Corset update

I've been very bad about sewing recently. It just hasn't interested me. This afternoon I was determined to get over that and put a good two and a half hours work into my corset. I finished fitting it (drawing all over in the process), zigzagged the edges flat, since the seam allowances in most places were too small to flat-fell, and cut some of the coutil into strips for the bone casing.

I'm happy to report that my new machine sews it wonderfully! It didn't have a problem sewing through multiple layers of coutil at all, as opposed to our old machine, which sounded like it was dying every time it sewed more than one layer of fabric. :) The old machine is in for a much-needed repair right now.

Newly fitted!

Close up of the zigzag.

Coutil strips for the bone casing.

So there you have it. Because I have a short attention span, I also stopped mid-way to iron the fabric for my next project. :) I'm going to make a pair of pleated shorts for my graduation party.

Here's the pattern:

And my fabric:

Hope you all are having a great week!

Of Birthdays, Chicks, and Sewing Machines

I am now 18! It's rather strange to think that I'm old enough to legally get married now. And get a tattoo. And join the Army. But I'm not going to do any of those things. Know why? Because I'd much rather stay at home sewing something on my new sewing machine!

Isn't she beautiful?

It's a Viking Emerald 116. A pretty basic machine, but it has everything I need to sew all sorts of amazing things. One if the coolest things about it is that it has not only an automatic button-hole setting but also a needle threader! No more poking and prodding at a tiny little needle with an even smaller hole in it. :) I haven't tried the automatic button-holer yet, but I'm thinking it'll be pretty neat. The main thing I don't like about making buttonholes is trying to get them all the same length so the button isn't too loose, or worse, too tight. That and trying to keep the long edges straight.

After a few sample runs to try out the different settings, I sewed a few seams on my corset. She certainly has a different sound than Mom's machine. Not a bad sound though. Here's what's new with my corset:

After I had to take out two of the pieces in each side because I'd sewn them in upside down (sigh), I sewed them back together with a 3/8" (I think, it was just to the edge of the foot) seam allowance because I didn't want to mess with the edges where I had cut them because of the flat felling. So now it's too big. I think. I've never made one before, so it's all trial and error. The mock-up I made fit fine, now just to get this fitting. I don't really know how big/small it should be, having never tried one on in real life. All I know comes from the internet. (Which actually kinda cool, if you think about it. If I had been born 30 years earlier, I wouldn't know a thing about sewing corsets! Or want to make one, probably, based on the common mis-conception about everyone being tight lacers. I love telling people that I'm making a corset, just to see their faces. :) )

The black is the non-fitted side, the blue is fitted, showing how much I've taken in.

Once my fitting helper (a.k.a. the ever helpful Mom) gets back, I'm going to try it again. Fitting is one time when I could use a clone! One of me to fit onto and one to be behind myself to see how it fits! And maybe one in front to help hold it. :)

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In other news, our chicks are getting bigger! They've all started getting wing, tail, and body feathers in. The two Buffs are a bit behind the others, in terms of feather growth. They all are getting to the point where you have to hold them in two hands, simply because of their size. They're growing up! I feel like a proud mother telling about her kids. :) They like to flap around the box we're keeping them in. None of them have flown to the top of the feeder yet, but I'm guessing it won't be long! The box sides are a good yard or so tall, so we don't have to worry about them getting out.

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I'm going to post a picture of my moccasins. I know I said I wasn't going to post a picture until I got the beading on both done, but I have it done on one and now I'm not sure I like it. First off, here's what they look like:

Sorry for the poor-quality picture. Mirrors aren't good photo-takers.

 They're maybe not the most flattering, but are they ever comfy! I like that you can sit on them (I sit on my feet a lot) without a big hard sole digging in.



So...do they look better with the red beading or without? Please leave a comment. I can't decide.

I do like the blue beading and it's going to stay whatever I decide on the red.

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Anyhow, I had a nice birthday. A roller-rink near us has a homeschoolers only Friday once a month which happened to fall on my birthday. We got done with school a bit early, all ready to go, but then we learned that it was closed due to flooding from all the rain we've had recently. So instead we went to the Michigan Historical Museum, which was more fun anyways. :) 

One of my favorite things they had on display was a bloomer dress. It was interesting to see one in person as opposed to pictures on the internet. It fastened with hooks and eyes, which kind of surprised me. Were I making it, I would have used buttons. I think they would stay better if you were vigorous. I wish they had had more information on it. They didn't even tell what year it was from! Ah well. I wish I had remembered to bring my camera.

They also had some of Laura Ingalls Wilder's original notebooks! She wrote down her story in them, then Rose, her daughter made them into books. Her handwriting was lovely. I also enjoyed seeing some Civil War era letters and diaries. The handwriting in them was beautiful as well. The only way I can think to describe it is 'spidery.' It's very fine and delicate.

Old, new, and our messy sewing table...

On the drive down we encountered water going across the road. After watching two smaller cars drive through, we decided to go for it as well. We made it just fine and there were no other incidents on the way there. We took a different route on the way back to avoid it but ended up driving through water once more and turning around because it looked too deep and/or fast three more times. I suppose it's better than a dry year like last. 

Let me know what you think on the beading!

Chicks!

We have chicks! Eight little bundles of joy joined our family on the 9th. There are two Americanas, two Black Australorps, two Buff Orpingtons, a Barred Rock and a Golden Laced Wyandotte.  Picture time!

They're so precious when they sleep.  :)

From left to right, Black Australorp, Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, Black Australorp, Buff, Golden Laced Wyandotte. The two Americanas are up top.

I believe they all still had their egg tooth when we got them. Most of them have fallen off by now.

I love the chick on the left who fell asleep standing up against her sister.

Aren't they just the cutest little things? I do believe it's impossible to look at them without smiling. They're even cuter in real life, running around pecking things, scratching for food in the sawdust, snuggling up next to one-another.

I also finished my moccasins. I'm trying to get the rest of the beading done before I post a picture of them though. They're so comfy! I just wish it would dry up so I can try them outside.

Spring Has Sprung! (Moccasins)

Well, I think spring is finally here. The spring birds are, for the most part, all back and singing outside. The sun is shining and I haven't seen any snow for a week or so. We're looking at getting more chicks. We started out (8 years ago) with 26. We lost some and gained some but now we're down to one. I think she looks rather lonely sitting on the roost at night by herself.

Anyhow, I thought I would share some of my favorite spring pictures, historical dresses or otherwise to get you into the mood. Enjoy!

Love those hats, especially the blue one! Why don't more people wear hats?

Four lovely ladies, all dressed up. I wonder why they were dressed like that? Were they picnicking? Play croquet on the lawn? About to go out visiting?

Because every now and then, you need a rabbit driving a car with a huge red egg in the backseat.

And pussy willows, because I love pussy willows.

On another note, I have started making myself a pair of moccasins. Long story short, my feet don't like shoes of any kind. I tend to get blisters if I hike for more than about an hour in anything.

My Grandpa brought down some beautiful chocolate brown leather for me yesterday. (The picture makes it look a lot grayer than it really is.) I drafted my pattern using this site and cut it out. A few trials runs (on scrap cotton) with the pattern later, I cut the leather. Now I just need to get some thicker thread as well as a needle or an awl that will actually go through the leather. I suppose it's such a good thing the leather is as tough as it is. :) It feels so soft against your skin and it smells delicious! I can't wait to get them done!

As weird as it looks, this turns into a moccasin!

Hope your spring is going well so far!

Blue Ruffle skirt and Embroidery

Worn with my 1910's blouse and bustle skirt.

My apologies for not posting this sooner. It has been a very busy weekend. Myself and a few of my family went down to the Living History show in Kalamazoo this Saturday. I could have stayed for hours looking at all the interesting things people were selling, but we had to get back to town for something. I was mainly looking for a cameo brooch to wear with my Civil War dress (and possibly my bustle dress), but I ended up buying a lot more. I did get a brooch and some stockings to wear with my dresses. I bought the stockings because I only have colored socks, so I needed a period-correct alternative. I also bought a lovely olive green silk scarf and a hair pin. :) It was very interesting seeing all the costumes and I already can't wait for next year!


On to the main post. For my little sister's birthday I made her a ruffled skirt out of blue fabrics left over from a quilt. I originally imagined it to be slightly ruffle-y (ending around 90 inches), but it ended up being 218 inches around the bottom, which is even bigger than my hoop skirt! She says it isn't too ruffled though, so it's all good. :) Is there even such a thing as too ruffled? It looks gorgeous when she twirls.

I started at the top, ruffled a strip and sewed it on to the waistband. Ruffle, sew, repeat. The ruffles were 4 inches in width except for the last, which was 6 and 1/2, simply because I didn't think the original 4 inch ruffle looked long enough. I used the 13 inches of fabric I had left to make it a bit wider.

And on another note, I tried my hand at embroidery a few weeks ago. This being my first time, I think I did pretty well. I also tried embroidering a rose bud, but it didn't turn out well at all, so I didn't take a picture of it.

The fabric I used was from the scrap box. It puckered quite a bit, but I think that it was A. because I can't find my embroidery hoop, and B. because the fabric has quite a stretch to it. I've come to the conclusion that we need more natural colors for embroidering flowers. :)

"Women Will Never Be Great Until They Wear More Clothes"

I found this article from 1917 and thought it still rings true today.

“Women never will be great until they quit giving so much attention to clothes.” Who says so? Ethel Leginska.

The famous pianist has eschewed the evening gown, and now wears a blouse and skirt in public. This makes a striking combination with her pianist head of hair, which she wore bobbed before ever that style became the fashion in the movies and Bohemia.

“Men wear practically a uniform,” says Leginska. “Why shouldn’t women?”

“What is clothing, except something to keep you warm? Modern women’s clothes don’t even do that. Women make themselves almost naked to attract men.

“Their dress, or lack of it, is killing women in New York today. I know of society girls who have died recently of nothing but exposure caused by insufficient clothing.”

Kind of sounds like now, doesn't it? Except for the part about dying from exposure. :) I wish I could see what they considered "naked." Somehow, I think it would still be more covering than what girls wear at the beach today...

Here's the original article, if you're interested:

Modesty

Last week was the dance at the high school. As usual, people were posting about it all over Facebook the day before. When I saw that there was going to be a ball, quite honestly, the first thought that came into my head was "Oh great. Here come the skimpy dress pictures!"

It's sad how immodest most girls dress now days. In one picture I saw last summer on Facebook there was a group of ten girls in their prom dresses. Guess how many of their dresses were floor length? None. How many were knee length or below? None again. How many were even at the knee? Still none! Every single dress was above their knees. Four of the dresses were strapless, and every one of them were sleeveless. 

I don't see how you can feel comfortable in a dress like that. You would have to be so careful when you sit so you don't expose something. A lot of the time when I see girls wearing dresses like that, when they stand up (or sit down) they pull on their dresses to re-adjust them. If your dress is so short you have to pull it down when you stand up, it's too short. Same goes for how low they are in front. You wouldn't be able to lean over without once again showing something that the world shouldn't see. Not to mention you would be cold any time the slightest breeze came along.

Doesn't this look more elegant...

...than this?

If you expose that much of your body, men will want you for your body. If you cover that up, they will be able to look past your flesh and like you for who you are inside. Eventually, everyone's looks change. Also, if your dress comes to your knees or below, your legs are nicely accented, as well as whichever cute shoes you chose to wear. If your dress is above your knee, the only thing people will ever focus on are your ugly knees. (Because, seriously, does anyone have nice-looking knees?)

It is possible to find modest dresses. You just have to look harder. One of my favorite places to go dress shopping is Goodwill. All the ones near us have a nice selection of dresses. Yes, there are some dresses that are still too high for me to be comfortable wearing, but there are quite a few other ones as well. Plus, the prices can't be beat! :) There are quite a few online dress stores that have nice selections as well, such as Mikarose.com, ShabbyApple.com, and DownEastBasics.com. (Not to mention sewing your own dresses, but that's a whole other post.)

The first thing I noticed about this picture was her dress, then her necklace, then her hair, not her exposed skin!

A well fitted dress will do wonders for you, making you look and feel like a princess. Not to mention it is just plain fun to wear a swirling skirt that billows when you twirl. Ever notice that Cinderella didn't wear a skin-tight, sleeveless, knee-length dress? Take a look at a picture of the Disney princesses. They all look so elegant and lady-like in their floor and ankle length dresses. I don't mean to say you have to wrap yourself up in cloth until you look like a mummy, just wear enough to cover yourself. You can be modest and still look pretty. Modestly is very becoming, no matter what your age.

So, girls. I have a challenge for you. Next time you are going to dress up, whether it be for a prom, a wedding, or just going to church on Sunday, actually try to find a modest dress to wear. Go out of your way a little bit. I think you'll find that you just like wearing them.