During Labor Day weekend I went to the Alameda Antiques Fair and bought 2 vintage patterns from the 1950s. I shouldn’t be buying more sewing supplies, but I justified the purchase by telling myself that they will help me use up other sewing supplies. =)
I’ve been putting off working on the 18th-century-inspired jacket because I had reached the stage where everything left involved hand-sewing.
Things that had to be done by hand: top-stitch the jacket front, tack down the vintage lace, attach buttons, make button-holes, attach collar and attach vest fronts.
I had jury duty today and spent a lot of time in the waiting room. Buttons and button-holes are done!
Here’s a peek at the lace on the jacket:
I just need to attach the collar and vest-fronts, do some clean-up and then I’m done!
I also made some mini “cockades” for the cuffs. I might also make some for the collar, but that will be saved for another day and another post.
My hot air balloons are now installed in the ceiling of my sewing room. (See my previous post here for more construction details). Originally I planned to put them in my bathroom but when my husband was about to start drilling holes in the ceiling he realized there was a lot of electrical wiring in the place where I wanted to hang the balloons.
Oh well, change of plans!
Putting balloons in my sewing room throws a slight wrench into my plans to redecorate my bathroom with a Jules-Verne theme. I wanted airships, submarines and other things inspired by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in 80 Days.
I’ve been posting ideas on my Pinterest board but it looks like I will have to figure out another way to do hot air balloons without ceiling holes.
I haven’t been working on my riding habit recently because I have been distracted by hot air balloons.
Here they are hanging on my thread spool rack until I can string them up with fishing wire. I plan to have my little fleet dangling from the ceiling of my bathroom.
More details behind the jump.
Part 1 is here: https://freshfrippery.com/2012/06/13/18th-century-riding-habit-part-1/
The main part of the jacket is mostly done. I have to fiddle with the fit and pleating, and do some top-stitching.
I bought a cream-colored china cabinet but thought it looked a little too plain. I added some yellow accents to make it more cheery and match the other yellow things in my living room.
Yes, it’s summer but I’m planning to make a wool riding habit. I have some lovely light blue wool that’s been in my stash for a few years and I finally figured out what to do with it.
I found this pattern for a riding habit.
Project: Toadstool Footstool
Cost: $0
I wanted a cute footstool, but didn’t want to spend any money on it, so here’s how I made one using stuff I had around the house.
Hello! I’m a fabric junkie interested in historical costuming and household crafts. I’ve sewn Victorian, medieval, Regency and 50s, but my current interest is 18th century.
Sometimes I get asked, “how did you do that?” or I try to remember “how did I fix that problem?”
This blog is part dress diary, part reminders for my future self.
Follow along as I work on reducing my fabric stash, feature some past projects and post an occasional tutorial.
Fresh Frippery 