The Final Belt

I finally got around to finishing the third belt. I cut it out of a scrap of nice soft leather that I had leftover from making a purse. I decided to dye it a darker color. The bottle calls it briar brown, and I liked it better than the other brown dyes I have, for this particular use at least. So I did two coats of dye and two coats of a slightly shiny finish on top. Then I figured out where I wanted to put the snap and made holes with my awl to sew it on.
Originally, I was thinking I might stitch all the way around the edge of the belt since the leather is so thin and soft, but I decided not to. Its softness would have made it extremely difficult to use the tools needed to guide the stitching. I also decided against a lining.
Overall, its a fairly simple belt, but I think it might be my favorite.

More Posts Coming Soon!

So this semester is almost over for me! Yay! It was a tough one…

But anyways, I will still be taking classes this summer, but a significantly lighter load. That will give me more time for sewing! And posting here! 

I'll start off by posting pictures and descriptions of all my previous sewing projects, both historical and non historical. I'll try to stagger everything out the best I can.

Does this appeal to my readers? I know I haven't got much attention, but I'm hoping that as I post more, people will gradually find my blog.

Making More Belts

I finished another belt today, view A, with the pointed front and back. I made it out of black twill and some leftover iron on interfacing. It closes in the back with two large hooks and bars. The front dip isn't quite as pronounced, but it might get more noticeable when I wear it with the actual outfit.

Front

Working on Belts

I've been working on the belts to accompany my Edwardian ensemble today. I completed view B, with the rounded front, out of a purple faux suede material I had on hand.

The poor lighting in my room makes it look more black than purple.

Ruffles…ruffles everywhere!

Holy ruffles, Batman!
I (mostly) finished the petticoat for my edwardian ensemble this weekend. All it needs are a couple hooks and eyes for the waistband. I'm debating whether or not I should put a few more hooks and eyes down the back placket, since it seems to gap open a bit strangely. I think it pulls funny because I didn't quite factor in the fluffiness of my drawers when I chose the size I wanted to make…
Nonetheless, I can make it work :) Besides, I'm the only one who will ever see my petticoat, right? ;)
Oh, and I know I promised pictures of my blouse too.

Edit: I decided to use snaps to close the waistband. Snaps were invented in 1885, and were widely in use by the 1900's. I used two snaps at the waist and one to help hold the placket together lower down.

My Edwardian Ensemble so far

 I mentioned earlier this week that my most recent sewing project was a complete Edwardian Ensemble. Here are the pieces I have finished so far.

Here is the chemise, which goes against the skin and protects you from the corset and vice versa.

Just a thought

As I was driving home from school this morning (I've got a fairly long commute to college), I was thinking about how sewing is a slowly dying art. There was a time when a woman had to know how to sew in order to clothe herself and her family. Sewing your own clothes used to be a cheaper alternative to buying ready made clothes. Nowadays, however, sewing your own clothes is significantly more costly that buying the cheap, ready made clothes that are available. But sewing is such a useful skill! Just recently, a nice jacket of mine had lost a button. So I took the spare button and sewed it on where the lost one was supposed to be, and while I was at it, I took all the other buttons off and put them back on again using stronger thread. I doubt I will be losing any more buttons off that jacket! I can fix tears, hem up pants, and do many other mends to ready made clothing to make them last longer. The average person without sewing skills would simply throw away an otherwise perfectly fine pair of pants, for example. And when I sew my own clothes, I can alter the fit to suit my body much better.
The art of sewing may be slowly disappearing, but I will surely keep it alive by continuing to do what I do and teach others, as well.