For the photos of my new apron I wanted to try to copy the inspiration print s much as possible, and since I haven’t made the rest of the outfit, I picked some pieces from my existing costume wardrobe that would some what give the right look.
I’m wearing my white regency evening gown, regency stays, cap, fichu, mittens and a few different hats and bonnets (like my green silk 1860s, brown velvet 1840s) for props.
Behind the scenes
Since my plan is to go for easy pieces this year (yeah, Erhm, sorry that ship’s already sailed) I decided to submit a lovely piece of clothing I started sometime this fall and only finished a little while ago.
Namely this pretty Apron:I loved this print since I first saw it and been wanting to re-create it for quite some time.
The first thing I did was to dig up a piece of soft cotton satin in a lovely dark green color, which I scored for basically nothing at a flee-market a while back.
The fabric was only 1 m long but that was exactly enough.
Some creative cutting (without piecing, Yay!)
I started by hemming the sides, and bust “flap”, using my sewing machine, since sewing time is scarce at the moment.
Then I stitched and turned the tubes that was to become the shoulder straps.
The hardest part was to figure out the bust flap and the closing, since I wanted to be able to wear it in several different ways (Flap up/down, Straps straight/crossed at back)
I ended up only attaching the flap at the “waist” so that it could either be folded down (hidden) or pinned to the straps if worn up.
Then I marked the buttonhole placement, and stitched them (using my machine). 
I finished by adding the buttons, and a 10 cm wide piece of linen to the hem to give it some weight. 
The finished apron:
Bust flap down and crossed straps in back: 
Just the facts:
Challenge: 1/2017 “Firts & Last”
What: a Regency apron
How It fits the challenge: It would be one of the last pieces you put on before leaving the house/doing your chores. It’ also the my first venture into the late Regency/early Biedermeier but not my last since I now wish to make the whole outfit from the inspiration print.
Pattern: None, I drafted my own – It’s basically a trapeze with shoulder straps.
Fabric: 1 m green cotton satin and 15 cm white linen for hem binding.
Notions: Thread and buttons
Historical accurate: Besides from the machine stitching and maybe to “weak” fabric I would say it is pretty good. The shape is good and the construction is plausible. about 6/10
Time: About 4 hours – figuring out the construction took the longest time.
Cost: 30 Sek (3 Usd) – got to love those flee Market bargains.
First worn: Mid January for pictures
Final thoughts: I think it looks pretty good, and helps “dress down” my more fancy frocks in a pretty way.
As we go deeper into January 2017, its time to plan this years sewing.
Yay!
This year I did things a little differently then usual (where I just pic ALL the things), because having a small baby really eats away of your sewing time 😉
So, this year I picked All the things I want to sew..
…and then I removed half of them.
All costumes with lots of pieces/decorations/complicated (and time consuming) elements had to go. Sorry, Not sorry.
Then I took a hard and “realistic” (yeah right) look at what was manageable with approx 1-3 hours sewing a week (more, if I could use nap time at its fullest but that’s hardly likely).
Then I took a look at my stash (because after half a year of maternity leave you really need to cut back on the excesses, like fabrics) and added that account into the ekvation.
And lastly I run everything through the eyes of the “Historical sew monthly” and possible events to come, and tried my best to match everything up.
So, after lots of forth and back, here is what i plan to make during 2017:
(Presented through the HSM17 lineup)
The Historical Sew Monthly 2017:
(January-July)
January:
Firsts & Lasts – Create either the first item in a new ensemble, or one last piece to put the final fillip on an outfit.
I begun the work on the apron on this fashion plate back in December and it will be both my first entry into 1810-20s (late Regency), and possibly the last piece of this ensemble I can finish this year (even though I would love to make the dress and bonnet as well).
And for the purpose of this challenge the apron will be the first item on this ensemble and the last ting to put on before leaving the home.
February:
Re-Make, Re-Use, Re-Fashion – Sew something that pays homage to the historical idea of re-using, re-making and re-fashioning.
For this one I have two dresses that I would love to re-make to a better fit and perhaps even a better design.
This 1780s Robe needs to be fitted better over my “new” stays, and perhaps let out a tad in the sleeves.
This 1910s evening gown needs a nicer back closure, and I think it would look better with the draping a bit more stitched down and controlled.
March:
The Great Outdoors – Get out into the weather and dirt with an item for outdoor pursuits.
I’m not quite sure on what to make for this one yet, but I would love to make either a Regency Spencer
Or this 1910s wrap cape.
Beautiful, Isn’t it?
Another thing I’m contemplating is to make a 18th century hair decoration to match the brown Robe Anglaise above. 
Something like these two mixed up
April:
Circles, Squares & Rectangles – Make a garment made entirely of squares, rectangles and circles.
On this one I plan to keep it simple with a Greek Chiton or Peplos made from one/two big rectangles of fabric.
I might also get time to make the frilly 1820s bonnet from January’s fashion plate.
May:
Literature – Make something inspired by literature.
Also not sure on this one.
I would love to make a new Edwardian evening gown (if some of my fabrics speaks to me)
Or a green Regency day dress (or maybe a Pelisse) out of a pretty cotton fabric I’ve been sitting on for a few years now.
Or I might just take this opportunity to finish my Robe a la Franchaise (begun in 2014)
The literature reference won’t be hard to find on either of them.
June:
Metallics – make something in silver, gold, bronze, and copper, whether it be an actual metal, cloth of gold or silver, or lamé.
I was planing on making one of these 1-hour dresses from the 1920s in a lovely turquoise jewel toned fake silk, but now that I read the challenge description again I realize that won’t do.
Perhaps I can add some sparkle or a nice piece of jewelry to go with the dress, to make it fit the challenge criteria better.
July:
Fashion Plate – Make an outfit inspired by a fashion plate, whether it is a direct replica, or a more toned down version that fits the resources and lifestyle of the character you are portraying.
Another Regency piece I’ve been coveting for a while is a greek inspired over robe like his one.
For the rest of the year (Aug-Dec) I want to wait a bit to decide what to do, since life and priorities change depending on sewing time/up-coming events or new interests.
So the last 5 challenges will be decided later this spring/summer.
August: Ridiculous
September: Seen Onscreen
October: Out of Your Comfort Zone
November: HSF Inspiration
December: Go Wild
Here is however some of the things I’m thinking about
A new 17th century evening bodice
A 15th century Burgundian gown
A sheer Regency gown to dress up/down depending on occasion. 
A man’s Regency waistcoat
Of course I also plan to make lots of new baby clothes and perhaps one or two modern dresses/shirts for myself.
Lets see what I can get done 🙂
2016 is one of those years we will always remember for it’s tragic events, raising lack of humanity/ compassion for the most vulnerable in our society (and world).
But for me, 2016 will always be one of the mot important years in my life – it’s the year my son was born.
Thus a big change in my priority’s (and time/energy) leaving my sewing somewhat on the backwater.
And taking into account that I had a 6 months hiatus from sewing last winter(Oct 2015 – April 2016) there is a miracle I managed anything at all. But I did actually finish a few items both before and after my delivery in June.
And here they are:
Viscose 1790s Roundgown (both with and without baby-bump)
Regency Petticoat 
Babyclothes:
Modern:
Jackets, bodys, pants, hats and rompers several of each.
Historical:
A hat and shirt for a newborn 
Halloween:
Henry VIII Costume
Menswear:
(not yet posted about)
Medieval shirt:
Regency Shirt:
1950s turquoise viscose dress:
I’ve also finished a few minor projects like, hemming skirts/pants, sewing curtains/pillows, adjusting dresses etc.
And as always I have a few things on their way which I didn’t manged to finish before the new year (but which hopefully will be completed in he following months).
Al in all I think I did pretty well with my 3 mayor project, which all has been on my wishlist for quite some time.
Fashion Through Herstory 