Miscellenia
Published on September 11, 2013

The HSF Challenge #25: One metre

written by The Dreamstress

This is it!  The second to last challenge to be posted!

I was a little stuck on this challenge, as all my ideas were either too elaborate and demanding for such a busy time of year, and for the end of a marathon, or too similar to the challenges around it.  So I opened the suggestions up to popular opinion on the HSF facebook group.

Clearly you guys weren’t too worried about ‘too elaborate’, as the second most popular suggestion was ‘Copy a Painting’, but the slightly more restrained ‘One yard/metre’ suggestion won out in the end (Make something in under 3 hours was also very popular, which had me a bit worried.  If it ended up taking longer, did you fail the challenge?).

So, for Challenge #25, due 16 December, make an item that takes one metre or less fabric (I went with one metre, rather than one yard/or metre to be consistent).

So what takes less than 1m of fabric?.  Lot’s of things I’m sure!  I’ve thought of :

1920s & ’30s tap pants & camisole bras (my tap pants pattern takes less than a metre for up to 50″ hips):

Tap pants & Brassiere by Boue Soeurs, French, 1920's via Vintage Textiles

Tap pants & Brassiere by Boue Soeurs, French, 1920’s via Vintage Textiles

Swiss waists:

Swiss waist, 1860s, American or European, via the Met

Swiss waist, 1860s, American or European, via the Met

Regency short stays:

Wrapped corset, ca 1800, Musee Galliera

Wrapped corset, ca 1800, Musee Galliera

Mid-19th century evening bodices (truly, I got Rowena’s bodice out of far less than a metre):

Ball gown, warp printed silk, 1840s, Whitaker Auctions

Ball gown, warp printed silk, 1840s, Whitaker Auctions

Stomachers:

Lady Innes, Thomas Gainsborough, 1757

Lady Innes, Thomas Gainsborough, 1757

Pockets:

Pocket, printed cotton & linen, 18th c, American, MFA Boston, 48

Pocket, printed cotton & linen, 18th c, American, MFA Boston, 48

Aprons:

Apron, 18th century, British, silk, metallic, Met

Apron, 18th century, British, silk, metallic, Met

Fichu:

The Ladies' Home Magazine 1860 - Fichu

The Ladies’ Home Magazine 1860 – Fichu

Bust improvers:

Bust improver or reducer, made of cotton with metal boning, by Spirella Styles, (patented) 1907

Bust improver or reducer, made of cotton with metal boning, by Spirella Styles, (patented) 1907

Muffs:

Muff English, 1785—1800 England, MFABoston

Muff English, 1785—1800 England, MFA Boston

Crazy awesome men’s cap thingees:

Man's cap, American (Boston, Massachusetts), 18th century, MFA Boston

Man’s cap, American (Boston, Massachusetts), 18th century, MFA Boston

Those little teeny-tiny evening spencers that have been all the rage among Regency costumers over the last year:

And I’m sure that there are many more that you could suggest!

To keep within the spirit of the challenge, try to avoid making something that also involves metres and metres of trim (so a stomacher covered in ribbon bows rather defeats the purpose).

14 Comments

  1. Catherine Raymond says

    I can make a Viking apron dress for myself with a meter of fabric, if the fabric is wide enough (i.e., a meter in width or more) and often have.

  3. Danielle says

    I love this!! There’s so many great possibilities for it but still challenging with the fabric limit!

  4. LadyD says

    Wow! I’m honored my 1yard/metre idea won.
    I have two potential ideas for what to make either a ‘sash’ for my dress. Or a corset cover.

  6. Elise says

    And those still under imperial measurements can do a yard, plus 4 inches (10 centimeters) of trim! What a cool challenge to burst creativity!

  7. Black Tulip says

    Oooh. There are umpteen little, not-flashy-but-necessary things that I’ve been threatening to make for ages; this might finally give me the impetus I need. Great challenge!

Comments are closed.