Showing posts with label infant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label infant. Show all posts

August 20, 2009

Sully Plantation - Micky

Micky Anderson Varga - 6 months old

I love this picture of Micky peaking around my shoulder. It is a great picture to show the detail of the lace on his bonnet (and actually a good detail of the vintage lace on my Spanish Jacket). At this point we'd already taken Micky's dress off, so he is just wearing his underbodice and bodiced petticoat. Heatstroke is another risk I'd never take in the name of authenticity (I would not very likely have brought a 6 month old out in public in the 1860s either for fear of exposure).


Mommy and Baby
All of Micky's underclothes were made of fine cotton lawn. The drawers, bonnet and underbodice were made of pre-pintucked lawn. They are very easy to wash and take starch wonderfully! Starch and heavy ironing not only gave body to children's clothing, but also helped keep stains from penetrating the fabric.

Back view of bodiced petticoat


Tiny Pantalets

Good view of Micky's lace trimmed pantalets as well as his back opening bodiced petticoat. He is also wearing a lawn undershirt. All peices were made with Elizabeth Stewart Clark patterns.

Victorian Pram



This pram was made in Chicago IL and still has the factory plate on the front. Queen Victoria made the use of wicker prams extrememly popular in upperclass familys during the 19th century. It is probably more likely that this pram is from the 1870s or 1880s (when they had really hit their popularity) than actually the 1860s. This was originally upholstered with a heavy brocade fabric and stuffed with straw! It was so disgusting by the time I got it, I just ripped it all out. I did not have time to reupholster before I needed to use it, so I cleaned the wicker/wood and placed a linen covered feather pillow in it for Micky to lie on.

July 29, 2009

Ageless Patterns

Got my new Ageless Patterns today! Hooray! I furiously cut them all out in one hour and am excited to start making some of them. Will wait til we return from our beach vacation. I will update this blog as I make the patterns with comments, tips and pictures of finished pieces.
pattern scraps

1868 Cape w/Hood for Child 2-4 Yrs

1893 Sun Bonnet for Girl 5-7 Yrs


1875 Slip for Girl 2-4 Yrs


1868 Man's Lounging or Negligé Jacket


1886 Lady's Gray Twill Corset


1868 Frock for Infant under 1 Yr Old


1869 3 Baby Bibs

1868 Suit for Boy 8-10 Yrs


1869 Short Sleeved Shirt for Boy 4-6 Yrs

July 22, 2009

Cram Sewing - Infant Linens

Micky Anderson Varga
6 months old

Well, I got the "spirit" to sew last night after the kids went to bed. Even though I swore I would go to bed at 10pm, I ended up staying up til 1am! But . . . I got a set of infant underthings (patterns by Elizabeth Stewart Clark) completed for Micky.

* diapers
* drawers
* open shirt
* cap
* night dress

MATERIALS:
I used birdseye diaper cloth for the diapers, pre pin-tucked 100% cotton lawn for the rest and 100% cotton open worked lace for trim on the bonnet.

CONSTRUCTION:
Since this was being done between 10pm and 1am, I used the machine for everything. Though these would be very easy and very fun to do by hand!

DIAPER

back view of diaper
I was very skeptical about the diaper (triangle) because it seems soooo huge! But when I tried it on Micky (over a real diaper) this morning, it did seem to fit. I had to wrap the side ends across the front and tie them in a little knot at the back. That's not how the directions explained it - they said all three corners should basically come together in the front and tie with cotton tapes - I don't know who that would fit other than an ADULT, so I just stuck with my method - worked fine.

OPEN SHIRT

open shirt

The open shirt also seemed a bit big in the neck area, but I guess if he had a light stay on or a bodiced petticoat that was more fitted then the neck and back flaps would fall over that to protect it. Also, the shirt and drawers alone would be comfortable on a hot day.

DRAWERSdrawers
Loved the drawers! They are probably a bit long, but will do if I don't have a chance to add a few more tucks.

CAP


And look at this little cap - it is ADORABLE and so easy to make! I plan to make a few more - serviceable and fancy. This would be a great project to hand sew during an event. Though if I have the kids, I never have my hands free to do any sewing.


The whole set: Drawers, Open Shirt, Cap

June 29, 2009

Summer of Sewing List

Okay . . . here's my list of projects so far - these are in no particular order

New tunic for Renton
Velvet tunic for Renton
Drawers for Renton (I'm not 100% sure bout this)
New dress for Emily
Fancy dress for Emilly
Hoop for Emily

New corset
Corded petticoat
Cage Crinoline
Silk dress of some kind
New petticoats
Pockets on apron
Pockets on work dress
Re-do armholes in burnt orange work dress
Pinafore style apron
Mourning dress (???)
Sheer dress
Winter paletot