'The Costume'

It has been a while since my last post, but be confident that I have been working hard to achieve my goals. Here is a photo of the finished product. This costume has been made with love but it has also been made from a lot of hard work!

The cutting of the material was the easiest part to do; it was harder to put all the small fiddly ties and making button holes from scratch.

Again I reinterate, that I am not a sewing enthusiast and that this has been a very big learning experience for me. I must say though that I have loved every minute and that each step that I progressed I got more and more excited.

One of the best feelings was simply that I had achieved what I set out to do, even if the costume is not to seamstress level. Once done I was able to try it on and see if it fitted me properly!

I thought before I set out on this journey, that the costume would be somewhat freeing!

My first thought when I finally put it on: I cannot believe that women in the 18th and 19th Centuries wore such heavy and confining clothes. The bodice is tight and restrictive, yet the skirt is literally the only part you are free to move in.
The most important thing to know: I couldn't get into it without someone helping me. I now can see why a dress maid was needed because without them it wasn't possible to dress yourself or de-robe at all.

What I love about the costume: The wooden buttons; the ties that puff each sleeve and the way the dress falls and lines your body. I do love the material!

Now that I have achieved this step of the project, I can move onto photographing my first activity. Writing my dear friend Elizabeth a letter!

Dear Elizabeth,
It has been far too long since my last correspondence. I hope this letter finds you well....