1869 Tissot Dress

So I wanted to enter this dress into the American Duchess Christmas photo contest, but I somehow lost the pictures from when I wore it 2 or 3 years ago. With only a few days to enter and unable to find a good scenery for it, I missed the deadline. But with a winter storm down here in Texas I finally got some photos of the dress and in a snowy scenery!

So first... the comparison to the Tissot picture..

I made this one a few years ago and probably would have done it a little differently now because it doesn't quite get the 1869 shape. I also don't have the right skirt supports either. I do still love this dress, I think because I just love the red fabric I used! It's so soft and nice feeling. 

I preferred the skirts bustled up and unbuttoned in the front but I did get a picture with it buttoned and un-bustled. 

There is a small black fur muff to match the fur on the jacket. I considered making a large one because I still have this fur but... when looking at some fashion plates from 1869 they looked to be using smaller muffs. I'm thinking I'll use it to make an oversized 18th century muff. 

I also made a little hat to match from the same fabric. 

A  pug picture to complete the outfit

Starting the 18th century

It's been one of my goals for a while to work on sewing for the 18th century since I live in Texas the only opportunities I've had are mostly for 1840-1860 reenacting.  I finally decided to go ahead and just do it.
I'm starting from the inside to out, so with the shift first.

I've found some great websites for just starting out  here's one, and  this one here! I used both of them to create my pattern. I've also been handsewing all of it, I want it to be as authentic as possible!

So far I've got one sleeve and almost the side done. It's not that its so very time consuming, but I really only get a bit of time on the weekends or when I happen to be watching a show on tv to work on it. Taking 18 hours of school and a teaching job has been taking all my time!

Along with that, I actually have started back up working on a dress I'm making from a homemade pattern that I think is somewhere in the 1910's or 1920's. I got stuck on how to make the closing for it but I've been studying some examples from the 20's. 

I used a fagoting stitch by hand on the bottom of one of the skirt pieces. The pattern I got at a garage sale and it was with another homemade pattern for an envelope chemise, my plan is to make the chemise in a blue that will show through the white of this dress. Hopefully when it's completed if I put it together right it will be easier to date the pattern. 

Both are slow in coming since I'm sewing them by hand, but progress is being made! 

Tomorrow I start up my volunteering again at the local historical village by me and while I can just squeeze into the dresses I've had forever, I desperately need a new one and new 1860 underthings. Mine are ripping apart! So that will need to be squeezed in and soon! 

P.S.  I haven't left my vintage patterns behind! I've been ordering quite a lot while I've been idle and I'm anxious to start sewing those too! 

Advance 6410

19th Century Sandwich Bag

I'm in the process of finishing an 1860 dress I started a year ago. It's a very plain dress but I just kept pushing it aside but I'm finally determined to finish it because I'd like to wear it to an event in September. I finally finished embroidering a collar for it, I have pictures and will put them up.

On a side note, but still related to the 19th century, I found this somewhat pattern for a 19th century Sandwich Bag! I thought it was pretty funny to see they would make embroidered sandwich bags for their picnics! I almost want to make one for myself, though I have no idea what I would do with it lol. It came from Beeton's Book of Needlework, and here is what it said-

"Sandwich Case.

Materials: Strip of grey kid; strip of oil silk; 1 skein black silk; 1 skein red purse silk; 1 hank steel beads; steel button.

This case will be found very useful on the occasion of a journey or picnic, as it can be carried in the pocket without any inconvenience.

The case is made of a strip of grey kid, scalloped out at the edges. The words "Bon appetit," or "Good appetite," at will, are worked over it in overcast with black purse silk and steel beads, the scroll pattern in chain stitch with red silk. The back and front of the case are formed of the same strip, which is lined with oilskin, and to which narrow side-pieces are added to form the pocket. These pieces are lined and scalloped out in the same way as the back and front, and then the scallops of both sides are joined together, and worked round in button-hole stitch with purse silk.

The case is fastened down with a steel button.

If another colour is preferred, the sandwich case can be made of brown kid. The scroll pattern should then be worked in rich blue purse silk, and gold beads used for the letters, which should be embroidered as before in black silk. The edge may be worked in double overcast stitch in blue or black silk. A gold button must replace the steel when this alteration of colour is made."