All posts tagged: 20th century

What I’m working on for Art Deco 2015

I haven’t been doing many sewing progress posts lately, because the hectic sewing schedules of Fortnightly challenges made them impractical. Project progress posts are one thing I’m hoping to get back into this year. Along with progress! And bigger projects. At the moment I’m working on a bigger project with lots of little parts: new stuff for Napier’s Art Deco Weekend. Well, maybe. I’ve gone for the last three years, but there is a lot going on right now and I’m not sure if I’m actually going this year. I have to decide really soon, because I have a booking! Going or not, I’m still sewing Art Deco. I’ve taken over the dining room: What am I making? More beach pyjamas, because they are the most comfortable outfit ever! I’m using Wearing History’s Chic Ahoy pattern as a base (she has an actual beach pajama pattern too, but I didn’t have any in-stash fabrics that match it). My inspiration is looks like this, with halter tops: And button front trousers: I prefer the beach pyjama …

Bestways Initial Transfers: Early 1920s children’s clothes

Published by The Dreamstress

For the final installment of my Bestways Initial Transfer Book (except for the ads, which are pretty fabulous!), here is the cutest section: the children’s clothes. They may be children’s garments, but I would happily wear most of this stuff! Like both those jackets. (aren’t the pocket button details divine?) Oooh…the short coat is grass green! Yum! Note the mentions of the very fashionable cut-on ‘Magyar’ sleeves, and the contrasting sleeves set into ‘ordinary armholes’. The next page features a few more teens in covetable clothes, and some proper children in sports bloomers and an extremely scant gymnastics pinafore frock. This is ‘an exceedingly smart walking dress in wool marocain’. Cunning belt detail, and great hat and parasol!: And here are the funny sports clothes. Looking at these, I can’t help thinking how modern society would consider initials and names for children ill-advised for safety reasons. Last of all, a little girl with a teddy (with its own monogram) and a lovely blouse. Oh, I do like 1920s blouses! If you enjoyed …

Ridiculous adorableness: Wearing History’s 1917 combinations

Published by The Dreamstress

Wearing History just came out with a new late-teens combination pattern taken directly from a period pattern. Naturally, I was super excited about it because I want to expand my 1910s wardrobe this year. I was even more excited about it when Lauren asked if I would pattern test it. Yes I would! (so yes, I got the pattern for free, and yes, I’m a total Wearing History fangirl, but I wasn’t paid anything for this post, any opinions are totally my own, and if anything, as everyone knows, I tend to be hypercritical of patterns.) The print-out e-version of the pattern was very easy to put together, and everything matched up perfectly. I chose the view with the scooped neck and buttoning-over under-extension (because hey, as long as you are making totally crazy 1910s, underwear, let’s go whole hog!). For my fabric I used an old cotton sheet – unfortunately I got my sheets mixed up at the last minute, and cut one I’d set aside for toiles only, because it was quite worn, …