Vintage Inspired Summer Dress

Just a little blurb here, the dress is not historical, made only for modern wear. But it's still cute and I like it, and thought you might want to see it :).

Stats: Around 4 yards of sheer red cotton, bought for a regency dress that never got made. Lined with sturdy white cotton sheets. 6 buttons. Draped. Side zipper.

I thought I'd try and join the bandwagon of adding pretty fonts to photos. Yay or nay? What would ya'll think if I started doing this? 

I feel very Edwardian for some reason....

cloth covered buttons

there are three 1/4 inch tucks on each side of the bodice front, and on the skirt

I lightened this photo so you could see the checks in the fabric that are lost in most of these photos. It really is a lovely fabric!

top stitching on the waistband

the box pleats

These were the main pictures I used for inspiration. (via Pinterest)

the diagonal tucks

one of many box pleated frocks. I also box pleated because that's good for spoon body shapes, or so I read. Seems good to me :)

the darling peter pan collars

and a sweet dress with cloth covered buttons

I think I'll be wearing this dress a lot this summer. It's airy, well fitted, and definitely has a vintage feel to it.

~Theresa

Nice and Plump, a Quilted Rump

Well, I've come to the conclusion that skirt supports are beneficial, very beneficial actually. Not only do they help prevent un-needed strain on the waistbands of heavy skirts, but they prevent discomfort on your waist as well. Plus, they give a nice poof, and help achieve a more period skirt shape.

For a year and a half now, I've been planning on make a "hip roll" or some other type of tie on "bum roll" to wear with Rev War outfits. This was my plan until a few months ago, when I saw Lauren's rump for under her wedding dress, and Merja's quilted bum pad. I should also mention this excellent post on 18th century skirt supports. After that I decided on more of a pad instead of a roll.

I had some linen scraps in the stash, so I put those to good use. For the batting I used cotton fluff. I apologize, but I did not take pictures of the beginning process. But to make one, you basically cut two pieces of fabric , the width of the back half of your body. or a little more. Then you quilt it in some manner, with fluff between the two layers, pleat the waist, and attach it to a tie. It's very basic, and overall does not take much time to complete.

Here is mine :)

the false rump quilted, but not pleated

quilting :)

close up of the waist pleats. My bum pad was substantially thicker than Merja's, so I was not able to do as many pleats as she did. I have a total of 4 pleats. 2 knife pleats and 1 inverted box pleat.

showing about where it came after I pleated it.

finished :) Madame is modeling it for me

If you've got a few hours on your hands, I suggest you make a quilted rump as well. I can see this being one of my new favorite items in my historical wardrobe.

~Theresa