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The Dress of Many Patterns – a citizen science project
Hey, local Huron County stitchers! Would you be interested in a ‘citizen science project’ focusing on needlework history? What would you think of this idea: creating a number of vintage needlework samplers inspired by historic needlework items from the collection of the Huron County Museum in Goderich and then piecing those samplers into a piece of wearable art… a wedding dress?! The wedding dress design will be based on an Edwardian Tea Dress-style dress originally worn by Francis Mason Watson (1890 – 1918) a former resident of Blyth, Ontario. The shawl and dress will be made up of vintage pattern samplers (swatches) based on textile items in the Huron County…
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The quest for sheen begins
The search for the right fibre for the wedding dress recreation is underway. For the first time ever, I find myself trying to knit with silk in the quest for a sheen to match the lovely shine of a vintage wedding dress dating from 1911. The lace-weight silk yarn in my test swatch has a lovely shine. I’ve never worked with silk before, so it feels a bit awkward, a bit too thin somehow. I’m so used to knitting with worsted-weight wool, my hands feel clumsy. I’ve been experimenting with needle sizes and types, trying to see what feels right. The bamboo needles seem to work best with the silk.…
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How to Make a Chiton Dress
A chiton, constructed from a rectangular piece of fabric, is a type of ancient Greek clothing worn in antiquity by both men and women. The chiton was wrapped over and around the body and held in place by shoulder pins and a waist sash or belt. Men wore the chiton knee-length; women always wore an ankle-length chiton. Today, the chiton is a popular and easy item to create and wear for a costume party. This no-sew method for making a chiton dress is quick and relatively simple. You will need: Flat white sheet 3 safety pins or brooches Waist sash, rope or belt Step 1 Fold your sheet in half…
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