Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the compliments on my new fabrics… mostly Civil War prints, but a few others. I’m ready to dig in an find the perfect print for a new Civil War dress. I was trying to decide which doll might like one first and they all raised their hand! Then I had a second thought about it being so close to schools starting… or already have started, and thought maybe just one Back To School outfit was in order! I couldn’t decide what to do… do YOU have any preferences?
I the meantime I thought I’d try to answer designdreamers question. She asked what made a fabric a Civil War fabric? Well, I’m no expert but I can almost always recognize one that is being reproduced to look like something from the Civil War fairly quickly. They are usually small prints, sometimes geometric shapes; but small. They are often darker colors, indigo blues, shades of red, and browns. I read this was because the streets were so dusty and the darker colors helped hide the dirt on the tails of the skirts. The prints were usually small prints like florals, vines, stars and sometimes dots were used. Plaids and stripes were also popular. Wool, cotton and linen were the most popular fabrics used in the Civil War. Silk was used if you were a wealthy family.
When you go into most fabric stores, at least specialty stores, the Civil War fabrics will be grouped together, mostly you’ll see all different variations of the blues, the reds, and the browns. Just like the vintage looking 1940’s prints (Aunt Grace) are grouped together in some brighter colors… greens, yellows, blues and reds.
Each era of the past has it’s own section in the fabric stores. Well, usually that’s the case, but not always!
That’s not to say that there couldn’t be a white Civil War dress or a pink one, but usually not!
I do like seeing the pretty color combinations of the prints… just like my favorite from the whole lot yesterday… this one!
You just can’t imagine how beautiful the blue is in this print. It is absolutely gorgeous. It’s all about the color combinations.
I do have a few books with pictures in them that gives me an idea of the print sizes used. The pictures are in black and white but many of them are described. I also have a book that talks about the fabrics used in the 1860’s.
Let me find “a few” Civil War dresses that I’ve made just so we can have some pictures today! :o)
This picture I picked was before it was hemmed. I see the serged bottom edge and realized I picked the wrong picture.
You might not think they are ALL Civil War fabrics, and you might be right, but sometimes I think if “I” lived back in the 1860’s, “I” certainly would have made a dress out of all these prints!
I have WAY MORE examples than these, but this was just a short talk today. Hope you enjoyed the slide show!
Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you Monday!
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, being as I prefer the more modern looks (at least, “modern” as far is “in the last 100 years or so”), I would vote for a back-to-school dress. However, I know it’s been quite some time since you last did a Civil War dress, perhaps that would be your best option. Or maybe a Civil War dress for back to school in that era?!
Thanks for explaining what a Civil War print should look like as far as both design and color go. That was very helpful.
I think of the pictures you showed, my favorite is the light blue, fourth from the bottom, with the lace trim around the hip as well as down the front and around the sleeves. I also like that one with the wide black lace around the hem (3rd picture).
Elizabeth, I look forward to seeing the pictures you are sending to Jeanne! As a sewer myself, I always enjoy seeing what others have made.
Thank you all for your comments and prayers, re: Daniel and Sarah. Sarah has been posting a video each day of her taking her walks, and it looks like she is on a good track for recovery!
Daniel….is home!! He got out late this afternoon. He does have a small tank of oxygen for when he is going to be doing much walking, etc. but hasn’t used it so far. He’s staying with me this weekend, as Sunday is the 1-year anniversary of Ron’s death. He will go to church with me, and then we’ll go out for dinner before going to the cemetery with flowers.
After that, he will probably spend a couple of days with his girlfriend. He went there first this afternoon, and then I picked him up after supper (Thursdays are IHOP days–a small group of us who originally met there get together once a week for visiting and for trivia questions–the Super Quizzes from the papers–and some fun discussions). He would have liked to have gone, but it didn’t work for me, timewise, to go up and get him beforehand, plus I suggested that, since he has been so ill, he should lie low for a few days.)
Good advice for Daniel, from his loving mom.
I am very glad he is out of the hospital, and yes, he should take it slowly after laying in bed for so many days.
Time goes by so fast, and slowly sometimes too. It is wonderful that he will spend Sunday with you.
Oooh I do love the blue color the blondie curls AG doll is wearing, just perfect.
All of the dresses are beautiful. I could not pick a favorite. I love the styles and your attention to the little sweet details.
I am so glad you had the opportunity to see and choose these fabrics!
Happy Friday everyone, I hope you have a delight filled week-end.
I think it will be hot here again… I have a lot to do today so I will be staying inside
in airconditioning where ever I go.
Hi Rosemary, that doll with the blonde curls is AG Caroline. She’s archived now, but truly a stunning doll. I have her and she has the most gorgeous eyes. She was the first AG I wanted after the true Pleasant Company dolls I have (Samantha, Felicity, and Josefina) as well as Nellie who I already had planned to purchase. She’s renamed and one of my Civil War era girls.
Not A reply, but a suggestion. How about a school jumper for a school dress. I mean a uniform jumper in a plaid or one of the brightly colored fabrics.
A jumper and a white blouse to go with it.
Oh, I like that idea, Diana! I have always been fond of wearing jumpers, although I don’t have any in my closet at the moment. One of these days, I will make one again!
Well, since back to school has already begun, perhaps a fall outfit is in order? Many of my favorite brown/rust fabrics in Jeanne’s latest collection would work for that. However, most of the kids now are wearing shorts for back to school unless we’re looking at what many of us had to wear to school. So, if it’s for the Ruby Reds, maybe a modern outfit with shorts and a cute white backpack? Middle grand has one along with white Nike’s and socks. Socks are back. If Jeanne makes an outfit for the Civil War era, I would love to see something for the Ruby Reds. That would be fun. Guess we’ll find out. 🙂
Here, we’re expecting a hot one today. Other person made yet another trip to Home Depot yesterday. He was trying to find something that would help in removing the very old screws in the worn out deck boards. Well, that didn’t work, so it’s return time. It looks like the only way to get out those screws is to chip out some old wood enough so the screw can be grabbed and twisted out. A ton of work. I however, was able to fill another can doing the really dirty work. Inch by inch I’m back with my weed digger. Callie cat was helpful too. Well, it was entertainment watching her chase a lizard. She didn’t get it fortunately. 🙂
I have a delivery coming today. Going to be very difficult as the box will be a give away.
Have a wonderful, hopefully cool, weekend everyone.
Jeanne….I love your AG Civil war era dresses….beautiful prints and styles! I especially like the powder blue print dress with the black lace trim, black buttons and piping!
I love so many of the Pemberley Threads pattern designs and I wish they offered them in the 14 in. Ruby Red doll sizes so I didn’t need to reduce and alter patterns. I have an American girl doll but prefer sewing for the Ruby Red dolls more… uses less fabric, lace, trims, and any hand sewing or basting goes faster!
I sent my photos of my old-fashioned dresses to your email address yesterday but I don’t know if they went through….were you able to receive them?
I took a look at the emberley Threads patterns yesterday. And I too wish that they were available in the Ruby Red size. I can resize, but that is not always enough is it? Looking forward to seeing your dresses.
I’m having trouble with a lot of sticking letters on my keyboard. Should have been Pemberley. 🙂
Oh doggone it, I started writing and lost it! I am trying again, after stopping to go outside and water, which is not fun in this heat!
I am thinking that I want to see a pretty fallish Civil War dress, for either a 18 inch or 14 inch doll. Shorts and slacks just don’t do it for me for back to school, and especially not with Civil War material!
I absolutely love the warm fall colors of some of those dresses, and hope to see more of those. I think after making all those cute swim suits, Jeanne, you would be itching to get back to dresses!
Well, you know without a doubt that I will vote for a Civil War era dress, Jeanne. A Civil Ware era school dress would be fine like Eden School Marm. Love that blue one on Caroline and paisley one on Rebecca and really every, single one. It’s my tied favorite era with Edwardian. Two AG live permanently in that era and two more join part time.
Since I live in this era I would happily wear those two fashion everyday as a reenactor. I got to try on a true Civil War era dress as a teen and will never forget it.
The blue print you just got would make a gorgeous dress. A Civil War dress also means someone other than Molly can get off the shelf as she seems to be your only pick for school or “modern” AG clothes. It was so nice to see Kirsten and now maybe someone else modeling.
Thanks, Jeanne, for the explanation. I had a pretty good idea of just that explanation in mind. I DO have to say that when I see period clothes (i.e., anything prior to the late 1800’s) for dolls, that whenever the colors are bright, or prints are bigger than what used to be called ditzy prints, I think to myself that they don’t seem to be from the time period, but MOST pictures from back then, tend to be black and white, so I’m never quite sure.