Regency Short Coat (Spencer)

This one was an interesting one.  I wanted a regency-era coat to go with a dress I had made.  I was able to find a wonderful blue velvet, suitable for dress making.  The pattern I used was from Rocking Horse Farm.  It was not a good fit!  I made the smallest size, and despite not being particularly petite it was far too big.   I had to alter both the bust darts, and add a centre back dart to get a good fit.  I was able to go off-pattern to make it double breasted, and the self-facing buttons also really worked.  Accessorised with very simple beret from the same fabric.

Rocking Horse Farm Pattern (Spencer Jacket)
http://rockinghorse-farm.com/?mainURL=/store/category/8n21/Regency.html

1950s Vintage Vogue

Gorgeous 1950s vintage vogue pattern - so good I sewed it twice!  The material is actually a linen curtain fabric, but it was that lovely I had to give it a try.  After the first wash it softened up quite a bit and was very easy to work with.  Worn with a small petticoat, to bulk out the skirt.

Vintage Vogue Pattern: V2903
http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v2903-products-4894.php?page_id=850

Black Flower Princess Dress

Simple V-neck princess seam dress, in a small black flower cotton.  Fully lined with back cotton.  Invisible zip on centre back.

Simplicity Pattern (2917)
http://www.simplicitynewlook.com/2917

Vintage Vogue Wedding Dress

One of my first sewing projects.  Taken from a 1950s era Vogue pattern.  Worn with a full petticoat (underskirt).

Vintage Vogue Pattern (V1094)
http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v1094-products-9754.php?page_id=850

Dog Tooth Tweed Pencil Dress

My first sew with a fabric with a strong linear pattern.  Lining up the checks and cutting out the right pieces takes a lot more effort!  The pattern also had to be heavily adapted - raising the bust darts and altering the lower part to fit small waist but wide hips.

New Look Pattern (6000)
http://www.simplicitynewlook.com/6000

Paisley Vogue Dress

 Very easy and simple knee length dress.  Made in paisley knit fabric, which has a little bit of give in it.  Single concealed zipper on the back.

Very Easy Vogue Pattern (V8663)
http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8663-products-11343.php?page_id=856

Diary Cover

A quick little project.  I wanted a cover for my diary to stop it getting battered at the edges.  This used up a few sample pieces from my fabric stash.

Small Overnight Bag

I wanted to make a weekend overnight bag - something easy to take on the train, and with handles that work both to hold and to sling on the shoulder.  This was surprisingly easy to make.  I didn't use a pattern, just sewed freehand.  The material is old fabric samples again.  The width was easy to to decide, but the end pieces took a few goes to match the idea in my head.  Since then its been perfect

Fabric Bean Bag

I had a lot of off-cuts left over from sewing, and as I wanted a bean bag this seemed like the ideal way to reuse them!  The outside is made up from reused fabric samples, with an inner bag (and hidden cord) and zip on the bottom to allow the outer case to be removed and washed.

Georgian (18th Century) Ladies Dress

This was one of my first attempts at dressmaking.  An 18th century costume made for a local Georgian festival.  Not historically accurate, particularly in the fabric choice, but it gives the right overall impression!

Simplicity Pattern (4092) 
http://www.simplicity.com/p-2098-costumes.aspx

Ladies Regency Dress

Another historical costume, this time from Regency era (around 1805 to 1815).  i did a few mock-ups of this and did make a few minor alterations to the pattern, but overall this one came together surprisingly easy, from a deservedly popular pattern.  I also made the undergarments, including the corset.  The silhouette for the era was very different and making the undergarments as well (particularly the short stays, or small corset) really paid off.

Sense & Sensibility Pattern (Regency Gown)
https://sensibility.com/blog/patterns/regency-gown-pattern/
Sense & Sensibility Pattern  (Regency Underthings)
https://sensibility.com/blog/patterns/regency-underthings-pattern/

Mens Regency Officers Cavalry Uniform

An epic sew and my first sewing for a man!  The whole uniform is in a light blue Italian wool mix - which was very quick to shed lint and very warm (even in September).

I wanted to sew a Hussars jacket but needed a pattern to make a first start.  I found Period Impressions 1812 Coatee which was by no means close but had the right idea.  I was sorely disappointed, though, as just about everything about it needed altering.  Not just some of the more obvious things, like lowering the front and taking the tails off, but correcting the sizing, the fit around the torso and the neck in particular.  The jacket had to go through numerous iterations before it was ready.

For the trousers, I started using a Simplicity pattern (4923), but again the fit was terrible.  I therefore copied a set of contemporary trousers and used the period opening from the Simplicity pattern.  Copying the existing trousers was much easier than I expected.

The shirt is taken from the Simplicity pattern as well and all of the accessories (officers sash, sword belt and hat) are also all home-made.

Period Impressions Pattern (1812 Coatee)
http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/periodimpression1812officercoateepattern.aspx

Simplicity Pattern (2198) 
http://www.simplicity.com/p-2198-men-costumes.aspx