Edwardian Outing

I finished the Past Patterns Edwardian waist this week in preparation for our first costumed folk dance performance of the season. The pattern came in sizes 10+. I usually use a size 6 for myself and then alter it to fit, so cutting down from a 10 created a little more work. However the pattern is pretty basic and came together fine, until I ran out of matching thread. I also fiddled around with the shoulder pleats more than I would have liked, mostly because of the sizing change. The shoulder pleats are the same width all down the front of the blouse, but they taper to an end down the back. One of the pleats rippled as I sewed it down the back, so I had to rip it out and re-do.

Anyway.

Ladies from dance group: I'm the one on the far right, looking like I'm in a a straight jacket.What I'm really wearing is my wool trumpet skirt, pleated petticoat, and Gibson waist. The lady on the other end used the same pattern, only the alternate collar and cuff pieces and in a lighter-weight white linen.

The gentlemen also looked great, and with way less work, too.

Knit together

This is me. I'm not smiling because my brother, the giggly one, only took two pictures of me and they both happened to be of me, not smiling. Anyway, I managed to make this knit skirt over the weekend. It's a dark grey rayon blend fabric with pinstripes. I ordered it from Fabric.com. I like it that fabrics-store.com posts the actual weight of each fabric; fabric.com only posts general terms: "lightweight," "medium" or "heavy." This knit was a "heavy." Is this knit had been anything less than "heavy" it wouldn't have worked well for a skirt.

I had too much fun with the stripes. Besides the triangle top and pocket I added three crazy-quiltish patches at the hem. Knit certainly doesn't have that tailored look, but it's super comfortable and practical for everyday wear, and easy to sew. For the waistband I sewed a sturdy band of elastic to the knit with a zig-zag stitch, and then folded it under. I also used a zig-zag stitch to finish the hem.

I did order this knit from fabric.com (I was already ordering something else, anyway) and was satisfied overall; however, for knits specifically I'd like to try Girl Charlee someday. Like, someday very soon. This week, maybe. Eeek!