Sample Pieces for Spring

Well, I finally got some pictures taken of the samples I made for some of the coming spring garments, so I thought I would post them for all to see. The yard work has been taking a lot of my time, otherwise I would have put them up sooner. Hopefully, I will be able to get a few pieces made in the next few weeks so I can post them on the Etsy site. I also continue to work on my Jane Austen project. I am now planning to make a day dress and a pelisse (naturally dyed, of course) for a walking outfit, and I hope to create a matching period-appropriate hat. I have always loved historical costume, so this project is a lot of fun, and since the Regency period has provided much of the inspiration for my new spring items, there has been a decent amount of overlap between the two projects, which makes me feel a little less guilty about doing something just for fun.

For now, though, I'll focus on the samples. I have been working on a few different pieces, so I guess I'll start with the dress. This dress features a drawstring neckline and waistline for customizing the fit. Shown here in a bargain-table cotton, I plan to make the dresses from a super-soft organic cotton sateen. The back is plain, and the ties come around through loops and then tie in the center back.



For a fun layering piece, I created this empire-waisted jacket. The gathers in the back create a slighter longer hemline in the back. This one is in my size, and I have already worn it. I also used this same pattern to make a duster-length jacket out of charcoal fleece, but I don't have any photos of that yet.




Finally, I worked up this lovely blouse in the organic cotton sateen (so soft!) and attached some vintage trim that came from my grandmother (Thanks, Grammy!). The blouse is roomy enough to be quite comfortable, but the front and back darts at the waistline create a flattering shape.





I must give credit to Jenny Chancey, of Sense & Sensibility Patterns, whose patterns were the basis for all of these garments. I made some changes, but her patterns provided a great starting point. Her website has a wealth of information, so if you're interested in historical costume, be sure to visit. Now I'm off to work on those Jane Austen projects.