2nd Regency Dress - part 1

from darling Winnifred

This past summer I purchased a beautiful corset from Period Corsets. It's the Alice 1880's corset. I bought it for the various reenactments that I plan to participate in, like civil war and regency. Although it's nearly 20 years post civil war (and 80 post regency), it offered the best support and gives a really great, universal silhouette.


The trouble was that once I put it on under my original regency dress, the dress didn't fit!!

SO!!! I get to make a new one! :D

My original thought was to get a simple white muslin (which was popular during the time as it was easily obtained from India and denoted your status as white was difficult to keep clean) and pair it with a cornflower (or midnight) blue.

I headed off to my favorite fabric store: The Warehouse! Where everything (no matter what the material) costs $3.49 a yard. Knowing their selection isn't always guaranteed, I wasn't sure I'd find what I was looking for. But I lucked out! What I found was ten times better. A really dense, high count white (I'm not sure what it is though, but I know it isn't muslin. It feels like my black H&M scarf.) and a lovely GREEN broadcloth!

What?! Green?! How'd that get in there!?

Yes, green! I was looking for my blues, but nothing looked good with the creamy white. Then I happened upon this springy grass green with a slight sheen and it was perfect! (But at 3.49/yd it was cheaper to just buy broadcloth at JoAnns)


I have completed the underdress and just need to hem it and add buttons. I haven't decided about sleeves because I'm making a robe to wear over it and figure sleeves would just be cumbersome. I guess I'll decide as I'm going along... More to come!!

Ball Gown spool: one

from Clementine.

My newest project was my least expected project to start on. I'm working on a civil war ballgown that's made with a silk/taffeta material. The fashion fabric is a dark red windowpane pattern. There is emphasis on the stripes running horizontally (very fashionably civil war) and on the sleeves the stripes run diagonally. I designed my pattern off of the image below where i really liked the zigzag pattern. While working on the zigzag for the sleeves i altered it and really enjoy my end result. In the end I hope to do the same pattern on the skirt however this won't be happening for awhile, as doing the sleeves took me just about forever so i'd like a break before i attempt to do so on the skirt. I hope i'll have the skirt done for Greenfield Village's Civil War ball. I also plan to make a day dress bodice for this which will look more like the picture, although i might not be doing the pagoda sleeves, not sure yet.




I will be adding more green ribbon to the top of the "bertha" (white panel w/tucks) and champane bows along with ribbon in the white work that goes around the top of the bodice. All of the zigzags had to be done by hand which is why it took so long. Will be adding a white organza sleeve with cotton insert inside it to give it extra poof.

I'm about 70% done. Will have to gather skirt...which should be loads of fun.

Orange CW daydress, spool 1

from dear Clementine


I wanted to write just a little on my first Civil War cotton day dress. The hook and eye's were a bit tricky so i got some pictures to help me along. Now i've seen a few different ways on how to do your hook and eyes and i have to say my way wasen't my favorite way. I'm finding that the hooks will pop out of the casing.
As you can see the hooks are actually attached of the lining which allows you not to put the thread on your fashion fabric...makes sense to me however if you don't anchor the hooks in tightly they'll slip out (which is my problem)
The finished look for the hooks.
My finished dress.

I've already planned out my next cw cotton day dress which i'll start working on towards the end of February. Its going to be the same style bodice but have small pagoda sleeves with trim on both bodice and sleeves. I'll post sketches as soon as i get them scanned.

Inaguguration of Blog!

Welcome to Clementine and Winnifred's blog. We'll be updating regularly on new projects that each are working on.

So far Clementine is working on a Civil War Ballgown which is looking something like this:


Winnifred just finished another project which i'm sure Winnie would love to talk more about soon. I'll show you a photo of it for now.


Wishing everyone the very best,

Clementine