All posts filed under: Sewing

Things I sew – historical and modern

Review: The Wearing History 1910’s Elsie blouse

I’ve shown quite a few photos of my version of the Wearing History 1910s Elsie blouse in my discussion of Anzac Day in NZ, and talked about wearing it to do housework, but I thought you might appreciate a little bit of a review, and some sewing construction information – i.e. normal sewing blogger stuff. The Pattern: Like all the Wearing History patterns I’ve worked with, taping the pattern together is quite easy, and everything matches and goes together nicely. This is a reproduction of a period pattern, and (as stated when you buy the pattern), instructions are minimal (they are the very brief instructions given with the original 1910s patterns, with a ‘translation’ into modern sewing terminology), so it’s up to you to know how to sew a blouse together, either using modern blouse techniques, or period ones, if you want it to be more historically accurate. If you need help with blouse instructions, combining the instructions for the Wearing History Smooth Sailing blouse pattern and the Wearing History Edwardian blouse should cover everything …

The Sunshine Dorothy Lara 0Degrees frock

Published by The Dreamstress

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done a Wellington Sewing Bloggers 0Degrees post (read all about it and see the other links here) , and the challenge has hit some slight hiccups in the form of jobs, children, and viruses (as is inevitable), so we’re still trying to catch up and fill in some of the links, but there is quite an impressive chain formed. And now, time for my link! This is my ‘Sunshine’ Decades of Style Dorothy Lara dress: Sunshine is definitely something that we need at the moment – the weather prediction for the next 10 days is all 12 & 13 degrees, and I’m huddled in front of the heater in layers of merino looking a lot like this. So it’s nice to remember that not that long ago it was warm enough to wear little silk frocks and bare legs, and that eventually, a long time from now, that kind of weather will come around again. This dress links to both Nina’s Dorothy Lara (along with my feathered Dorothy …

A practice in Practicality: doing housework, 1910s style

Published by The Dreamstress

Since the Historical Sew Monthly Challenge for May is ‘Practicality’ and one of my submissions for it is a 1910s blouse (from the Wearing History Elsie blouse pattern), I thought I should actually test the practicality of said blouse. Now, a blouse is a very practical garment – for a 1910s wardrobe. It was inexpensive, versatile and washable, and was basically the 1910s version of a T-shirt. But how much could you actually do in it? And full 1910s undergarments (corset, combination, petticoats), skirt, and heeled shoes. Plus a period apron for the messy stuff. Well, I spent half a day in the full outfit and I managed to: – tidy the house (general putting away the 37 things in each room that the elves seem to pull out of the drawers and closet every night and leave strewn about the house) – sweep the kitchen, lounge, and hall – mop the kitchen – wash dishes (by hand) – dust the dining room – do laundry (OK, with a washing machine) – make dinner It …