August 16, 2017

My Blue Regency Dress -- 1801

This has got to be one of my favorite projects ever. The lovely blue linen, the big knife pleats, the white ruffles, and that blue linen scarf just make me so happy. So much fun to wear!


I made this 1801 blue regency dress about two months ago. It's entirely hand sewn, except for one tiny seam in the lining that doesn't even serve any purpose. So, yes, it's hand sewn. I'm wearing it over my 1860's chemise and drawers, and my regency bodiced petticoat. I love how this project turned out. It's also hand sewn, and there's cording and tucks around the hem. So cute! There's an excellent tutorial on how to make a bodiced petticoat here. The light blue linen scarf is a modern scarf that I threw on last minute, and I'm so glad I did!


The fabric is a rayon/linen blend from Joann's that I bought years ago. I know it's not an overly accurate color for linen in the 18th century, but it's cute. It started out as a rather ill-fitting 1780's dress. It was quite plain and needed a lot of improvements, but I wore it all the time just the same. Earlier this year, I saw a turquoise regency dress on a book cover and I decided I needed one too. I had just enough fabric to remake the 1780's dress into a 1801 dress and I'm very happy with the result. 


                         


I used period techniques whenever I could on this dress. The bodice lining is constructed first, and then the linen is topstitched onto it.  I know this is maybe more of a 18th century technique, but since this is a early 19th century dress, I figured it would work. 

This dress is a bib front gown, which means the front panel is pinned into place after fastening the ties on the bodice underneath. Some dresses fasten with buttons, but I chose to used pins because it's so adjustable. 




This skirt is pleated and unlined. I wanted a very loose look to the pleats, so I think there's one 4" box pleat in the back, and 1 1/2" - 2" knife pleats all the way around. This skirt is just rectangle panels, not shaped like a lot of other regency dresses are. It's also a little wider in the skirt, but it still has the narrower silhouette of that era. 

























This outfit feels like something straight out of Sense and Sensibility! Out for a walk in the English countryside... I feel like it's something that someone could have really worn back in the early 19th century, not just a costume. I think I could live in clothes like these. 







These two look very Grecian to me. Or Roman;) I guess it's the scarf and the hair ribbon...
The Regency Era was very much inspired by classical architecture and fashion, so I like how these pictures turned out. 





Photos by my mom :)





August 15, 2017

Hello!

Hi there! Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my new venture here. I love sewing and vintage and I'd like to share my creations with you! I've been a seamstress for nearly 11 years, and almost everything I've made is blue, hence the name, I Dream In Blue. :) I must warn you, I think they'll be many more blue creations in the years to come!
 I hope you enjoy my blog, feel free to leave a comment and join me in this adventure!