All posts filed under: Sewing

Things I sew – historical and modern

The 1921 Daisies & the Devil's Handiwork dress thedreamstress.com

Looking back at 2017, looking forward to 2018

It’s that time again! (slightly late, as usual). Time to reflect on 2017, and look forward to 2018. When I first looked back at 2017, I was kind of depressed. I accomplished a maximum of 4 of the 10 goals I set for myself. And honestly, I’m not totally happy with 2 of the 4. 🙁 At first I was really depressed thinking about how little I got done. The more I started writing this post, and breaking down what I actually did in 2017 the happier I felt. It wasn’t what I planned, but I did really well, and I coped with a lot of unexpected hiccups and stress. If I’m learning anything as I get older, and slightly wiser, it’s that I expect too much of myself all the time. The more I can learn to let go, accept my limitations, and be content with what I do achieve, the happier I’ll be. I’m learning to do that. I’m getting better at reminding myself that launching one pattern is more work than the …

1780s American Duchess cap review thedreamstress.com

The 1780s cap from the American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking

Published by The Dreamstress

It’s always a good feeling to finish the year and a sewing project at the same time. This time I finished the 1780s cap from the American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking just as 2017 closed. Literally! I was sitting on my couch sewing on the bow and watching bonnet movies as the year ticked over, because that’s how I party! As far as I know, I’m the first person to have made the 1780s cap, which means I had the dubious distinction of discovering the typo where it says to cut one piece instead of two for the both the ruffles. I should have figured out the typo on my own. Two makes so much sense! But I was pattern testing for Scroop Patterns at the same time. The cap was my ‘down’ time from pattern testing, but my brain was 100% in pattern testing mode. That means I turn off independent thought and logic and follow what a pattern says exactly. And I really wanted to do the patterns as AD gave …

Barcode Shirt & Smaug Shorts thedreamstress.com

Dinosaur Eggs & Dragon Shorts

Published by The Dreamstress

Last year summer in Wellington was a non-starter. I barely made a summer wardrobe, and didn’t get to wear the few pieces I did make. This year Wellington is making up for lost sunshine with a vengeance. It’s been SUNNY and STICKY. Mr D & I have been spending lots of time outside, gardening and going for walks, which means lots of shorts & T-shirts. Luckily I found the perfect shorts fabric over winter. Isn’t it wonderful when you find a fabric and it tells you exactly what it wants to be? Down to the last detail! So often I know what I want to make, but can’t find the right fabric, or find gorgeous fabric, and have a good general idea of what it should be, but figuring out the design details takes more time than making the actual thing… Last winter Made Marion Craft got in this fabulous linen blend with a little triangular pattern in yellow & black: It immediately said two things to me: shorts, and Smaug. Smaug? Yep! Think of …