The Dreamstress

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Fashion Notes from Paris, 1928

I collect Girls Own Annuals, and recently added a delicious 1928 edition to my collection.

It came complete with monthly fashion notes – wherein the latest from Paris is described and adapted for daily wear, and little tips on re-making and using bits and bobs are given.

This one in particular caught my eye, first, for the fascinating description of hairpieces, and second, for a great example of 1920s historicism: ‘A Poke Bonnet lined with a lace cap, a la the 18th century’. The Historicism challenge for the Historical Sew Monthly is gone, but I still love historicism!

The ideas for using ribbon remnants and bits of fur are a great illustration of how those without Parisian budgets could stay in the mode.

I can’t decide if I want the bonnet, the evening frock with fabulous hip drapery, or the amazing pieced blouse most! Which is your favourite?

Baby bib bonanza

Published by The Dreamstress

2016 has been the year of babies (amongst other things, but let’s not go into that…).

All my friends are having them. 5 so far, with 4 more due in December or early Jan!

As baby gifts, I’ve been making bibs – experienced mothers tell me you can never have to many of them, and they are fun to make.

Useful AND fun is about as good as it gets for baby stuff – plus, quick to make, and great for using up fabrics scraps.

So for the last three months, a corner of the sewing room has had a stack of fabric scraps and cut-out bibs, and whenever I need a quick sewing fix I make one up, and accumulate a pile of finished ones. Every few weeks there is another baby shower, or time comes due to send a package off, and my pile of done ones dwindles.

This is 1/4 of the bibs I’ve made so far:

I’ve made reversible ones:

And ones lined in moisture-proof fabric:

Ones with applique:

And patchwork ones:

I’ve used fabrics from Made on Marion, Fabric-a-Brac, op-shops, The Fabric Store, and The Fabric Warehouse! Plus lots, and lots, and lots of bias binding.

Felicity, has, of course, helped, participating in quality control, and glaring at me when I got too distracted with the camera instead of the sewing machine:

It hasn’t been quite as exciting and making something big and elaborate and historical, but it’s been nice and relaxing!

Would anyone be interested in a template and a tutorial?

Rate the Dress: an informal ensemble in green and gold, ca. 1740

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week I showed a Finnish evening dress from 1912, which appeared sage green in the photos available. I was pleasantly surprised by how much you liked the dress – I thought it was nice, with some fabulous trim work, but not exceptional for its era, but absolutely everyone rated it higher than I would have. Hurrah! So the dress achieved an impressive 9.2 out of 10.

In contrast to last week’s gala dress, this week’s ensemble is an informal indoors affair, consisting of a jacket, quilted petticoat, and embroidered apron, all from the first half of the 18th century.

Quilted petticoat, silk and wool, England, 1740-50, T.306-1982, Jacket, silk and linen, unknown, 1720-30 of 17th century silk, T.264-1958, Apron, cotton with whitework embroidery, England (embroidery), Flanders (lace), 1720-40, T.9-1952, ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Intriguingly, the jacket is made from 17th century silk, and may possibly be a re-make of an earlier garment.

Jacket, UK, silk with an extra weft pattern, lined with linen, faced with silk, unknown, ca. 1720-ca. 1730 of 17th century silk, T.264-1958, ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Whilst this style of outfit was intended for informal indoors wear amongst the upper classes, the apron, elaborately embroidered with Chinoiserie motifs, was clearly intended to impress, both for the skill of the embroidery, and for the knowledge and worldliness the pattern implied.

Apron, cotton with whitework embroidery, England (embroidery), Flanders (lace), 1720-40, T.9-1952, ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

The quilted petticoat was a very popular garment throughout the 18th century, providing warmth and ease of movement. The simple lattice-work pattern of this example isn’t as elaborate as some, but provides a suitable backdrop for the apron, and the sheen of the green silk would have reflected candlelight beautifully.

Quilted petticoat, silk and wool, England, 1740-50, T.306-1982, ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

What do you think? It’s an outfit that was intended to be attractive, and enviable, while still giving an overall air of simplicity. Has it worked?

Rate the Dress on a Scale of 1 to 10