1880´s Halloween Dress and Winter Talma

Hello everyone!

I didn´t get around taking photos of my new 1880´s Halloween Dress and matching winter Talma in autumn but now we´ve taken them, so here they are! The dress and talma were sewed last autumn and the hat last month. Both dress and talma feature extensive machine embroidery.

Here I´m holding the talma in my hand so that the bodice of the dress is visible. It was -4 degrees Celsius and I managed just fine. :)

For the bodice I used pattern by Truly Victorian- TV463 1884 French Vest Bodice. It has machine embroidery on back and both sleeves. Halloween embroidery designs are from Urban Threads: Halloween Glow and Wolf Trio. Skirt hem is embroidered with designs from Embroidery Library: Autumn Glow and Urban Threads: Halloween Glow and Flickering Feline. All the designs are embroidered entirely with Glow In The Dark thread. Skirt and overskirt are drafted by me. Skirt is worn over Imperial Tournure and Winter 1880´s Petticoat.

Details of embroidery on the hem of the skirt.

And here is the Talma worn over the dress. Pattern I used for this is again by Truly Victorian- TV500 Talma Wrap. I love it! Talmas, dolmans and capes are my favorite outerwear. They are so easy to put on and off without distorting the dress etc. Back and edges are edged with decorative tassel trim. Talma is machine embroidered with designs from Urban Threads: Ghost Baroque using viscose machine embroidery threads. I must admit that these designs gave me the idea for this Talma in the first place. :)

Detail of the hat. Pattern for this hat is by Lynn McMasters- Late Victorian Tall Hat. I made the crown in size Small because I´m quite tall myself. The bird is not real, it is a millinery bird made in Styrofoam and covered in feathers. Curved brim was a fun challenge to make. My husband helped me to make the brim-base for blocking the buckram from Styrofoam wreath.

Dragon embroidery on the back.

Another detail of the hat. <3

Talma embroidery: Pumpkin and Bird Skull.

Tree and Rose.

Ghost and Ghost Witch. The witch was a separate design and not a part of Ghost Baroque design pack.

Raven and Bat.

Dragon Smoke, also a separate design, not a part of Ghost Baroque design pack.

Sewing 9 meters of ruffles for the skirt on my Singer 201K using ruffler foot for the first time. Brilliant device! I shall use it more often now that I know how it works. :)

Thank you for reading and see you next time! :)

Winter Capes

Hello everyone! 

I needed a winter cape as modern coats won´t fit over a bustle nor big skirts. So I made three capes! One needs a variety don´t you think? ;) 

First one is 1890´s cape made in boucle wool fabric. I don´t know if you can see it but the shine is gold. I love gold! Large black/gold bows are made from velvet fabric. The inspiration for the bows was from a fashion plate from 1890´s. Cape closes with buttons and loops and is fully interfaced with fleece for warmth. The pattern is self drafted but inspired by one in a book Making Victorian costumes for Women by Heather Audin.

Side view of the cape.

Side view of the cape.

Detail of the bows and neckline.

Second one is Talma made in beige wool and embellished with gold tassels. Yeah, gold again... The pattern is from Truly Victorian (Talma Wrap). It´s perfect for 1870´s and 1880´s as it fits over a bustle. It fastens in front with buttons and it has a waist tape to make it snug over the back. This Talma is also interfaced with fleece for warmth and lined with viscose satin lining.

Side and back view of Talma.

Button closures.

Detail of the back and tassel trim.

And the third cape is Evening Cape made in two cohesive off-white wool fabrics and embellished with white guipure lace and crystals and sequins. All crystals and sequins are hand sewn. The cape is flat-lined with viscose-satin lining. No fleece for this one. The pattern is from Lynn McMasters (19th Century Evening Cape) and fits for years 1885-1895. I am happy with the outcome but I have to say the pattern needs adjusting. Sleeve caps were supposed to be gathered into armhole to form a small puff on top but no gathering was needed as the sleeves fitted perfectly. I would have liked the small puff. Well, next time then...

Detail of  collar and frog closures. I also used large hooks and eyes below frog closure.

Side view of the cape.

Back view of the cape.

Detail of the trim and sequin/crystal embroidery.

Matching muff for the cape. Center lace panel is hand embroidered with sequins.

Detail of the muff.

I still have to make hats for these capes and maybe some more muffs... 

That´s all for today, thank you for reading! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! :)