Naah it can't be a new year?

Where would I be without a new year. I certainly would not be here. Where is here? Somewhere between Ingleburn and Bowral. Exactly where I'll keep to myself.

However, I can tell you what I am doing. I am spending a whole week learning to make hats. Mostly from sinamay and maybe crinoline. Let's just see how many I get finished. I have a wonderful tutor and venue to work and stay in. I don't think I've been to a better artist's convention yet. The convenors really know how to do this convention well.

On the blocks to day, that is hat blocks; I was show how to block the sinamay in a brim block and crown block. However, not using a collar block though. The blocks were covered with sandwich wrap, dampened and the sinmay stretched and pinned flat around the blocks to get a smooth surface. All pieces were stretched on the bias. That is the really important thing to remember though.

Just because a brim block has a flat oval in the middle doesn't mean you have to put the crown in the centre all the time. When you slip the brim off the block you can use a steam iron to smooth out the flat section using a shoulder roll or a similar implement to make that round. Then you can put your crown off centre if you want to.

Well that's all for now. I going to call it a night. You will have to wait for pictures of the creations made this week. Sorry... I packed everthing else but a camera.

Cheers,
Rosie

Back on the trail of my early henrician smock.

I've looked at a couple of photos and I've decided to do an early henrician smock and kirtle. I wish I had the time for a over gown but at this stage...... I don't think it is possible. With the Jane Austen Prep to be done and my costume guild promo event at the Craft and Stitches fair. I think I would be biting off more than I could chew.

Anyway here is what I have been thinking of making:

Textile Tour to India

I have just returned from a textile to India. I visited lots of crafts people in Gujarat. Their main areas of work were, block printing, embroidery, weaving, copper bell making and fabric dyeing. I got some gorgeous needlework samples and saris. Drool! I would go there again with World Expeditions this company really looks after it's travelers on their trips.

On a sad note though. Some of the skills and knowledge of the crafts people is slowly disappearing. As less young people take up their family's traditional occupations the crafts will die out. This is happening in some tribal groups all ready with village heads banning young women making dowry items. Other tribes are giving up on the nomadic way of life. With it the originality and quality of their arts and crafts slowly declining. Money is a strong influence on the crafts people to do less complex craft pieces. We went to a textiles collectors house to see his collection. He showed us some pieces made 20 years ago. These were compared to items made this century. We could clearly see a difference between the two.

My advice get to see traditional crafts in their home country before it disappears.

Native Rasberry Bushes.

Yes, there are such a thing. Perhaps I may able to get a plant soon. I Just think that they may grow better in the local conditions that I have.

1890's Evening Bodice

I can't believe it I finished this project in 6 days! This is the fastest finishing time for any project I've ever undertaken. Truly Victorian patterns are wonderful! Not many alterations are required after you find out what size panels to cut out. I made the TV490 Evening Bodice in dusky pink satin and trimmed with floral lace and bow.

If you can sew princess seams and have made a few dresses. You shouldn't have much trouble constructing this project.

Lace Collar finished.

Historically speaking shirt waists was fairly boring. So the late Victorian lady being fashion minded also made collars to fancy up their blouse fronts.

I chose to make a Butterick Pattern B4698. I read the instructions and found that creating the pleats for the collar tails a bit of a mystery. I tried several ways until I got my collar looking like the one on the Butterick site. Although it looks easy to make up, it's is the pleating that stumped me for a few attempts. Otherwise, if you were in a real serious sewing mood you could finish it in a day.

I only used one special foot to make this up. I replaced the decorative cord with 5mm wide sating stitching. So an satin stitch foot is a must if you wish to make this change in pattern construction. I bought my lace from the www.worldoflace.com.au. They have very good prices on 10mtr lengths of lace.

Pattern availablity: Currently Butterick has this one on sale in the clearance section for $3.00 [US]. [Checked 10/9/09]

1890's Day Ensemble Underway!

Hi,
I have been busy sewing while tending to a sick relative. It gives me something to think of other than how sick this person is.

I made the skirt from a Truly Victorian pattern TV 292 Bell Skirt. The base fabric is a gray colonial strip quilting cotton. The trim is 10 mts of light pink double faced satin ribbon and a beautiful grey vine jacquard ribbon.
The underskirt is gray bemsilk andl olive cotton drill for the hem ruffle.
Unseen is the 3 lengths of button tape. The button tape will hitch up the train when dancing at a ball. Save me from tripping over it and land on my ***.

Although this pattern assumes you have an intermediate level of sewing skills. I found after searching the TV Forum archive that making up was easy.

To make up this skirt a 1/4" rolled hemming, blind stitch and a ruffler foot will make light work of all the gathering and hem finishing.

The shirt waist is Butterick B4418 which is out of print. My friend @ Tee Ann Designs made my shirt waist for me.