You keep coming back to it. Over and over. It draws you in with its delicious appearance as a moth to a gaslight flame at a Victorian ball.
It calls to you; speaks your name. Torments your dreams….
Ruthless in its pursuit of your desire to make it come to life. That long ago fashion that you can’t quite push out of your mind. You HAVE to possess it! It MUST have a home in your wardrobe! But it’s so scary to face! Oh! How do you conquer such a spirit of beauty?!
Simple – one step at a time and with a few tips to guide you through the labyrinth of this frightening new world.
Confession:Â Late Edwardian/Titanic Era fashions scare me. They do!
You’re probably thinking, “How?? You make such intricate costumes and bustle gowns. Titanic Era is easy!”
Yes, it may be for YOU, but to me it’s the Big Bad Scary Costuming Wolf. Ahhhhh!!! Well, I’m determined to conquer this monster.
Last week I made this confession about making lovely, early 20th Century gowns on the Facebook page, and the encouraging support so many of you gave filled my heart! I CAN do this!
You also gave me off-the-cuff tips to keep moving forward and conquer this new-to-me time period. Some ideas I knew; others, as familiar as they were to me caught me off guard willing me to push onward.
Has that ever happened to you? When someone makes a suggestion and the light bulb simply goes off at the right time shining brightly on what you need help with?
Gleaning from our Joyful Community of followers as well as from my own experiences, here’s how YOU TOO can take on that time period of your dreams and approach it with confidence.
After the flood of good wishes and “you can do it-s” (which were SOOO encouraging, thank you!!) the most obvious tip came out of nowhere and was super simple…
Start with a pattern.
Ok, duh! But then thinking about it I was, like, of course! Â If you’d rather knit scarves out of cobwebs than begin to even think about how to start on your beloved time period, go back to basics and get a pattern.
A full-size-paper-printed-with-seam-allowances pattern. Right. Start your foundation with someone else’s work. They’ve been where you want to go. If all that draping and trim and lace and hand finishing is scary – it is! Chip into the design first with basic pattern shapes.
In other words, don’t tackle a complicated design right off the bat.
Of course! This is how we all get started sewing – with a pattern. With basics. Because once we understand the very essence of the silhouette we can move on to breaking those fashion bonds and tweaking designs that reflect our dreams. Starting with a pattern can cut the learning curve in half.
Cast your net wide with the very straightforward expression of the period. As you learn more about those historical years, you can begin narrowing down designs to within a few years in your research.
If you’ve been sewing (anything) for a while, jumping time periods is not too difficult. It merely seems that way. You can use the same techniques you’ve been using: darts, seam finishes, hems, buttonholes, turning collars, etc.
The ABCs of sewing haven’t changed so much to make construction all that different. It may only be in the progression of steps that’s altered. The point is to take it one step at a time. Fine tuning and advanced techniques come later.
You have no reason to not go for it! Delve into that new period with zest and enthusiasm. THAT will carry you further than if you relied on your skills only. Squash your fear and join me in challenging yourself to try that style that scares the crap out of you.
WE CAN DO IT! 😀
What time period puts a knot in your stomach but you *really* want to do it?
I have three major late 19th century projects in front of me, but already I’m looking at Regency. It would be nice to fill in the centuries between 1530 and 1900 with fashion examples.
Can anybody suggest a means of enlarging a condo to house all these costumes?
This is a link to look at a dress I have. If you want to see it…
Well I’ve given in to my urge to make a bustle era dress. Inspired by seeing all the lovely frocks on your blog. Although I’m gonna do it on a budget (yes a challenge but hopefully with a few compromises and some upcycling I can do it). Starting with making the petticoat and bustle pad. Daunted by the bodice so leaving that till last….I’m always terrible at fitted bodices..too may curves to fit. lol!
I would encourage you to join our next Bustle Day Dress class in May 2014. We spend a whole lesson on bodice fitting. 😉
If I can afford it, I’m in!
I’ve got the fabric and pattern for my first bustle dress staring at me, giving me that look, the underwear are all underway, I’ve got miles of secondhand sheets for mockups and flatlining and a petticoat, and I’ve got a couple of simple projects in line between now and May… Time to start saving my pennies!
I am about to delve into the 1890’s full force with a Worth inspired gown. I have very carefully laid plans and diagrams on paper as if I were planning an overseas military invasion. 😀
I think narrowing your vision to the garment that needs to be constructed at each particular phase is the best way to keep from being overwhelmed. For instance, I am not even going to worry about buying 10 yards of fabric for the actual gown until I complete the under garments.
Ooh, good point!
I’m diving into 1890s right now too!
One pattern I have tried & like much is by Folklore Patterns – 1915 Afternoon Tea Dress. Their patterns were a wonderful place for me to start with period sewing. I made the Afternoon Tea Dress a few years back to wear as the greeter at our home (c.1915) that was in the local Historic Tour. The pattern was VERY easy to follow, although I did redesign the bust darts to make them more flattering. I made it out of pale yellow silk with an striped organza overlay. I would LOVE to delve into this style more as I do not think it looks out of place at formal events. Since making this outfit, I have become a Martha Pullen certified instructor. I would LOVE to do this dress again & heirloom it up a bit more with laces, insertions, embroidery, etc. I love your blog & site Jennifer. I have 6 yards of red silk dupioni that calls my name, but alas, I have hardly any time to sew for myself. I keep seeing a beautiful Christmas dress out of it – I actually bought a vintage vogue pattern several years ago, but have not made it yet. Keep thinking that a dress form would be immensely helpful, but can’t seem to find the right one, or one that fits into my budget at any given time. Your posts are VERY inspiring! Thank you!
I actually find any eras that use vast amounts of expensive fabric daunting. Its the outlay…then the thought, I’ve spent all that but can’t wear it anywhere. (non re-enactor here). I’ve now managed to find something victorian I can go to. But I’m scared of ‘hoops’ (making, storing, travelling and moving in them) and all those straight seams oh and boning….all that hand sewing – my poor fingers.
So I’m trying to go pre-hoop but post regency hoping I can reuse some of my regency petticoats, caps, fichus etc. to save me time.
I’ve dabbled in edwardian. Its a little weakness….I tend to wear it in the winter time. I’m going more downton abbey teens way this year in my styling to make it ‘everyday’ so I can wear it in modern times.
Little steps at a time LadyD! And I love your determination to bring more Downton Abbey styling to your everyday life. I want to do that too. 🙂
Perfect timing! I needed some encouragement too! Regency lovely regency is my big scary wish. For me it’s all the new foundation garments, it’s the bulk of work needed for a new era… There is just soooo much (groan) to do. It’s daunting. One thing at a time though, corset first. Great post Jennifer!
That’s probably the biggest stumbling block for people jumping to another period – all the work & time to make foundation undergarments! I completely understand that one. (Probably why I haven’t done much 18th C yet….)
Yeah! I sooooo cannot wait to see your new creations!! I know you will do a fabulous job…and yes, start with an “already” pattern and then mutate it! You do make such wonderful dresses and your eye for attention is spot on! I love the Edwardian and Titanic Era…it’s the Regency Era that gets me….You will be getting many e.mails concerning your wisdom concerning that dear lady!!!
Blessings!
Gina
Ha! Just shows that everyone is scared of something… I LOVE Regency! And don’t find it difficult, well, not anymore than a bustle dress. Your jump from Titanic (no pun) to Regency should be smooth sailing. Good luck!
Thank you my friend!!!
18th Century…I am scared of the undergarments…so that keeps me from going anywhere with it. I will conquer the fear eventually and just make myself do the corset and I think the rest will fall into place.
Any time period where the garments are fitted scare the bejeezus out of me BUT then I am still a novice.
You’ll get there Karen! Try one small fitting area (like darts around the waistline) in your next project. Every bit you do moves you forward. 🙂