Thursday, April 14, 2011

a happy little bustle

The next DFW Costumer's Guild event is something that I've been wanting to do for YEARS now.  We are riding a vintage steam train in Victorian costumes!!!  *squee* And even better, we are riding the train on the weekend of a historical reenactment event called Frontier Fort Days.  This is seriously one of the coolest costume activities that I have ever been a part of, so of course I need a new bustle dress that is appropriate for the occasion. 

I decided to make a dress from 1883 since the fashions from this year have small bustles and no train, which hopefully will equate to a less cumbersome outfit for a day of walking and train-riding.  I already have most of the undergarments that I will need, but I decided to whip up a quick 1880's style bustle for my outfit since my other bustles are more appropriate for the 1870's.  I already owned the Laughing Moon hoops and bustles pattern, so I decided to make up the 1880's short bustle included in that set.


This little bustle is so cute and perky - it makes me smile every time I look at it!  The pattern went together like a dream, and it was a wonderfully quick and pain-free project.  I made it out of a remnant of red and white ticking that my Grandmother gave from her stash, and it is boned with proper hoop steel for a change (vs. my crazy experiments with wire rope and piano wire). 

Next on the agenda - a pleated plaid skirt. The event is only a month away, so cross your fingers for me that everything else is as easy as my happy little bustle! 

7 comments:

  1. Cute! Fingers crossed...and toes too for good measure. ;)

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  2. It's darling! Great job :D Have fun sewing!

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  3. What a cute bustle! I had no idea you were in the DFW area, so am I! I'm still trying to decide what to do for this event, but I'm leaning toward a giant bustle gown with lots of fun pleating. lol I can't wait to see the rest of your ensemble!

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  4. SO CUTE!
    I just bought this pattern not that long ago. So glad to see it makes up so nice :)
    I'm sure your ensemble will be gorgeous!

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  5. LOL! Only you Jen could "whip up" a bustle. I'd still be fighting with it! Pictures!!!

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  6. Cute! I love ticking (and stripes in general). It reminds me of my Great Grandma's featherbed, that I used to sleep in.

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