I have been quiet around here for the past few weeks, but I do have an excuse!
​I have been recently working with the MakeFashion team for the fashion show at Telus Spark in Calgary that is happening tomorrow (!!). MakeFashion is wearable tech, meaning that not only are the dresses stunning and completely unique, but they also include lights, motors, and other technology. I am so excited for the show, it is going to look incredible!

I have been lucky enough to sew an entire dress for one of the collections, so I will be posting lots of photos once the show is over. It has all gone so quickly, and I can't wait to show you what I've been working on! 

The show will be on this Saturday at 7, you can check out their website here to check out some of the amazing work from past years and find some more information about this years. I will be posting more behind the scenes looks and progress pictures on my instagram, which you can check out here

~K

I was recently gifted a bunch of patterns for historical dresses so that I can copy them. I am so excited about these, especially the regency and civil war era styles. They have inspired me to get sewing again, after a brief break for exams.

Since I got all of these, I decided to talk about some of my plans and goals for sewing this year. I would like to build up my portfolio before I apply for universities. Most of these patterns depend on fabric, since we do not have a fabric store in my town and it can be difficult to go out and get fabric. 

My first plans are for regency era gowns, which I will talk about in my next post. I have loved the regency era since I first watched Pride and Prejudice, which was at a very young age because my mom has always loved Jane Austen. I am very excited to get going on this project.

After regency, I would like to sew a 1940s dress and matching blazer. I have had this pattern since last year, and I have been itching to start, but I have to wait to get a nice wool suiting fabric before I can start. 

Another era that has been catching my attention lately is the civil war era. I used to think the dresses were oddly shaped at this time, with the dropped shoulders and large skirts, but I have come to love the gowns. I am thrilled because quite a few of the patterns that I got are for the era. I have a pattern for everything except for a corset, so I have decided to have a hand at patterning one for myself. 

Those are the three top projects that I have been wanting to complete for a while now, but there are many other ideas floating around in my head. I would love to research and create gowns from the Tudor era (the era that really got me interested in history when I was young), the 1200s, the late 1800s, and World War One. All of these depend on if I were able to get suitable fabric for them, so we will see what comes to fruition and what will have to wait another year.

~K

One era that has fascinated me for years is the early 1800s. I have always loved Jane Austen, so when the opportunity arose to go to a Jane Austen ball, I was thrilled. It will be in May at the Palliser. You can rent costumes, but I thought that this would be a great excuse to make my first ever regency era costumes. 

If everything goes to plan, I will be making two dresses for the event- one for me, and one for my mom. I was recently lent about 12 historical patterns to copy, and there are two regency ones. I have already started on making myself a pair of regency stays, which are very similar to modern day bras. 

I was hoping to be able to use the chemise that I made for my 18th century costume, however if I make short sleeves, then I will have to make a new one. 

Other things that I am planning to make is a few petticoats and the two dresses. Here is some of my inspiration for them.

~K

For this skirt I used a McCalls pattern. The pattern came with a few different variations for the skirt, and a petticoat pattern. I added 5 inches to the pattern to give it more of a vintage feel, and used a cotton sateen. The pattern was very easy to cut out, since it was entirely made out of rectangles, and quick to put together. I will definitely be using this pattern again. 

As you can see, this pattern features a side zipper. I love side zippers, and I think they add a special touch to a piece of clothing. 

The next time that I make something with this pattern, I would like to play around with pleating or gathering. For my first time using it, I went with the markings that are given on the pattern pieces for the box pleats, but one thing that I really enjoy with this skirt is how easy it would be to make some slight adjustments to how the skirt is gathered onto the waistband. It would be an easy change, and it would make the next skirt look quite different. 

~K