The Vintage Nerd Sews

Almost two years after starting this project, I finally have some photos modeling the ditto suit. I was hoping to have much nicer ones earlier, but sometimes technology just doesn't want to play ball. Liz, my friend and the talented photographer behind the images of my Seraphina Vines 1780s round gown as well as my wintery ensemble of earliest completed 18th century garments, took some fantastically good photos of me modeling the suit early this summer. However, the images were lost when the memory card got corrupted. I hope that at some point, we'll be able to try again, as these backyard photos using a timer and a tripod don't half compare to what she can do. It's important to me that I finally got photos that I can post here, however. I don't feel as though a big project is really done and can be put away until I do a photoshoot, even a small one. The suit is done at last, and I can honestly say I learned so much and I'm incredibly proud of myself. Accessoriz...

I had loads of green worsted left over from my ditto suit project, and after seeing a friend's beautiful green gown at an event, I simply had to make one for myself. I used the Larkin and Smith "English Gown" pattern, and I love the results. I completed this around the end of last year, but the photos didn't capture it well. After taking these more recent images, I think it might be the color--it's a beautiful deep green, and like most of its brethren, very hard to photograph in a way that does the tone justice.  The pattern itself was easy to work with, a welcome change from the ditto suit, which I was still putting off at the time I began this. I had to make very few alterations, which is always nice. The flexibility allowed by a stomacher-style gown appeals to me as well. I had not made a gown with the center back cut full length before, which was intimidating to me, but this gown made for a very good first time experience. The back pleating is my favorite part...