Sewing a Colonial Costume

For the 4th of July, our young friend Madeline had been dreaming of a colonial dress just her size. She and her mom selected Simplicity pattern 3725, and Sarah and I had the privilege of helping them complete this project recently. I was thankful for the opportunity to refine my sewing abilities and assist them with this homemaking skill. We spent the day with our sewing machines and tables set up in the living room.

Excitement increased as the dress quickly took shape. Above, we are marking the pattern with a chalk wheel onto the colorful fabric she chose and pinning together the bodice of the dress.

Madeline was eager to take part in every step she could. Here she and Sarah see to some inevitable seam-ripping.

Jenny, Madeline's mother, tried her hand at sewing some seams on our Bernina machine, which she agreed was very smooth to operate!

It's coming together!

By the end of the afternoon, we were ready to begin putting in the many gathers of the skirt.

Sarah finished up attaching the sleeves to the bodice as Madeline took note. The remaining tasks such as adding a zipper, lace, and a hem were completed just in time for Madeline to wear her new dress at the 4th of July celebration festivities. She looked like she stepped out of history!

See other entries to In Stitches blog's Finished Friday parade.

~Hannah

Comments

[Val]

Madeline looks lovely! You must really enjoy your 4th July celebrations, as a Brit I don't know what I am to think about that!!! :0)
What a joy it must be to have spent the whole day together working on a "project with a purpose" and to have finished in time with such stunning results. She must have been a very happy girl.
I am only teasing about the Brit thing, I think it is so good and patriotic the way that you all celebrate the day and keep the history alive.
Have a lovely and blessed weekend,
Val

[victoria]

What a beautiful costume. She looks so cute in her authentic-looking gown. That must have been a fun day - except for the seam ripping.

Victoria

[Susan Ramey Cleveland]

Great job on the costume. It's lovely.

[Bet]

Madeline looks beautiful! Granny and I love her dress. Good work, girls. :-)

[Islandsparrow]

She's as cute as a button! It was so sweet of you all to help make her costume. She must have been so delighted to wear it for the big celebration!

[Joanna]

Hannah~ I have never heard of a chalk wheel. Do you use that instead of pinning the pattern to the fabric? Sounds like it would save a lot of time.

[vicki Boster]

Absolutely precious! Love the dress - fabulous and the photos are wonderful. Sweet Madeline is such a doll!

Vicki

[Mommy of two little blessings & so much more!]

Lovely dress and a wonderful learning experiance for all I am sure. *smile* Have a great day staying in stiches. *smile* Sinerely, Mommy of two little blessings & so much more!

[hannah]

Thanks, all, for your comments!

Mrs. Donahue,

Good question. Sarah and I had actually never used a chalk wheel prior to making this dress—a lady at our church who sews suggested it to us as an easy way to mark the pattern. It is not in place of pinning, but rather is helpful in marking the size lines w/o cutting the pattern at the line or folding under (we normally fold the pattern at the size we want to use). You place the chalk paper between your fabric and the pattern, and follow the line with a wheel which transfers the chalk to your fabric. She also makes an x with the chalk at other places on the pattern that need marking such as circles and notches to be matched or darts. We thought it was an easier method than marking just with a chalk pencil/pins. I hope that description makes sense!:)

[Rose]

How very lovely! I wish i could borrow Hannah and Sarah as my personal sewing tutors. :)

[Anna]

Hello Madeline, Sarah, and Hannah. What a great project. Looks like you all had fun. :)