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Monday, June 18, 2012

Taking Advantage...

See those three rows of 1/16" wide tucks?  They are done by hand with love.  No.  I didn't do them.  They are probably at least 100 years old.  This is an example of what I mean by taking advantage.

Some mother or grandmother put these stitches in the fabric to add to a baby dress.  By the time I found it, it was just scraps. 

I regularly look for what most people consider useless scraps of fabric and I consider myself lucky when I find a bag that someone has thrown together and attached a small price tag to.

This was the last scrap of the fine cotton with the three rows of tucks.

I decided that Nellie should have some underwear.  No.  It's not necessarily authentic to the time period, but let's just say that she is ahead of her time in that respect.  No drafts up the skirt for this lady.

Another example of taking advantage...This is the first under sleeve for Nellie's costume.

This time it was two hand embroidered hankies that I found at the 22nd Street Antique mall.  There is a stall there that used to have things like this dirt cheap....The prices are going up. 

These two were so badly damaged in the center that nobody wanted them....Nobody but me.  I paid two dollars each for them, but where else could you find that kind of miniature embroidery for so little money?  I will use just about every scrap of these before it is done.  The embroidery went all the way around the edge.
The poor Elizabethan ladies that had to wear the layers of clothing in one of these costumes! The under sleeves were separate from the rest of the dress. 

So far, Nellie has the under sleeves, the pantaloons(not authentic, but necessary), and the hip roll.  No.  Nobody will ever see the hip roll, but I will know that it's there.

The common woman couldn't afford all of the under trappings of the ladies of the court, so they made do with a hip roll to hold out the top of their dresses a bit. 

I figure that Nellie has to be presentable when receiving customers.  Being an embroideress, she should show off her work when she can.

She has permission to use leftovers for her own wardrobe.  Lettice and others that like her work, order a bit extra whenever they can.  She does well with what they give her, in addition to the payment for work done.

More of the handkerchiefs.  It is a little hard to show you what I am up to next. 

I have made her "stomacher".  That is the flat triangular piece that goes in the front of the bodice.  None of those silly curves.  A flat chest and stomach area are a must. 

The under skirt will be two pieces of the hankies grafted onto some other antique cotton fabric.

The raw edges that you see will be covered  by her over dress. 

After she decides what kind of fabric to use for the over dress, I may do a bit of embroidery over the lace of the underdress.  No decisions yet. 

It is, once again, Monday.  I have the real world to contend with for a bit.  Laundry calls.  I will work on the underdress as time allows. 

Also, I think that she needs a few curls around her face...

We have to make a decision on the fabric for the over dress too....Lots to do in the big world as well as the small....

See you tomorrow.

11 comments:

The Old Maid said...

She is going to be really pretty dressed up.:)

Anna said...

amazing work!!

Linda said...

I know exactly what you mean about taking advantage. Today I made a Plain (read: Amish) dress in 1/12th scale and used the finished edges of the fabric as my hem! Love how nicely that works. :)

Kathi said...

Your little fabric finds are gorgeous! To bad to hide them under another dress...

Lucille said...

Beautiful work, Casey.She looks lovely in white. I agree with you that a few little curls would be flattering!

Caseymini said...

Linda, if you can find antique fabrics, even better. Most of the old fabrics are woven or printed all the way to the edge, with no change in texture. Great hens!

Caseymini said...

Hems! LOL

Fabiola said...

Beautiful! She looks a very nice lady. I like the dress.
Bye Faby

Unknown said...

She is beautiful!

Sandra said...

Such exquisite needlework for her underdress and sleeves. Great finds and good use of them.
Sandie

Moonbeam said...

So beautiful!! You are so creative in how you use bits and pieces of fabric. It is a bit sad that it will be hidden...