A red regency cap

Fashion plate- original was red velvet

I've been wanting to make this outfit for a while but it was the hat that jumped out at me. It's the hat that particularly jumped out at me. I was looking for a regency cap that was easy to pack in a suitcase that wasn't just your standard regency turban and this fitted the bill.
It took a while to figure out the right shape. The original was in velvet but that wasn't an option so I used a nice wool mix I had some scraps left.

I cut out a triangle for the pointed part then realized it wasn't going to be big enough so made a larger band with a black cotton facing then attached to the open end of the triangle pleating it on one side to take out the ease and for decoration.

I added some leftover ribbon to the end for decoration. In the images the point is pinned in place but I intend to tack it in place once I've added any further trim which I'm just deciding on. I'll also be tacking some faux ringlets on the inside for instant perfect curls.

Jane Austen Festival Bath - 2016 (the costumes)

Time for my post about the Jane Austen Festival (its quite expensive so I tend to go every other year). Lets start with the dresses which of course are very important.
I had been working on them for a number of months as this time I needed four outfit and I had loaned my usual back up dresses to my mum. Well I don't need more than that as an excuse to make more. I had got much more confident in my sewing and more HA (historically accurate) this time round. I started of course as you should do with the foundations.

So that was 2 more shifts to add to my current total. One of them needed to be longer sleeved 18th century. Then stays which I had completed a last year.

I wanted a 1790's transitional look and couldn't be bothered to fight with gussets. I was able to re use my petticoats, although had to adjust the length by rolling up at the waist, and used a bumroll for my 18th c outfit and of course pockets. Yes I wear them with regency...even with a reticule on hand. And my fichu.
For the Saturday. DAY.

Fichu, bib front gown, fingerless mitts, shawl, broach (cameo) bergere, basket and umbrella (as it was rather wet.) You can see from the photo of the back of the dress how the hem got soaked...my petticoat was pretty muddy too.

EVENING

Unfortunately I don't have many pictures of me wearing the dress as we were in a rush so didn't stop to take any before leaving and then I was dancing most of the time. I will post a more detailed description of the construction of this in the future. the dress was inspired by the tiedens toj dress and the sleeveless spencer was a happy accident as it was originally going to be the lining for and open robe but I liked it so added the gold trim. The headress was a last minute sew it up 5 mins before I leave job. Here I had fan and reticule to complement the look and the ubiquitous broach.

Sunday - day dress

This was my attempted at a late 18th century working class dress. I had petticoat and a lined skirt. My shoes I had modified (another future post) shift, stays, fichu and 'caraco'. I like the 18th c look but to make it more later in the century I'd raised the waistline nearer the natural. You might reconized this item from previous posts its gone from a bed gown, to a short gown and now its more of a caraco. I wore this ensemble to visit no1 the crescent in Bath.

Monday - day/dance dress

I had a bit of a mini disaster with my outfit on the monday so I didn't end up wearing what I planned. Firstly the white bib front gown had shrunk since I last wore it so it was short and I struggled to move my arms. I was wearing modern foundations as I needed to be able to sit in the car for a long journey so couldn't wear the stays this then meant my bra peeked out over my chemise and the chemise over the top of the dress. Arrrgggg! So I tried to make the chemise look part of the dress and pinned it to the bra so that it covered the straps up. Then when I tried my sleeveless spencer over it the waistline was in the wrong place. So I had to take back my old open robe from my mum and wear that instead. This then threw out my colourscheme and thus I improvised. Blue shawl over shoulder. My blue sash I turned into a turban and added my green cameo broach then clipped on my feather bow on the back of my head so it looked like it was part of the regency turban. During the day I wore my ankle boots but changed to my dancing shoes for the workshop.

And so ends the saga of the outfits. I'll post up a general post about the festival very soon. 

Straw Boater to 18th Century Bergere

I know I've been quiet for a while. Blog posts take a long time to write and I've been busy busy busy. Anyway....I thought I'd do a sorta tutorial. I say sorta because its not that indepth. lol!

It started with a hat, not just any hat, a straw boater in a sale. Ignore the price, I got it even cheaper because it was broken. Hence my erm...cunning plan.

I got out the seam ripper and began to unravel it from the outside edge. Originally intending a 'missy'/mary poppins sort of hat.

Hence why I kept a lot of the height. Started sewing then changed my mind as I realised I could get a bergere out of it. Ooops, now I had to unstitch where I'd got to sewing it. :(

So now the crown was shallower but I kept its shape and width.

I used steam from the iron to help shape the first few 'rounds' into a flat brim. And set the rest of the straw to make it easier to sew. (It really hurts your fingers sewing by hand.)

I got 90% of the brim done before my hands were cramping up and I couldn't hand sew the rest, thus I resorted to using the machine. I found this trickier as you have less control.

 Ta Da! Finished hat....well nearly finished. I pinned a few ribbons to see how it sat. (When flat it reminds me of this painting of Miss Constable 1787)

But I still need to line it - as the straw messes up my hair and makes me itch - and trim it.

Jane Austen Festival 2014 - the Report

Finally got home last night and was sorting through all my photo's. I wanted to share with you the images and review of the Jane Austen festival in Bath this year.
Lets start with the ubiquatus photo of all my outfit laid out...

I didn't wear my shawl in the end as it was quite warm that day and I was already juggling reticule and parasol etc.

Shockingly in the picture above you can see my chemise was showing. I thought I'd just pretend it was a chemisette as I had not had time to make a new shift with the right neckline.

Had to take the bus into town then walk to the venue...had one person do a double take and almost walk into the road when he saw us and quite a few cars bibbing their horns as they passed. lol! Got stopped on way to the vanue by tourists asking for photo's...that's one thing I always forget to allow time for people who ask to have photo with you.

Finally we made it to the Assembly Rooms. Finding everyone waiting to join the queue to go in and be counted for the world record.

The town crier chap was doing his best to herd cats get everyone to line up and file inside. I stayed outside a little while to take some photo's of the costumes on display. I'm still perfecting the art of the sneaky photo. lol! A few ideas for next times costume.

We all were led through into the room where the count was taking place. It was very warm with so many people and not a few of the ladies were putting fans to good use.

I met several people I had spoken to at the festival last time I had attended and we had good conversation while waiting for the more to arrive and be counted. More on the 'count' here.

After much cheering and waving for photo's from the balcony 'Mr Wickham' made his speech and got asked why he wasn't in costume. lol! The record broken there was a shout of 'huzzah!' and people began to file out.

There was a bit of a pileup in the octagon room as the ladies stopped to have their likeness taken with Mr Wickham. ;)

Loved these 3 ladies outfits. I think I was outranked by lady on the left though looking at the gold braid. ;)

Then we joined back of a queue leading out of the assembly rooms...

Once we got out wasn't quite sure where we were supposed to go and if it had started off already...but noticed a parade of costumes trailing off and followed them. They seemed to do a loop round and back to the assembly rooms.

Once back at the start again the music could be heard from the band and redcoats who usually lead the parade and this time everyone followed.

 It seemed to be much busier that in past years. The town was heaving with people standing and watching taking photo's.

I also noticed whereas last time there wasn't any tourists in the parade gardens when the promenaders arrived this time there was quite a few.

 A lot of people gathered at the foot of the slope entrance. Others went over to the bandstand to watch the dancing.

We went to the little cafe at one end of the gardens which had tables and chairs set out as we had not brought food and was quite parched from our walk.

 It had a nice view of all that was going on and I hoped to spot some people who I knew were attending.

We had tea, sandwich and a cake while we had the company of a lady who I met last time I came to Bath for the festival. We talked of sewing and costumes before taking a stroll up to the guildhall for the festival fayre.

There was as always lots of pretty stuff on sale. But too expensive or too bulky to transport home. We went and watched the play of pride & predudice downstairs which was amusing as usual.

There was also some music and dancing displays in the hall.

Of course I had to take oppertunity to take some photo's inspired by fashion plate poses.

Regency Wedgie society anyone? ;)

Before heading off back to accommodation to change and have dinner.

Part 2 - what we did on the other days coming soon...