1920's Day Dress - (HSM #3)

I spent a long time thinking about this month's challenge, stuck for several weeks. While I had plenty in my stash that I could draw from, I had a hard time finding any inspiration. I can't tell you how many times I sorted through my patterns and pinterest boards, looking for something that would spark my interest. 

Then, about two and a half weeks in to March, I happened upon a new show.

There are two seasons on Netflix and I'm already on my second watch-through.

It's about a female detective, Phryne Fisher, who solves crimes in 1920's Australia with the aid of her wonderful friends, the local police, and Detective Inspector Jack Robinson. The show is filled with fun mysteries, lavish sets, and some of the most amazing chemistry between I've ever seen. Not to mention gorgeous costumes.

     

    

And so I decided that for the third HSM challenge, I was going to make something from the 1920's. I have a set of instructions for the infamous "One Hour Dress," but I'd made it once before a few years ago and I wasn't happy with how it turned out. So, I turned to the internet to browse for a new method of construction.

I was a big fan of these dresses and I had a pattern in my stash that I could adapt to make a similar skirt.

Simplicity 1802. Last night I spent twenty minutes cutting out the three pattern pieces that I would use and sorting through my stash to pick out the fabric.

In doing so, I discovered that most of my stash is made up of quilting cotton, which was too stiff for this project. I wanted something sheer, but, in the end, went with a length of green fabric that I'd forgotten I had. I have no idea as to where it came from or its content, but it drapes nicely and I had enough of it to get a dress out of.

Fabric up close. It's less olive-y in person.

I used the bottom half of the pattern, dropped it down a few inches so it would start around my hips, and drafted the top part of the dress from a loose-fitting t-shirt that I have.

I cut it out in two pieces, front and back, plus the four u-shaped godets. Then, this morning, I sat down to sew.

It went pretty quick and I had it done early in the evening, though I would have been faster if I hadn't been distracted by TV while I was working. After a while I turned it off and put music on instead and worked much more efficiently.

Trying it on to check the fit of the top.

Trimming the bottom.

By the time I finished it was dark, so there wasn't enough light inside to get good photographs. But phone pictures will do until I'm able to take proper pictures of it with my Nikon.

It's a very simple dress, but I like it. It went much better than the last '20's dress that I made (too tight across the chest) and is very comfortable, especially with summer around the corner. It's nowhere near as fancy as Phryne's outfits from the show, but I could see her companion, Dot, wearing something like it.

The Challenge: Stashbusting (HSM #3)

Fabric: Green knit

Pattern: Skirt from Simplicity 1802

Year: 1920s

Notions: Green thread. No closures or anything; it slips over my head.

How historically accurate is it? Ummmm, 50%? That would be my guess. I went for more overall aesthetic than accuracy on this one as '20's styles aren't the most flattering on me.

Hours to complete: About 7.

First worn: Tried it on to take pictures. I will probably wear it on Thursday.

Total cost: Since everything came from my stash, $0. (I don't remember what I got the fabric for when I bought it but I know that I got the pattern for $1.)