Reproduction 1860s Duffle Bags on Etsy

Reproduction 1860s Duffle Bags

I've just recently finished and posted some new additions to my Etsy Shop!

These Wool and Linen Duffle Bags are reproduced from an Original seen HERE on Karen Augusta's Antique Lace and Fashion Website.

I've wanted to reproduce one of these for ages, since first seeing the original for sale on her site. This would be perfect for taking to reenactments to carry your overnight belongings, shopping purchases, or even a picnic lunch!

The embroidery is all done by machine. I love the antique buttons!

I plan to continue making these in the future in different color variations.
Below are the colors currently available on my Etsy listing!

Moden 1840-1890

The other day I ordered the book 'Moden 1840-1890' from La Belle Femme in Gettysburg. I had checked it out from the library right before we moved and was amazed by the delightful original dresses and patterns contained within! Although much of the text is in Danish, to someone accustomed to sewing historical clothing, the patterns should be easy enough to figure out. The patterns are in graphed format with grid blocks to denote inches. Scaling patterns up is time consuming, but I love having the option of using patterns not commercially produced.

Here are a few pictures of originals from the book. There are patterns for all of these originals in the book, as well as many other delightful dresses! 1840s dresses, an 1860s ballgown, etc.

This book is worth checking out of your local library! It's rather expensive to purchase since it's out of print, so unless you see yourself using all or most of the patterns in the future, it's probably better to just borrow it. Interlibrary loan is your friend. ;)

Wrapper

This reminds me of the Kay Gnagey Wrapper Pattern.

Isn't this a lovely sheer dress?

I also purchased a pattern for an 1858 VanDyke Mantel from Past Reflections Patterns. If you haven't seen their lovely line of Civil War era reproduction patterns, you much check them out!

1860s Silk Corset

I've been sewing like mad lately. I realized that when a friend asked me what I did all weekend and it pretty much included "In the morning, I sewed, after lunch, I sewed...and while Vince was out in the evening, I sewed."

But I've been working on lots of fun projects!

One of my favorites is an 1860s Silk Corset, and a White Cotton Coutil Corset. I'm making two. :) My Beth Miller corset has given me years of pleasure, but it's about to bite the dust. I've been dying to make a corset for ages.

I made one corset before using the Past Patterns kit and directions, but I was unhappy with the results. This time I'm armed with new directions and a pattern drafted from my Beth Miller corset. :)

Notice the supplies above - the silk cost me $0.50 + Tax. Isn't that wonderful?!?

Laying out the pattern pieces

So far I've gotten all of the pieces sewn together. Now for all of the finishing details!

18th C. Fashion Show

This is my mother, Nancy, in her 18th Century silk Pet en lair. Notice the silk hat that I just finished for her. :)

Pictures from the Fashion Show

Mom in the Silk Stays that I made her, showing her pocket hoops.

Mom putting the skirt on while Rosie wears her stays and petticoat.

Finished 18th Century Attire

18th Century Attire

My revamped 18th century attire was finished just in time for the Revolutionary War reenactment I attended this past weekend. Quite a few changes were made. The Pink Linen Skirt was lengthened (I dislike short skirts!). The Printed Cotton Jacket was taken apart in almost every spot and remade. I made it slightly larger so the stomacher could close tighter, added the slashes at the front of the jacket, and also at the center back point, lengthened the stomacher, and added eyelet holes to lace the front. And I found some pale pink ribbon at JoAnns to replace the bright pink ribbon (thanks for the advice!).

The Cap is made of Cotton Organdy from the JPRyan pattern.



I made a hip/bum roll of striped cotton to support the skirts. I like the shape it added.

Pretty Bustle Dress on Etsy

Did you see that this darling Bustle dress that I pointed out several posts ago is now on sale for $450 for Halloween! (Marked down from $600!) Someone has to snatch this up! It's just darling! Oh, what I would give to have this beautiful dress!

GardensofWhimsy on Etsy

I recently found this c1885 fashion plate that reminded me of the Etsy dress. Aren't the colors just lovely together?

Finished 18th Century Hat

The 18th Century Hat is Finished!
This hat took much longer than I had expected! But I think it's rather pretty finished. The straw hat was covered in green silk pleated to fit on top and bottom. It was rather easy to do, just very time consuming. Sheer ribbon was box pleated and sewn around the base of the crown and along the edge of the hat. I think it added a nice touch. I like to keep my creations 'light'. The same ribbon was sewn on under the hat for ties. My mother will be wearing the hat this weekend for a fashion show, so I'll be sure to take more pictures of it then.

A view from above.

The underside of the hat.

18th Century Silk Hat

Today I'm working on making an 18th century silk hat for my mother to wear this upcoming weekend in a fashion show. She'll be portraying an upperclass lady, so I thought she'd need a pretty silk hat to wear with her Pet en lair and skirt.

During the 18th century straw hats were often covered in silk and trimmed. This hat form is just lovely - I almost hated to cover it! It was purchased from Colonial Williamsburg. The Silly Sisters also sell nice straw hat forms.

I've been following the directions on the Koshka-the-Cat website.

18th Century Jacket Lacing?

So what do you think?

Here's a detail shot of the Revolutionary War era jacket with lacing. Is this pink ribbon too bright? It's really difficult to find pink ribbon that will match the skirt. This ribbon is a little brighter than the skirt, and I'm not sure a pink quite that bright would be authentic. Maybe I should have looked for lilac colored ribbon instead. What do you think?

1888 Evening Dress Design

::: 1888 Evening Dress Design :::

Okay, the design is complete! I've decided on a White Silk Evening Gown for our excursion to the Opera at the end of September. The dress will be a combination of White Silk with Pearl Beadwork and plain White Silk. It will have the flower swag across the bodice like the above picture, probably in pink and green flowers. And it will have the same bodice style as above but with buttons down the front.

I love the skirt on this dress! This is what the skirt will be modeled after. The train will be detachable and will have silk knife pleated underneath like this one. The skirt will also have the knife pleating underneath peaking out. The main part of the skirt and bodice will be in plain silk and the train and bustled swags will all be in beaded white silk.

And, I love this treatment for the back of the skirt - the huge flower swag. My dress will definitely have this, along with some silk bows at the front with flowers tucked in. I'm considering making the bows black, but that remains to be seen. :)

I didn't feel like scanning my sketch, so you'll have to use your imagination!

Check out THIS website for more 1880s Evening Dresses!

Etsy: Gardens of Whimsy

Gardens of Whimsy
GardensofWhimsy.etsy.com

If you're a costume enthusiast like me, you need to check out the beautiful work on the Gardens of Whimsy Etsy Shop! I just adore the original floral arrangements, hair clips, and, best of all, the stunning bustle gowns and other costumes!

This stunning dress makes me wish I was a single girl with money to burn! Isn't it stunning? I think this is my new dream bustle dress!

At $600, I'm sure it's worth every cent for this beautiful silk concoction.

Beautiful!

GardensofWhimsy.etsy.com

1888 Gown Ideas

So, now I'm thinking about a Black and White evening gown? I have a ton of White Pearl Beaded Silk that would make a lovely bustle dress (or 6...yeah, I have a lot!). So I'm contemplating the idea of White with bold Black trim. I like the bold designs on these dresses. The Waistline of the above Worth original.

The waistline and neckline trim of the dress on the far Left.

The waistline and neckline trim of the dress on the far Right.

Just costume contemplations at this point! I'm changing my mind because I might rather save my red silk for an 1870s bustle gown. ;)