Sunday, January 5, 2014

1920s - Organdy Party Dress


I was given a 1920's organdy party dress (or bridesmaid dress) to wear to a Great Gatsby Party! The beautiful bright green cotton organdy with delicate embroidery and faggoting was in perfect shape. The multi-color silk ribbon tie with matching rosettes was sadly in shreds.


1920 cotton organdy party dress
Embroidered belt loop

shredded ribbons on the sash
To salvage the dress, I decided to remake the sash:
1. First I ordered new satin ribbon from M&J trimmings in New York City. They carry a vast selection of silk satin double face ribbon of very good quality and many color choices.
2. I then examined the original rosettes to see if I could recreate them.
original rosette - note the black jet bead in center

original rosette - back view
 3. I then assembled the hand sewing tools I would use - especially a thimble to protect my figure tip

tools I will need

 4. I started the hand sewing process
sew a tube out of ribbon
stitch a basting thread around one edge
           
gather the basting thread carefully
                 
almost done

stitch rosette to ribbon
 5. The finished rosettes - look exactly like the original sash!
finished rosette with jet beads stitched in center - compare to original rosettes

 6. Ready to attend the Great Gatsby party!
at the Art Deco Society of California Great Gatsby Party - September 2013
a 90 year old dress hits the dance floor!




Thursday, August 29, 2013

The Squander Bug






Clothing Goes to War - a DIY blog companion about creativity inspired by rationing and restrictions during WWII

Cover of French Vogue 1940 - hand knitting replaces high fashion

     During WWII, government enforced restrictions of textiles and clothing, diverted to clothe the troops and support the war effort during, resulted in shortages and hardships for consumers, but also inspired creativity.  

     Today, faced with the reality of dwindling resources and the need to rethink our practices of overconsumption and waste, CLOTHING GOES TO WAR borrows from creative methods used during the 1930s and 1940s to reduce, reuse, recycle.  Or, as they put it then - make do and mend