Leave Me In Stiches

Sewing has become a major part of my life. I realized a few years back that I could make most everything I needed. I know I could go to Wal-Mart and buy a blouse for $10 on sale, but there is nothing more pleasurable than making a blouse with your on two hands. I spent $8 on material, and I already had the buttons from another worn out blouse. So if you figure in the material, thread and time, I am sure the blouse cost me over a $10 sale blouse. But how do you measure internal satisfaction. It means so much more than buying something off the wrack. You start off with just a piece of fabric, and then in few hours it is a beautiful blouse.
Along with this desire to sew came a desire to make womens 1800’s fashions. I have always been drawn to the Victorian era clothing. Now, living in our 1800’s farmhouse, my “dress” fits in much more than it ever did before. Around town, I am known for my long skirts and my Victorian blouses. In fact, one day I wore pants, and someone said “Oh my goodness, you have legs,” to which I replied, “yes, that is how I walk”. I guess I have an image to maintain. An image I didn’t know I had until that day.
Over the weekend I finished two blouses that match a skirt I just made. One, was the blouse to the 1860’s day dress I had been working on. I didn’t want a dress so I took the pattern and made a skirt and blouse instead. The sleeves on that one was tough. Lots of poof. Lots of gathering, and lots of frustration of taking it apart 3 times. But, it is now done, and beautiful, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
The other blouse, a bit more “modern”, is actually a style that fits into an 1800’s clothes closet. I purposely picked this pattern for that reason.
So, I now have the pantelets, the chemise, the petticoat, the skirt, the over skirt and blouse to wear for our Victorian Christmas. The only thing I don’t have made yet is the corset. I don’t think anyone will be peeking anyway.
These add to my already growing collection of Victorian skirts, petticoats (antiques and homemade), chemises, and other Victorian clothing. If someone were to look into my closet they would be hard pressed knowing if it is 2007 or 1867.