HSF challenge #24: Re-Do

Earlier in the year I decided to make my mother a dress and two weeks before Victorian Ball I finally got to pick it up again!

For the literature challenge in May, I chose Hyacinth Kirkpatrick from Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. The gown is made from a purple/silver silk sari found on Ebay with over-sleeves of black silk organza. I ran out of the purple sari fabric, so the under-sleeves are made of a gray silk dupioni.

"...and it was her taste, more than any depth of feeling, that had made her persevere in wearing all the delicate tints — the violets and grays — which, with a certain admixture of black, constitute half-mourning. This style of becoming dress she was supposed to wear in memory of Mr. Kirkpatrick; in reality because it was both lady-like and economical."

My mother loved it so much she wore it to Dickens Fair

With each post or photo be sure to tell us:

The Challenge:  Re-do

Fabric:  Silk sari, silk dupioni, silk organza

Pattern:  Truly Victorian romantic era gown

Year:  1830's

Notions:  Thread

How historically accurate is it?  Machine sewn

Hours to complete:  Two weeks

First worn:  November 30th

Total cost:  ??

HSF Challenge 22: Masquerade or The Empress of India bodice

I ended up filling three challenges almost by accident. It is a widely known fact among my general acquaintance that I have no free weekends in that nebulous time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Aside from the two major holidays, my mother, Mr. G and I attend the Victorian Grand Ball, a friend's longstanding Christmas party, and lastly the Great Dickens Christmas Fair. We have a lot of fun, but it tends to generate a lot of event-specific sewing. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that for once a few challenges actually meshed with the events I needed to sew for.

I had already made a bodice to wear with challenge #14 and challenge #15 at costume college, but I wasn't really satisfied with it. Fortunately I'm the kind of pack-rat that saves every scrap from previous projects and so I had enough of both fabrics to make a new one.

Here's the original bodice:

And here's the remake! 

I call it my Empress of India gown.

Coincidentally the theme of this Victorian Ball was masquerade as well, and so I felt completely justified in draping this bodice in as much lace and trim as I could while still remaining upright. 

I used a bunch of vintage gold trim that I'd found at Costume College and accented it with a few gold ribbon rosettes and a little lace.

The Challenge: Masquerade

Fabric:  Silk dupioni

Pattern:  Umm... I've had i for so long, I've completely forgotten

Year: 1880's

Notions: Thread, gold ribbon, lace and vintage gold trim

How historically accurate is it? Machine sewn

Hours to complete: Once again, I wasn't keeping count

First worn: November 30th 

Total cost:  $0

Three non-HSF costumes, Two HSF challenges and a partridge in a pear tree

Merry Christmas everyone!
Wow. So I kinda wrapped myself up in a cocoon of sewing and school... and when I finally emerged, it was December.
But now that I have a little breathing room before the new year, I think a few photos are in order. I'll be making more detailed posts about these dresses in a few days, but for now, enjoy: