The Last Dirndl...For A While.

As some of you may have read in past posts, I was making a limited number of custom dirndl dresses.
This is one of the last of any commission projects I will be doing for a very long time, as I need to focus what little sewing time I get on sorely needed projects for myself and my gent. Some of which have been sitting on the back burner, or unfinished, for over 4 years :-(
This last dirndl flew the nest to its new, and very happy, owner. I made sure to take a few photos of it before packing it up, since I had been bad about documenting the others I had made before sending them off.

This one is a royal purple cotton with a lavender dotted batiste for the apron and trimming:

 

Auf weidersehen, mein schatz...

So, you can look forward to my next posts here actually involving 18th century fashion and play-by-play project posts! Up next; that darn velveteen frock coat and breeches for the gent. Then, my gown!

Bodice nearly done...

Totally different look with a printed fabric. I'm really liking how the motifs are situated on the front.

Dirndl #2 in the works...

The bodice. Nothing different than the previous burgundy one, it's the same cut. The fabric here is what makes it unique and still traditional. A turn-of-the-century French print from Provence, Germans during the 1920s through 1950s were crazy for cotton florals like this one...

Dirndl Dress Project: Part V

The dress is hemmed, the apron is done, and I've started making the trim for the neckline...which is an odd combination of being both fun and tedious to create from the dress fabrics. This first piece was a test to see weather or not the fabrics were too thick. It worked, but I have a lot more of it I need to make...

Dirndl Dress Project: Part IV

It has a skirt! ....that needs to be hemmed.
Please excuse the messy table. I have about 4 projects going on at once ;-)

Front placket

On the front of the dirndl dress skirt. Not on a seam. This is one of those tricky sewing things that is akin to explaining, without pictures, how to tie shoelaces. I'd like to do a tutorial on just this in the future.

The Dirndl Project: Part III

The bodice is done (!!), with the exception of the buttons/buttonholes down the front.
Next up; the skirt. Hope to have that done and attached to the bodice tonight.



The back...

The Dirndl Project: Part II

As promised, here are a few photos of the current dirndl dress I'm working on.
Not horribly exciting yet, but the bodice is coming along nicely.

The light I have to work with is very odd during the day here, so excuse the colors.
The burgundy red cotton photographs REALLY red, or really dark, and the grey looks different in every shot.

One of my favorite tools ever; my pinking shears, used to not only keep a fabric edge from fraying easily, it adds a pretty touch too.


Front bodice outer pieces sewn together, complete with cute li'l boobie gusset...


Lining and outer fabric pressed and ready to be sewn together...


And voila! Half the front of a dirndl dress bodice...


More on the way xoxo

Dirndl Drafting

Once again, I'm working on a project or two that has a style rooted in the 17th and 18th centuries, but takes a path from my general theme here.
With Oktoberfest fast approaching, I'm making traditional (or close to it) dirndl dresses for a few lovely folks. Here is one all drafted and ready to be cut. I'll post progress on this and following dirndls as they take shape.

Here's a snippet of history on the dirndl dress:
http://dirndl-dress.com/dirndlhistory.php