Best buys of 2015

This blog is mainly about making things, but last year I bought a few things that I’m really enthusiastic about, so I wanted to share those with you. (And no, I am in no way being paid to do so!)

Bow belt

When looking for a wedding dress, I discovered a 1950s style shop, and bought a Collectif 50s Bella Bow belt. The shop lady put it around my waist when I was trying on a dress that was a bit too plain, and I instantly decided to buy it when I saw how much it added to that dress. And I’ve since discovered it adds a lot to a plethora of outfits, and worn it a lot!

Here are some examples of outfits without and with the belt. It makes them less basic, and emphasises my waist:

Yes, I’m smiling in the before photos as well! Too often, the after effect is exaggerated because the model looks sulky in the before photo ;).

Unfortunately, the quality of the belt isn’t that great; although admittedly I did wear it a lot, I did think the elastic started stretching very quickly, after a few months. So I had to get a new one, as the first didn’t actually have its waist cinching effect anymore.

Seasonal colour analysis

I wrote about this before: last year I had a ‘seasonal colour analysis’ done. And I’m still chuffed that I did!

First, the theory of seasonal colours was explained to me, which was interesting. I was shown photos of people with different skin tones (warm vs cool), and varying amounts of contrast in their appearance, and which colours did and didn’t suit them. I clearly saw the difference, even on the computer screen! After that, I sat in front of a mirror, and had fabric colour palettes draped around me. And I could see my face change colour when suitable and less suitable colours were next to it! That was very nice, because it didn’t make me feel like I was being made believe that certain colours suited me – I could actually see it for myself.

I’m a deep winter type, which means cool colours suit me best, but moreover, intense cool colours (see colour palette). Luckily, almost all the colours I already liked turned out to suit me (I wonder whether you are intuitively drawn to colours that suit you?), I’m ‘allowed’ to wear black, and because I’ve got light skin and dark hair and eyes, I can also wear contrasting colours. But I’ve also started wearing colours I wasn’t that much into before, like petrol, more, because I know they look nice on me.

My husband had an analysis done as well (he’s a muted summer type), because he, too, wanted to know what suited him best before picking his wedding clothes, and I really enjoy looking at him wearing colours that are great on him, like sea green and steel blue!

Glerups slippers

These are the perfect slippers, I’m so glad I found them. Granted, they could have looked slightly more elegant, but I don’t think they’re ugly, just basic. And they’re wonderfully warm without being sweaty (and smelly…), and soft enough to walk on hard floors with. I think I actually bought them the year before, but that says something about their quality! They still look and feel practically the same after a year of intensive wearing. They are not vegan friendly, as they’re made of wool, but I do think they’re sustainable, simply because they last so much longer than slippers made of synthetic materials.

My 2015 projects

Here's an overview of what I made this year! Click on the images to see more about each project.

Historical clothing and accessories

Historical knitting and crochet projects

 

 

 

 

 

 Contemporary clothing

 

Contemporary knitting projects

Montse hat

Contemporary accessories

Amigurumi

Leafy sea dragon

Happy new year everyone!

Hope to see you here again next year!

Er, no no, the green one

Pattern: improvised, based on officer’s coat

Fabric: about 2.5 m dark green wool, about as much lining fabric

Haberdasheries: 10 large brass buttons, 6 small brass buttons

My husband and I, and some friends, had a totally brilliant civilian Regency weekend a week ago (more about that later!), and for that I made him a tailcoat. He bought green wool fabric for this a while ago, and ever since, the working title for this coat was ‘the green one’ – as in: “Er, no no, the green one. Yes, that’ll do!” I love having a man who knows his Mr. Darcy quotes! =)

I made my husband a Regency officer’s coat two years ago, and used the pattern for that to make one for this coat. Both coats are double breasted, but there are several differences, so I did have to make several changes to the pattern. For one, I made the tails quite a bit longer. The officer’s coat has a simple standing collar, but most original civilian coats I saw had a collar that was folded over, often with ‘M’ notches. Those had to grow on me, but once they did, I decided to include them, as they are characteristic of the time! Also, I made pockets with pocket flaps.

 

 

Argh, I lost my notes, so I’ll add more about making the coat when I recover them! :P

Also, I’m still waiting for photos of the weekend from the official photographer – will add those when I get them, so you can see the coat worn in context!

The new fashion for 1915

Pattern: Wearing History R109 1910s suit pattern

Fabric: green linen, silk with a leaf design, thick white cotton, a strip of coutil

Haberdasheries: two snap fasteners, 16 cover buttons (23 mm in diameter)

When this pattern appeared on the Wearing History website, I immediately wanted to make it. I have loved the 1920s style for as long as I can remember, and this look, though from 1916, is very 1920s-like!

I bought the pattern as a print at home e-pattern because that was cheaper and I’d have it more quickly. At first I found sticking all the pieces together a kerfuffle, but actually it was quite fun, and I realised after that I could just cut the pattern out, rather than having to trace it. It would have been really great if there had been an overview of all the pages, though, because two pages contained nothing except the sticking lines, so I wouldn’t actually have needed to print those. I don’t like wasting paper.

I decided to fashion this suit in spring green linen, with a green silk with woven in leaf design for the collar, cuffs and cover buttons. As my fabric was thin, I lined it with thick white cotton, treating both layers as one. On second thoughts, perhaps the lining fabric was a bit too thick, because some seams became quite bulky. But this does make the jacket and skirt hems stand out a bit, which is nice.

On the original pic, the shoulder seam is neatly at the shoulder and doesn’t hang off it at all, but it did with me, whereas my shoulders are not narrow. So I sewed the sleeves in about an inch higher than the pattern said.

I folded the bottom of the jacket at 12 cm from the bottom, cut about 6 cm off and hemmed it. I also fixed the facing in place. I think the pattern suggests to leave it loose, but the silk I used frayed very much (as does all silk), and also, the facing showed a bit at the neckline when I put the jacket on.

Unfortunately the inside belt construction on the skirt didn’t work for me. It puckers and does not keep the skirt at the heightened waist typical of the period.

I must admit I’m wearing the suit without my corset here, as I don’t dare wear it anymore because it gives me numb hips… This suit is rather suitable for going corset free as the jacket is so wide, it’s definitely got a dress reform or rational dress feel about it. But it would still have looked better, and more authentic, with a corset underneath.

I’m wearing the suit with my teens blouse, 1915 hat and American Duchess Astoria shoes.

 

I like how this suit has turned out, and it makes me stand out a bit at events because it's more modern than what most people (depicting civilians in World War I) wear. People do notice that. I would not recommend this pattern if you want to look slim at all, though! The jacket really makes my waist disappear.