Plus, More Discussion on Vogue Couturier #800
Thank you all for entering the contest! There were a lot of new names this time around, so now I have new blogs to check and add to my reader. The winner I pulled out of the vintage hat box today is:
Bea, Please e-mail with your address and I will try to get your goodies in the mail this weekend or Tuesday at the latest!BTW, if you want to check out a very cool piece of thread painting, check out CathieR.'s squirrel! Very cool!
I enjoy doing the Inside the Envelope posts because they generate some interesting questions and information. Thank you all for the comments - it is interesting to read them and to think about things in a different way. Let's take a look at some of the things that were said so that we can all learn from them.
Many of you wanted to know about the "stiffening", and there are some good ideas for what this could be. CogdillDJ said in the comments, "And stiffening, is just tolle or netting! I can still remember the "stiffening" that my mom and my grandma's put into some of my dress'es when I was a little girl! . . . .Let me tell you, you sure want to make sure that the pieces between you and the "stiffening" is covered! Cause man that stuff itches like crazy! Specially the netting!" I agree, netting is an excellent, yet scratchy stiffener. I also think it could be some sort of interfacing, stiffer than what you'd use for facings, etc. My green vintage dress had some sort of stiffening at one point in time, I took another look at it to be sure and what remains in the seam allowances before it was cut out is like a stiff non-woven interfacing-like fabric. I think either netting or some sort of interfacing or even silk organza could be good stiffeners - it depends on your preference - you're the one making the garment! I would have to think that each dressmaker would use whatever was available to them (no ordering over the Internet in 1954!) or whatever they liked to use. I think this one has no clear cut answer, but a lot of possibilities.
CogdillDJ also gives us a clue about the ribbon: "ribbon wasn't neccesaryily.... ribbon! It could have been a sash that was made, but because it was tied, they called it a ribbon!" Excellent point! I didn't know the word was used that way at one time. I think that most of us think of ribbon as something you buy off a spool and use for trim. Regarding this pattern, while there is no pattern piece for the waist ribbon, you could easily make one out of any fabric you'd like to, by cutting a long narrow rectangle and either hemming it or stitching it right sides together and turning it to the right side for a narrower ribbon/sash. Below you'll see the only instructions in the pattern regarding the ribbon. Do remember, the seamstress could do what she wanted, and make her own!
Lastly, Paco used the French term "robemanteau" in his post. Due to the translator, that word remained in quotes, but Paco is correct in pointing out that this dress is a form of what we would call in English a "coat dress" because of the way it overlaps and buttons down the front. (Many thanks to the Big 4 for printing on the pattern tissues in English, French and Spanish, at least. This is how I've learned many of my sewing words in other languages over the years, such as "robe" and "manteau" - "dress" and "coat" repsectively.)Tomorrow, I will show you the skirt I was supposed to show you today, plus another skirt I've completed, too!
Parting Shot: Potential. These paper bags are waiting to be transformed into textbook covers. Hopefully they'll look better when I get done with them. I'll show you how they turn out next week.
4 comments:
I am glad to know what a stiffener may be. I didn't think about tulle or net.
Wonderfully informative post! I never thought of tulle or netting as a stiffener, but that would make sense. Seems easier than buying crinoline or petticoat (or making one yourself) to make the dress bell outward more.
I also LOVED brown paper bag book covers when I was a kid. Much better than the store bought since you could doodle all you wanted on them. When they got too beat up, on went another. They were better than a sketch pad to me!
Congratulations to the lucky winner!
I've been learning French and Spanish just by reading Patrones and the french edition of BWOF (we have the french and the spanish editions available, but the french always gets here first!)
Summerset .- thanks for all the explanations are very interesting. I also enjoy a lot with this sort of thing .... uhmmm. Regarding the word "robemanteau", in Spain and houses sewing always was named as a dress open at the front. The Spanish language does not have a translation. In Spanish are two words: dress and coat you can not join because they would know that kind of pledge we mean. The only Spanish definition for a dress with open ahead is "Bata", for example after adding: "bata de verano" (summer dress), "bata de cola" (referring to the typical Spanish dresses). This word "bata" also comes from French "Ouate". Well, until another "in envelope" as interesting as this. hugs, Paco
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