The Industrious Lady

 Poofy and Perfect This skirt was a bit interesting, the mysterious bustle with its gravity defying witchcraft baffling my poor tiered hoop skirt era mind. What could cause these poofy magic? The secret is all in the tapes, and the rule of threes. Three tapes running vertically on the inside with three specific spots on the skirt that are attached to each tape.  By attaching a piece of cloth onto these tapes, it can be arranged to create a  poof and support from where these tapes are attached. just those little stitches are enough to support the skirt and create the bustling effect. there is also a drawstring running across under the bustle that is drawn tight to help also create the shape. The basic of a bustle is putting a lot of fabric in a little area so it is forced out and giving it lift, that's why a stiff fabric or lining is needed.  Another part of the skirt that I wanted to add was the pleated trim that is often seen on the bottom of period skirts, these dr...

 Victorian 1860s Swiss Waist Velvet Corset From the Seller Antique Victorian circa 1860s midnight blue velvet Swiss waist corset. It is quite possible this is a back lacing corset....or maybe front....we don't know! Lined in brown linen. Fair condition with missing boning at center of corset, worn edges, a small fragment of velvet missing at lower front, fragile around lacing holes, a couple of the pieces of the boning is shorter than the full length, general signs of wear and use as shown. May have imperfections not noted or recognized. Sorry, but the camera tends to make dark velvets look linty when they actually are not.... A rare find! Consider for mannequin display or wearing carefully. Lace included is a replacement. Fit is an XXS to XS. 24" across 12" long at lacing edge 7-1/2" at shortest length From the Industrious Lady The finishing on this swiss waist looks similar to a modern couture edging finish used to create a smooth edge. It is made by sewing a piece...

 1865 Civil War Dres, antique dress, antique gown, robe ancienne, Victorian dress From the Seller T hree-piece afternoon dress from the time of the crinolines, ca. 1865-1868. Origin: America. It is the time of the American Civil War when this dress was worn (or after the war). The dress is made of purple checked (with white stripes) silk. The dress consists of skirt, top and bottom bow. A dress from this time could not be more authentic. The upper part is closed in front with color-coordinated (covered) buttons. It is lined inside with brown, glazed cotton. The same lining can be found in the skirt. This runs out in a small train; it is nicely pleated in the waist area (on the back). The bottom bow has fringes at the edge; it also serves as a belt. Skirt and bow are excellently preserved, but the top is only "fair to good". The top gets the predicate from us because of the two underarm stains. Maybe the dress was worn in the rebellious southern states, where it was very hot. ...

 CIVIL WAR ERA BROWN SILK BODICE FOR DRESS W VELVET PIPING DATING TO THE CIVIL WAR ERA FASHIONED OF A BROWN SILK THAT HAS A DIAMOND TEXTURED RAISED WEAVE THROUGHOUT  SEWN BY BOTH MACHINE AND HAND, HOOK AND EYES CLOSE THE FRONT WITH KNIT COVERED BUTTONS TRIMMING THE CLOSURE  SHORT BONING IS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FRONT.   VELVET PIPING RUNS ACROSS THE FRONT AND OVER THE DROP SHOULDERS AND TRIMS THE CUFFS DATING TO THE CIVIL WAR ERA FASHIONED OF A BROWN SILK THAT HAS A DIAMOND TEXTURED RAISED WEAVE THROUGHOUT  SEWN BY BOTH MACHINE AND HAND, HOOK AND EYES CLOSE THE FRONT WITH KNIT COVERED BUTTONS TRIMMING THE CLOSURE  SHORT BONING IS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FRONT.   VELVET PIPING RUNS ACROSS THE FRONT AND OVER THE DROP SHOULDERS AND TRIMS THE CUFFS CONDITION:  A SMALL BUILT UP PERIOD MEND IS HARD TO SEE, IT IS ON THE FRONT SIDE OF EACH UNDERARM  TINY WEAR TO THE UNDERARM PIPING, NO OTHER FLAWS, STRONG AND WEARABLE  SIZING: MEASUREMEN...

  Victorian Civil War Era Green Plaid Silk Taffeta Hoop Skirt Pagoda Sleeves Dress From the Seller This antique Victorian Civil War era green plaid silk taffeta hoop skirt fringed pagoda sleeves dress dates from the 1860s. It is made of green silk taffeta fabric with a black and white polka dot plaid striped pattern. This gorgeous green gown has a long floor length full hoop skirt (hoop not included underneath), with side pockets, an attached shorter overskirt apron peplum waist overhang, a fitted bodice with beige silk fringe trim edging along the shoulders, cuffs, with long full wide bell shape pagoda sleeves, brass hook closures down the front hidden underneath, missing the outer buttons down the front and is fully lined in a brown cotton fabric with bust enhancers padding sewn inside. The dress measures 54 inches long, with a 34 inch bust, 21 inch waist, 20 inch long sleeve and 14 inch back. It is in good as-is condition with some faint underarm stains, a small faint stain with...

  The bodice at its basics is a back, two side pieces, and a darted front. The part that gets tricky is that snazzy little tail on the back that gives the bodice its uniqueness. When sewing the side back to the back piece, the stitch line stops where we can see the dotted lines above.  Like this Hee hee, my mockup has wings! Next step is the side (not side back). Sew the front on. I did not do the darts yet, those will be adjusted after putting on the front of the vest. The instructions call for the front pieces to be sewn under, then the vest added. The idea is to give the impression of layers with the main body on top and the fake vest being underneath The instructions call for the ends of the back piece to be tucked under itself like this and then hand stitched down to the lining across the top of the tail. this will create a really cool layering effect. My suggestion is to hem it before this step. This blog has some really cool pictures that show up better than mine of how...