Pink 1860 Dress New Pictures

I finished my pink 1860  dress a year ago but never really got great pictures of it! I've been trying to get better pictures of dresses I've made, for my portfolio, so this dress finally got it's turn!

I am absolutely incapable of not squinting my eyes in the sun so this was the very best shot of the front I could get!

Since I intended this dress to be more of a work dress when I volunteered, even though I love it with the hoop, I most often used it as an 1850 dress with a corded petticoat or none at all. With, of course my pinner apron.

I do still love those puff sleeves. They may possibly be my favorite sleeve ever. 

In the meantime, I've got a historical and a modern project in the works and hopefully will get pictures of another 18th century outfit this week!!

The finished Pink Rose Dress!

I finally have some pictures of the Pink Rose dress! It's all done (except for buttons in the top pictures!) I did get someone to take my picture this time though, so it's not just hanging on a hanger!

I also finished up a pinner apron I started a while back which just needed the pieces to be sewn to the band.  I loved this blue plaid fabric but I didn't have enough of it for a dress so I just made an apron out of it.

Both pictures are shown with a hoop underneath

I think it's just my sewing, but while I am very happy with this dress I dont think I'd do the gathered bodice again. I think it looks kinda messy, maybe because the fabric is light so you cant see that it's a yoked bodice.

I like it so much better with the hoop but where I volunteer I'm portraying 1850 so I wear my corded petticoat which just doesn't give the same effect. Though I admit, I don't have my petticoat on in this picture (it would probably have helped a bit!) 

 I've heard such good reviews about those frixion pens lately that I had to try them myself! My marking pens always fade away and its frustrating especially when I'm sewing darts. I have to agree with everyone else they are amazing! I love that it's not a marker so you aren't getting a fat line and you can mark all over and the instant the iron hits it, it's gone! 

 I also ended up throwing together some long sleeves to attach to my dress and when I say throwing together... I really mean it. They came out pretty awful! But, I was volunteering this morning and it was  going to be cold and I was determined I'd wear my new dress this week.  They failed partly because I just made too tight a sleeve and partly (well mostly...) because I was literally using scraps of the fabric to conserve the whole squares I had in hopes of making a sundress out of those leftovers. sigh. 

So I got through this morning, but these sleeves are coming back off immediately! Since it is Texas, it's going to get very hot soon and I was always planning on using this as a summer dress.  This also gives me the excuse that I'm going to need to make another dress that has long sleeves!   

1860 Part 2

I didn't get as much time as I would have liked this weekend to work on the pink dress but I did get a good amount done! As of Sunday night...

I finished the darted lining and started building the top fabric onto the lining and finished with an almost done bodice! Almost... there's still quite a lot to do. 

I did find an old collar I embroidered a while back for a different 1860 dress, it didn't fit though and has been sitting in my stash serving no purpose until now! The embroidery pattern is actually from a Godey's Ladies Book, though I can't remember what year. 

I made some piping for the armscyes with leftover yarn I used for my corded petticoat. 

And... I started my sleeves! I decided to go with puff sleeves. I have one just about done and one half done. I decided these were best since I look young enough to still get away with short sleeves and I really did like them. Starting the sleeves I actually had no idea where to even begin but thankfully I found this tutorial on one of the blogs I love to read, Romantic History! It helped so much! 

As of right now I think I'll have some leftover fabric so I may try to make some long sleeves that I can easily baste on and then take off when I just want short sleeves.  Somewhat like this... 

source

I have the skirt sewn together but I want to cartridge pleat it and still have to make the waist band and buttons. Lots of hand sewing so while I'm hoping I will be able to be done by Tuesday... most likely it will be a little longer!