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Making a chemise using a free 1897 pattern from the Voice of Fashion
I made a chemise using a free pattern from the Winter 1897 Voice of Fashion magazine. Interpreting an old pattern had its challenges!
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The assembly line apron dress
This apron dress is one of the patterns that I loved from the first sight. Even though I nowadays don’t use modern patterns that much, I had to buy this pattern. Apron dresses are just so cute and this one has a beautiful shape and an interesting cut. This is also the first pattern from the Assembly line that I have ever made. The side seams are slanted so that the lower part of them shows on the right side. The shoulder straps criss-cross at the back and the centre back has a big pleat that closes either with buttons or snaps. My favourite thing about this dress are the…
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A Victorian Bashlik hood
I made a Victorian bashlik hood. This garment contains both a hood and a scarf and it really helps to keep me warm in the Finnish winter.
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Sewing a Victorian bicycle sweater
When I saw this mustard yellow knit fabric at Eurokangas fabric shop, I knew exactly what I wanted to make out of it. I have planned to make a Victorian bicycle sweater after seeing some very nice examples online. They all are based on this lovely example on Met. It is from circa 1895 when the sleeves were huge and bicycling was trendy. Of course, the original sweater has been knit but my poor shoulders can’t stand knitting anymore. Luckily, this kind of sweater can be sewn quite neatly, too! I found three videos/blog posts online that were really helpful. The first is the YouTube video by Lady Rebecca Fashions.…
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A Karelian dress for my daughter
I made my daughter a Karelian dress similar to my own. This also gave me a good chance to test my new ruffler.
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Kokkola costume, part 2: An apron with drawn thread embroidery
My national costume from Kokkola needed a new apron. This gave me a good chance to learn how to make drawn thread embroidery!
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Restoring an old Finnish national costume from Kokkola, part 1
I restored an old Finnish national costume of Kokkola. In this first part I concentrate on the red wool pinafore dress.
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Making an early 19th-century Karelian dress: The Sarafan
The last part of my Karelian dress project is the heavily pleated sarafan dress made out of red printed cotton. Now the costume is finished!
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Making an early 19th-century Karelian dress, part 3: Accessories
My Karelian costume needed some period accessories, so I made a pocket, an apron and a linen cap. I also got some silk scarves.
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Making an early 19th-century Karelian dress, part 2: Weaving the belt
I learned how to weave with a backstrap rigid heddle to make traditional belts for my Karelian folk costume.
