For the collar part of my "Autumn in Cranford" dress, I really wanted an antique lace pereline such as this, this, this, this, and this. Unfortunately, I have put myself on a spending moratorium and therefore am forbidding myself from searching eBay and etsy for such a collar. Enter my DIY spirit and my stash. I spent a day researching Pinterest, the net and my books on what other lacy bits ladies from the 1830s wore on their day dresses. Low and behold I discovered the dress below. I was thrilled!! Hello! Lacey bits and sheer fabric! Both of which I had in my stash! Huzzah!
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| I LOVE the way this chemisette uses both lace and sheer fabric. This I can do! |
Source: Fashion Blog
During my searches I also found these beautiful chemisettes from these places: National Trust #1, National Trust #2, Roundgowns and Reticules via the MET.
My friend Josie helped me out with the chemisette pattern from Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion 1, which I modified a bit.
Antoinette-25 and American Duchess also used this pattern with beautiful results. I found this pattern that would probably work as well.
I used the lace from my stash and some silk voile that I bought in the LA Fabric District in August after Coco. I'm sort of having issues with the difference in color between the silk and the lace. I dyed the silk in a very weak tea to get the color of the sheer fabric of the lace and when I doubled the silk it resulted in a darker color than the lace. I am toying with the thought of washing the whole chemisette to get the tea out...grrrrrrr.....
For jewelry, I am use this Georgian era mourning brooch that I got several years ago. I know that it is probably a bit macabre for a day dress, but it's the only jewelry I have from this era that could work. Oh for a coral bead brooch!!!
Chemisette over the fabric of the dress! I am loving this!!
Ok, so now I need some opinions...should I attempt to get the tea color out of the fabric, or is it just fine as is? Please let me know what you think? It is also does look better in direct sunlight...
Chemisette in almost direct sunlight....what to do? What to do???
Have a wonderfully blessed day my friends!
g
Haha, you sure move fast!! Very cute, I'm excited!
ReplyDelete~Theresa
Hello Theresa! I had a day yesterday where I didn't have to do much so was able to dedicate most of it to the chemisette! Thank you! I'm excited as well!
DeleteBlessings!
g
Oh no! Tea dilema---- um errr- gosh, I would most likely try to make them match more, and I would most likely try a wash first, then a dye to match if that would not do. I say all this only because it is noticible in the photos but if in person it's less so? Oh dilema and angst! I don't even suffer OCD and I am feeling the slight twitch! Drat!
ReplyDeleteYaaaa....I hate delimmas like this!! Grrrrrrrr!!! I think I am going to pull a page out of you book and photograph it outside in the sun and see what that does. I will after all be wearing it outside for the event soooooo....And yes, the twitch was hightly active last night!! hahahahaha!
DeleteBlessings!
g
Indeed- well I know it will turn out perfectly one way or the other! You are not to be daunted by such a slight thing as stubborn color tones!!
DeleteBut we can totally be plagued by that sort of thing can't we? I"ll bet our fore mothers did the same thing!
DeleteI honestly think it's just fine as is. It isn't a huge difference but just enough to add tonal interest. It hardly even shows in the sunlight picture. It's lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tracey! I am hoping that in full sun it won't be noticable...and I like the idea of tonal interest!! I may just have to use that in the future!!
DeleteBlessings!
g
Love your spending moratorium wording. Lol. Sometimes, those are necessary and you wind up being more creative because of it! If it were my mismatch of colors I would be bothered and try to fix it... but if it looks ok in sunlight then I'm sure no one else will notice and it would be fine. I would choose whatever is going to make you the happiest when you wear it!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Quinn
Thank you Quinn! I am just worried about the whole washing it out enough to get the tea out. Hmmm...how irksome! And I agree with you about the creative process being helped out when I can't go out and just get something!
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g
So ruffly! I love the fabric you picked for the dress too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Loren! I love the 1830s as it lends itself to much ruffly-ness!
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g
Chemisette and dress are beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely compliment Dorfi!
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Gina
I would try cleaning them. Both of my old ones still look white. But if it's not possible, then try for as light a dye as possible.
ReplyDeleteHow funny; I just finished watching Return to Cranford on youtube the last couple nights on my laptop. Made me want to dress as Miss Matty again when I get home.
Val
What????!!! Return to Cranford is on youtube????? The joy and rapture! I have never seen it! Well guess what I'll be watching tonight! I adore Miss Matty. I think Dame Judy Dench is just fabulous in everything she plays! I will probably attempt to wash the collar...I am just nervous about those blasted ruffles....Thank you for your input Val!
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g
I think, that it looks great and incredibly sweet ;) But I would suggest you to wash it to match the color more ;)
ReplyDeleteI'll be sewing my chemisette soon too ;)
Keep sewing Gina! ;)
BTW, I LOVE your name ;)
Oh thank you so much for ALL of your lovely compliments!! I did acutally end up washing the chemisette and I am very happy with how it turned out! I can't wait to see your chemisette! I will be watching your blog for details!
DeleteBlessings!
g
ps...thank you for liking my name! It took me a while to like it but now I do!