1917 Envelope Chemise and Corset Cover Complete!

Greetings lovely readers!  How have you been since I last wrote?  I hope very, very well!  I am still struggling with getting my anxiety and stress under control, but it is getting better.  I decided this past week that instead of lying in bed and binge watching Netflix and Hulu, I would make myself arise and sew, do laundry, clean the house and get out in the sun when it shines.  Even if I don't feel like it, I need to get on with life until the normal, happy me comes back!  I know she will, she always does.  

I finished my 1910s Wearing History corset cover yesterday and decided to go ahead and do a photo shoot with that and the Wearing History 1917 combination underwear and chemise pattern on Emma Mark II.  I will wait until the petticoat is done and then do a photo shoot with the underwear on me.  

The inspiration for both the envelope chemise and corset cover came from This Image from witness2fashion (second model from the left).  I loved the tucks at the top of the chemise and since I didn't have any beading lace that was antique, I needed a way to pull together the top of both the chemise and corset cover.  I am really liking the tucks quite a bit and won't have to worry about old lace giving way when being pulled by ribbon!

I used a batiste fabric from Hobby Lobby and got quite irked when after washing in hot water and drying on high, the fabric still shrank under my high heat iron.  Might have something to do with the fact that it does contain polyester, but still...

Ok, the underwear!!

Envelope Chemise

Pretty antique lace that was part of a damaged, small petticoat flounce.  It took me about 6 hours to unpick all the small stitches....

The back of the chemise even has the tucks to draw up the neckline.

With Pretty Yellow Corset!

Corset Cover

This is where my frustration really came into being.  The shrinkage of the fabric caused the corset cover to become at least 1.5" shorter.  I ended up making a rather wide waistband, but since one of my extant corset covers has a wide waistband, I'm not too stressed.

I added small darts in the lace as it is a straight lace and stuck straight up when worn.  Hahahahah!  I looked like I was wearing a ruff!

Pretty lace at on the waistband.

I need to get to Hobby Lobby some time this week and get more incredible shrinking fabric and start on the petticoat.  Then on to the Brown Party Dress!!

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week!!

Blessings!

g

Regency/Romantic Era Chemise

One of the events I plan on attending this year (I better, I am the hostess) is a Lewis and Clark Picnic.  Why Lewis and Clark you ask?  Well, because in 1805 Lewis and Clark came through Idaho with the Corps of Discovery.  It is my goal with our group "We Wear History", to keep things Idaho centered.  Thus being the case, since Jane Austen did not set foot in Idaho, I don't think it appropriate to have a picnic with the label "Jane Austen picnic"...not that I have anything against Miss Austen.  After all she brought us such lovely heroines as Lizzie Bennet, Miss Woodhouse, Fanny Price, Miss Elliot, The Dashwood Sisters, and Miss Morland.  And let us not forget the heroes that she has allowed for the film industry to bring to life in glaringly, drool worthy splendor!!!  Hello Captain Wentworth!!!  How do you do Mr. Darcy!!!  Pleased to make your acquaintance, Colonel Brandon...I could go on, but I am using my husband's laptop and I do not think he would appreciate my drool on his keyboard.  

Right then...back to the Lewis and Clark Picnic.  A Regency era dress would not look correct unless I had some era correct undies right?  Oh darn it.  I have to make new underwear.  I am so upset!!!  Whatever will I do!?  Start by making a chemise, that's what I shall do!!!

Enter Simplicity 4052.  It was actually quite fast and easy.  Except for the evil gussets that are an essential part of this pattern.  But they were conquered and made to obey. 

I used a very inexpensive muslin from JoAnn's.  It was their $2.99 muslin and I had a 50% off coupon!!  Whoot!  I chose the cheaper muslin as I wanted it to be sort of thin and soft.  Mission accomplished!!

Close up of neckline.  I had followed the directions on the pattern and used bias tape (home made) for the edging.  In my opinion it was too thick and bulky, so I ripped it out and just hemmed the edge.  I zig zagged the raw edge so there would be no unraveling....

Laaaaaaa!!!  I did something today that I have never done!  I made two hand sewn eyelets!  I was very excited about this and think they turned out wonderfully!!!

I also played around with the twill, linen and hemp cording that I will be using for my corded stays.  I am so stoked about how not so hard it was and how cute they turned out!!!  Bring on the corded stays!!!

Well, actually tomorrow I will be starting on the short stays from Simplicity 4052...we'll see if tomorrow was as fruitful as today!