Many years ago, I turned a too large jersey knit sweater into a blazer. I used my basic Victorian bodice pattern as pattern. So my jersey knit blazer has the typical sloping shoulders of Victorian bodices. It also has princess seams at the back. The blazer is closed with a faux metal button. Continue reading Grey Crochet Lace Skirt & Jersey Knit Blazer
Some years ago I sewed a rain skirt. It’s so practical that I wear it very often. A rain skirt is useful for hiking, bicycling, for rainy days and if one owns a water crazy dog! 😀 Continue reading DIY Rain Skirt
A while ago I fell in love with this 1920s-style golden sequin dress, so I had to recreate it! 😀 Continue reading 1920s Gold Sequin Evening Dress
I don’t like to throw out things when I can reuse or upcycle them. There are many ways how to use old jersey knit clothes or leftover jersey scraps. I’ll show you how I refashioned old boring and ill-fitting T-shirts into something I’d wear again! Continue reading 5 Ways To Reuse Old T-Shirts
I refashioned another T-shirt. This time I turned it into a skirt. Continue reading T-Shirt To Skirt Refashion
Wearing mourning clothes are an ‘outward token that they loved those they lost.’ (Ladies’ Magazine and Literary Gazette, 1831, p. 117)
In the Victorian and Edwardian era, wearing mourning was a social obligation but it also helped to protect the feelings of the mourners: Every stranger would instantly recognize the mourning dress, know of their loss and wouldn’t hurt their feelings with unnecessary jaunty remarks.
The colors of Victorian mourning are black, white, gray, purple, lavender and scarlet. Black is the color most associated with mourning wear. However, not all extant black dresses are mourning dresses: Continue reading Victorian Mourning
Today I have a vintage wedding photograph for you: It’s a late Edwardian photograph of my ancestors! 😀 Isn’t that gorgeous? The bride seems to wearing a short, high-waisted, black taffeta dress and a white or cream-colored cotton tulle lace veil. The groom wears a military uniform. The bride wears dark lace up leather boots with her short dress. The tulle veil has embroidered scallops at the sides, and a wide hem and tulle embroidery at the bottom. I think it’s a WW1 wedding photograph, taken maybe in 1915 or 1916.
The candy striped skirt was the other last-minute sewing project two days before we went on holiday. 😉 Continue reading Pink And White Striped Cotton Skirt
I sewed a plain white t-shirt some years ago but then I found it too plain: So here’s another boring white t-shirt upcycling. I refashioned the white t-shirt into a nautical top: I added blue t-shirt fabric stripes and a sailor collar at the front. Continue reading Nautical T-Shirt Refashion With Sailor Collar
My fabric stash was full of old denim, so it was high time to use up some of the old ripped jeans! 😀 Continue reading DIY Distressed Denim Skirt