Costume College?  

 High Tea



Needlepoint Roses

Either one is lovely.

Calling cards "served a number of social purposes, such as a means of introduction, to further acquaintanceship, to express congratulations or condolences and to provide notices of arrival or departure. Card etiquette had strict rules."

Unlike business cards of today and the way they are used historically particularly in the 18th century those rules sternly governed societies interactions. Business cards are stylized and individualized to the max, with special fonts and pictures. Yet, the high ranking society and trend setters used calling or visiting cards that "reflected simplicity and elegance. Women’s cards measured approximately 2.75 to 3.5 inches wide by 2 to 2.75 inches high. Men’s cards took on a longer, narrower aspect from 3 to 3.4 inches long by 1.25 to 1.5 inches wide." Typically with a simple coat of arms and block or script print.  

One simply did not bring their calling card and wait in the parlor or drawing room, especially if they were relatively unknown to the recipient. They visited in their carriage and had a servant deliver their calling card, if they were especially bold they could deliver the card themselves and 'fold the corner to signify that it was delivered in person'. Typically the receiver could and had the right to take several days to respond to the card, by sending their own card or sending an invitation for tea. 

Either way there were many rules and guidelines to polite society and the use of this handy little slip of paper.


I'm not sure if I could afford Victorian Trading Company on my budget but this is definitely on my list of to-do craftiness! 


Sources:
http://www.americanstationery.com/blog/the-history-of-the-calling-card/

http://www.americanstationery.com/blog/the-history-of-the-calling-card/


Saturday, September 13, 2014

My Updated 2014-2015 Sewing List .... Why? Because I Think I'm Superwoman!



An continuation of my previous post...

Every year I try to make a to do list of the dresses I would like to create. 

Either I've purchased some fabric that I just must sew into a historical costume or upon perusing the infinite black hole of Pinterest, I come across a gorgeous extant gown, fashion plate or painting of the era...and I am smitten or hooked on recreating it (this doesn't mean recreating it to a 't' but more like the general feeling or major components of the gown).

Anyway, My Updated To-Do List
50's style dress Butterick 4790
Kirtle and Skirt
1860's Striped Work/Day Dress
Pink Regency Gown

Green and White Stripe Regency Day Dress w/ Chemisette
Black and White Plaid Regency Bib Front Day Dress w/Detachable Sleeves
Black Regency Bonnet
Pink Polka Dot Sari (For Costume College Ice Cream Social 2015)
Beauty & The Beast -Belle - Disney Princess of the 16th Century Concept Dress (Costume College 2015 Project)
White Regency Day Gown
White Regency Evening Gown
Late 1880's Victorian Corset - Grey & Black (Truly Victorian )
1910's Edwardian Corset - Lilac and White Stripe W/ White Lace (Links to a Blog with Pattern & Directions!) 
I still have other items that keep popping into my head but these are the main ones.

I also have a UFO List (Unfinished Outfits)
And an 'lil bit' Costume List

Yikes!!!!

But that will be my next post.