All posts filed under: Historical Sew Fortnightly

A 1930s ‘dazzling’ wrap halter

I’m writing posts in the wrong order, because I’ve already blogged my tutorial for a 1930s handkerchief halter, and really, the handkerchief halter came second, and this top was conceived, cut, and finished first – and helped inspire the later handkerchief halter. The idea was to make 1930s beach pyjamas, with non-matching trousers (which done, and are my new favourite garment) and a halter top: For fabric I had this amazing cotton muslin I bought at Global-That-Was (when it actually was Global Fabrics) thinking I would make something for Art Deco Weekend 2013. It didn’t happen then, or for 2014, so it was well overdue by this year: Isn’t it fabulous? I particularly love the eye-bending ‘dazzle’ design (read my article in Issue 7 of Glory Days for more info on Dazzle)) For the pattern I used Wearing History’s Chic Ahoy halter as a base, altering it to remove the collar, and to add long wrap ties to fasten around the waist: I have two regrets about the top. There is a seam running down …

The HSF/M ’15: Favourite Foundations

Published by The Dreamstress

Ergh. It’s only three months into the Historical Sew Monthly 2015, and already I’m two months behind in favourite’s posts! On the bright side, that’s partly because there are so many people participating, and so many fabulous entries, that going through them and whittling it down to just a few takes forever! Because there were so many amazing things for Challenge #1: Foundations, I’ve picked five favourites, instead of the three I did for each challenge last year! (I hope this keeps up all year long!) So, without further ado, five things that I thought were beautifully made, well thought out and researched, interesting takes on the challenge theme, and best represented the goals of the HSM: to push our boundaries as creators and as historians. Wicked Stepmother’s 3rd quarter of the 19th c corded corset. Not only is her corset awesome, but it’s based on a period original from the museum she works with, and she took the pattern from the original, made it available to other seamstresses and led a sew-along to make …

HSF/M ’15: Challenge #3: Stashbusting

Published by The Dreamstress

The third Historical Sew used-to-be-Fortnightly-now-it’s-Monthly challenge of 2015 is Stashbusting. Unlike previous challenges, like Blue, there is no research or inspiration needed for a Stashbusting challenge: you either have one, or don’t, and if you have one, the question is simply, how big is it? Mine is ummm…big. There are bits of it stored in chests and suitcases and boxes all over the house. Mostly I sort by colour, with specialty boxes of linens, laces, and a few other pieces. Where I have so much of one colour (cough *white*) that it doesn’t fit in one box, it’s sorted by fibre and weight: a box of white silks, a box of lightweight whites, and a box of mid-heavyweight whites. Under our bed I have my red stash: Isn’t the dark red swoon-worthy? It’s a proper vintage rayon, with flowers and moon shapes on it, and it just begs to be made up as a late ’30s frock! And I’m currently working on a dress in the feather print – so the red stash is being …