Wednesday, December 20, 2006

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

There are only 2 and a bit (hopefully 1 and 2 bits!) working days till Christmas. Then I have 3 weeks off to work on our Regency gowns! I am hoping to get mine done in the first 2 weeks, while I am in Temora making my mum and sisters help me to fit it! Then I'm back here for a week and can make Mel's then. I am looking forward to finally having time to do stuff. Work has been so crazy, and I think I only have a 5-minute attention span.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Success!

On Thursday, I made Melissa's toile, and today she tried it on. It fits!!! Now we just need to get the fabric, and I can get started on her dress.

Tonight I made my toile, and not quite as much success, oweing to my laziness. I didn't check which size I was supposed to be making, just traced of the biggest one, and it was too big. Tomorrow I will trace it off again, and back to the drawing board for Jodie. But I think I am going to have it pretty easy with this pattern, it really is a joy to sew! I really feel that the dresses are going to fit without too much fiddling with the patterns :o)

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Quick update

Well, this is just an update to say that I don't have much news on the dress yet :o(

I have, however, created my first Beatrix skirt!

This blog may be poorly named, since so far I've posted more on other clothes than on the regency stuff :P I really must rectify this!

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Sense & Sensibility

On Monday Mel and I got the Sense & Sensibility Regency Gown and Spencer patterns (and the Beatrix walking skirt too!). Yay! :o) Mel has traced off her pattern, so now I need to trace mine and make mockups. I have traced/enlarged the Beatrix pattern for me, and hope to make it soon.

Yesterday Cate and I went op shopping. My best buy was a "Clothkits" skirt kit, dated Summer 1978 for $10! It goes up to a size 20, which I think will be too small, but it looks like it might be a bit long so I can cut it down from the top. I don't know if I really want to cut into it though, it's quite a curiosity :o) And it is as old as I am!

This Regency dress thing has opened quite a can of worms. Now I want to dress all in period clothing, and not just regency. I really want a work wardrobe from the 1930s-50s! It's going to take a while to build up, but it will be so much more fun than wearing jeans and a tshirt to work!

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Where to from here?

I have now made calico toiles for both dresses, and the news isn't great. Neither dress fits straight off :'o( I am going to have a fiddle with the patterns, mine doesn't need much more width, just a little depth - they don't expect you to have much of a chest with this pattern! We have also decided that we will get hold of the sense & sensibility regency gown pattern, it's a matter of finding out if we can get hold of it in Australia or if we need to get it from the US.

Meanwhile I have been distracted by something shiny - making a dress to wear to a friend's wedding in a couple of weeks. I am about to go and start cutting a sundress off the same pattern just to test whether the alterations I have had to make are actually going to look ok. I really want to start trawling the op shops now, to see if I can find some real vintage/retro patterns. In some ways I think I was born in the wrong era, but then again if I was born earlier I probably wouldn't have the opportunity to hunt down and wear whatever the heck I wanted! :o)

More on dresses soon!

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Progress is slow

Just when I'm getting inspired to do some sewing, Real Life takes over and I'm exhausted. I knew work was going to be pretty insane at this time, but the reality of it is of course totally different. I did get what I had aimed to do done today, so hopefully after next week things start to slow down. It will be nice to get back to a normal pace at work!

I look forward to those cookies and brownies Mel :o) It's a good thing clothing in the Regency was quite forgiving! As soon as I have something to show I will post some photos. Meanwhile, I am going to do some dishes and get ready for Saturday's Tupperware party, my other distraction. At least I have decided I am NOT going to work on Sunday, so I might get some cutting, and even sewing done then.

By the way Mel, I think this could be a good time for you to start learning to sew. It will be so much fun if we both get to sit around making dresses - I'll do the first one, but I hope you do get inspired!

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Well I am the other half of this project. I am the one that doesn't really know how to use a sewing machine thus leaving the sewing up to Jodes. I will help as much as I can though. Might even use this as a stepping stone to actually figuring out how to sew. I do cross-stitch and other embroidery.

If not I will lend my support by making cookies, brownies, anything else Jodes may desire. Of course too much of that sort of thing and the dresses will be too small when they are finished ;0)

Mel

Monday, September 25, 2006

A clean gown has not five minutes' wear in an open carriage

This blog is going to document the journey my cousin and dear friend take as we create ourselves a regency dress. Last night I cut out the paper pattern, and tonight I managed to find the piece of fabric I will use for my test run. I am hoping tomorrow I will manage to get the fabric cut out so I can start sewing it up.

Today we also set a deadline - Jane Austen's birthday in December. I am the one doing most of the sewing, Mel has volunteered ;o) to feed me while I'm sewing the real thing. She also, by default, gets to assist in the fitting of my dress.