Mrs. Cartwright in Her New Habit

My Riding Habit: Drafting and Draping

Today was a very productive and relaxing day. I got all of the drafting done, the fabric cut out, and I started sewing the bodice together. I also, surprise, surprise, completely changed the design. I have a disk, given to me by a dear friend, that contains a number of fashion plates. One of them is a lovely riding habit from around 1795. Unfortunately, I cannot post pictures of it for you do to the copyright, but it is truly lovely and unlike anything I have ever seen before. So, hopefully I can do it justice. Anyway, here are the pictures of the draping and the beginning of the sewing. Enjoy!

My dress form and my stays. 

Ironing out my mockup.

Beginning to drape the bodice.

I decided to only do a short skirt on the mock-up, to save on fabric. I usually do not try skirts on my mock-ups, but the opening on this dress is a little tricky, so there was lots of futzing to do.  

The waist band looks a little goofy because I pieced left over pieces of fabric together to get the right size and to not waist any. Also, I didn’t bother to properly pleat the skirt on the mock-up. It’s just pinned onto my form.

Sewing the bodice pieces together.

My Avian Helper, riding on my slipper as I drape.

Well, I can’t believe tomorrow is already Monday. I always wish I had another day. Anyway, have a wonderful week!

Love Lauren

Mrs. Cartwright’s Habit is Finished!!!!

It’s always a bitter sweat thing when I finish a project for a costumer. I absolutely love sewing and I think American Duchess put it the best, it’s almost like empty nest syndrome. I am excited to see it’s owner wearing it and I hope it pleases dear Mrs. Cartwright. Here are the pictures.

Mrs. Cartwright’s Foul Weather Skirt ( a little shorter from trampling through muddy conditions)

Mrs. Cartwright’s longer skirt, for fair weather and non muddied conditions.

Well, I am hoping to start on my habit today. I will be posting pictures as I sew it. God Bless!

Love Lauren

My Riding Habit: The Fabric

Well, my evil schemes to recreate the habit in my previous post have been foiled, which I’m fine with. Aaron took me to the Pendleton Wool Outlet this weekend in search of wool for my habit. After vowing that I would do my utmost to not come home with light blue wool, I came home with light blue wool. To my surprise, it was the only color of wool they had, besides plaid. So, I snatched it  and have since redefined my color scheme for my habit. I still plan to use the fashion plate as a guide, but the colors are going to be light blue for the main habit, olive green for the waistcoat, silver trim, and black taffeta for the topper.  Here are the pics of the fabric and trims.

God Bless!

Love Lauren

More Riding Habit Progress…

Hello friends and readers, I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I can’t believe the work week is starting yet again, and I could really use your prayers in that department.

Anywhoo, I finished the jacket to Mrs. Cartwright’s habit this evening. I’m very happy with the result. As usual, I will warn you that the dress form does not do the shape any justice. Enjoy and God Bless!

Mrs. Cartwright at her fitting last night.

The finished jacket on the form.

I’ve been really loving the project. It has been so much fun to put together and learn new techniques. Hopefully I will be able to start on the skirt tomorrow evening.

Have a great week everyone!

Riding Habit Conundrum Solved

I have finally decided on the Riding Habit I want. It was the one I originally wanted eons ago. I was just hesitant because it is so popular and I don't want to match everyone at the event. However, after some encouragement from some dear friends, I have decided to go for it.

The Riding Habit Progresses…

I have made some progress on Mrs. Cartwright’s habit. It doesn’t look like much, but the lining is finished, all of the trim is on, and the button holes are all hand stitched. Here are the latest pictures.  I will be starting on the waistcoat tomorrow.

 

A Little Time Away..

Aaron and I were so blessed this weekend with a short trip to the Oregon Coast. Jim, dentist Aaron works for, and his wife Debbie, paid for all of his employees, their spouses, and children’s rooms, some meals, and fun. I think my favorite parts of the trip were the glass blowing studio, where we made our own floats, and the campfire last night on the beach. It was a great time with new faces and a relaxing time for Aaron and me. Here are a few pictures!Guess who? This was early Saturday morning looking out of our room. Unfortunately, you can’t see the ocean but it is there.

Aaron at the glass factory working on his float. He’s standing next to the cooler furnace. It’s only 2,100 degree F.

Part of our group. Watching the process and waiting for our turns.

This is a float going into a 3,000 degree F furnace. I was truly taken aback by the amount of heat those furnaces released. It was staggering.

Jim, Aaron’s boss, and Andrew, the glass artist, making Jim’s bowl.

Here is Jim’s bowl, right after it was removed from the metal rod.

My Float. The really amazing thing is that our air is sealed inside our floats forever :-)

Aaron’s Float

  The view out from our room this morning.

And my favorite part of vacation… Brining souvenirs home to the kids and watching them light up knowing that we are back.

Bishop’s Close Garden Tour

We had a lovely event on Sunday with a group of most amiable ladies and gentlemen. Our day started with a tour through the beautiful Bishop’s Close gardens and ended our afternoon at the local pub for food and libations. It was a lovely way to spend a summer’s afternoon. Here are the pictures :-) And I have listed them with our Le Bon persona names.!

Mrs. Cartwright, Mme Theodosia, and Lady Sully in the middle of a tete a tete.

Colonel Etienne and his lovely wife, Mme Theodosia

Mr. Armstrong carefully studies the flora in the garden.

Lady Simpson and and Mrs. Hansen

Sir Thomas and Lady Sully

Sir Reginald in his finest

Sir Thomas, Captain Cartwright, and Colonel Etienne

Lady Sully, Mme Theodosia, Lady Warwick, and Mrs. Cartwright

A lovely group.

God Bless, and have a great rest of your weekend.

Love Lauren (Lady Sully)

Mrs... Cartwright’s Riding Habit: Progress…

I have made a little progress on Mrs... Cartwright’s habit this week. The bodice is constructed, the lapels trimmed and stitched in place, and the outside of the collar is trimmed as well. The next step is to place the lining. Here are a few pictures of the progress thus far!

    Well, we are off to an event this morning. I hope you all have a lovely Sunday! God Bless!

Love Lauren