Bloody Bengaline

I got some blood red stretch bengaline on Saturday. I was umming and ahhing but then decided to buy 5m of the stuff.

I do love a bit of bengaline. Did you know that Lizzie Borden was wearing a bengaline dress when she* axe murdered her parents? The things you learn on Wikipedia!. Hers was silk though, mine isn't so murdery...

I decided to make Butterick 5281 - a retro reprint from 1946. Now I look at the Butterick website I see they've made a version in a similar red - fancy that!

Unfortunately I think it has turned out a bit mumsy (not sure of the translation of that term for our North American friends...). I'm hoping a brooch -as opposed to the fetching pin that is there now - and a belt will help. I also didn't put the shoulder pads in - I will have a think about it on my test drive tomorrow.**


It was actually a pretty straightforward sew. I didn't line the bodice, just made a facing which seems to have worked fine.

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*Allegedly murdered (thanks anonymous)

** Test drove frock today - garnered compliments. Easy Jane, why do you frumpify# my frocks?

#Thanks Cathie, that is the word I was looking for!

Deery me

Here's the other frock I was making while Heidi-ing.

It's made of the Joel Dewberry Deer Valley fabric featured in an earlier post. It's delightful! Made from old faithfull vintage Butterick 8149 with some wide straps trimmed with the same bias binding as I put on the top of the bodice. Skirt is good old New Look 6699 as the large scale fabric seemed to demand a-line skirt.




Hooray!