My mother recently joined the Costume Guild, and is eager to sew Victorian gowns. She bought some fabric in her favorite soft blue and grey colors. Since she was familiar with modern sewing patterns, I gave her my Burda pattern 7880 to use rather than start her out on Truly Victorian.
Well, I guess its been awhile, because she cut out her dress size and NOT her pattern size! She sewed the bodice pieces together, and it wouldn’t close. She had made the underskirt first, plain with no embellishment. She gave me the bodice pieces and plain underskirt, and she went out and bought more of the same fabric to start over.
I bought three yards of the crinkle poly taffeta at approximately $5 a yard to make an overskirt. Then I thought about it. I did not want the exact same dress as my mother, so I attacked the bodice with my scissors. Instead of the high collared neck shown on the pattern, I cut a square neck. I did not use the Burda overskirt pattern. Instead, I used the Truly Victorian 303 Side Drape Overskirt pattern, which I love!! Also to change it up, I cut about two inches off the sleeve length and added white lace around the cuffs.
I finished it enough to wear to the Costume Guild Holiday Party. I did not have time to put the boning in, so that still needs to be done. I want to find more of the blue the skirt is made from and add a row or two of ruffles around the bottom.
My mother and daughter joined me this year. Here is a Three Generation photo of us. My daughter is wearing a dress I made for her two years ago. It is Truly Victorian pattern 216 - Parisian Trained Skirt with pattern TV 405 - Vest Basque. Mom is wearing a Nataya dress with an added pink sash and underskirt.
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| Parisian Trained Skirt Pattern |
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| Val and her beautiful dress |
$15.00 3 yards of fabric for overskirt
$ 7.50 5 yards of trim
$ 4.40 12 buttons
bit of white lace on cuffs from stash
Total $26.90
