Reenacting is a fun and rewarding hobby. Whether you portray famous historical figures or your own fictional character, reenacting is a form of time travel for those of us who feel they were born in the wrong era. However, reenacting can be overwhelming and very expensive. I hope through this blog to help those new to the hobby, or even those veteran reenactors, to enjoy reenacting without breaking the bank. Blog posts will address things like developing your character, traditions and etiquette for different time periods, and affordable but accurate clothing options. So step back in time to days gone by...

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

New Blue Dress

Well Christine has done it again!
My dear friend has created another beautiful dress. We decided to have a sewing Saturday with dueling sewing machines racing away:).
I sewed one dress while she sewed this one.
The fabrics (stripe and blue) came from Walmart off the sale rack for $5 a yard.
About 2 1/2 yards were needed for the bodice and 5 yards for the skirt.
We used one of the Simplicity patterns from my stash.
The lace on the back is an antique piece I found years ago.
The small lace caplets on the short sleeves of the bodice are another set of antique lace I found and kept for just the right dress:).
The chemisette is a lacey blouse I found at a thrift shop for $4. I removed the collar and sleeves and hemmed the collar under. The under sleeves came from a blouse found at Goodwill. I cut off the sleeves and trimmed them with white lace and then affixed them to the short bodice sleeves.
The lace up boots were another thrift shop find for $4.
Reenacting can be a very expensive hobby but a little thrifting and a little sewing can have you looking like Scarlett without breaking the bank:)!

5 comments:

  1. A very beautiful dress! You look so pretty in this.
    You two ladies are very talented.
    Gorgeous outcome and you were so thrifty.
    d

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  2. You are so talented! The dress is just beautiful. I love history and you inspire me to see if there are any Civil War re-enactor groups in Arizona when I finally get back home.
    Candy

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  3. Love it, especially the lace on the back!!! Can't wait to see the dress you made.

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  4. You are both very creative! Great job, and you look very authentic! I imagine this is the same way people in that era would have made their clothing too, by repurposing pieces of other items. Which makes what you do even more authentic than buying a brand new outfit made with new store bought fabrics and laces!

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  5. I didn't know you had this blog as well....I'm now following this one too :o) That dress is beautiful, I envy people who can sew so beautifully and not just a strait line like me. LOL! I hope your having a nice day, have a great week! hugs, Jennifer

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