Category: Sewing

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The Infamous 1920s “One-Hour” Dress – Is it really possible? (Part 2)

[Obligatory disclaimer: This is an updated repost from my old blog dated July 12, 2021. Thus, if it seems familiar, it is.]

Sometime back, I had the notion of making myself a “one-hour” dress for a tea, which I never attended for reasons I will never discuss, but I still made the dress with the crazy notion that I’d wear it to Costume College. But then everything got put on hold due to “the plan-demic,” and the dress has sat in my closet for a year and a half, and I never answered the question as to if it was genuinely possible to make the “One-Hour” dress in an hour.

I believe that it may be possible, given the idea circumstances, such as choice of patterns (there are several versions of the “one-hour” dress), fabric, trim (or lack thereof), and what size dress you are making. However, in the specific case of my dress, no. If memory serves, it took me about three and a half hours, primarily due partly to the very narrow satin bias binding I used on the neckline. It adds lovely detail to the dress that I wouldn’t change, but it was time-consuming. This three-hour-plus construction time seems to be what most fellow costumers have found it’s taking to make the dress.

I have plans to make the dress again in medium-weight linen in a period-appropriate pastel, but not immediately. The 1940s are calling me, and I need to embrace my inner Peggy Carter and Claire Fraser.

[It’s now April 2025, and I still haven’t remade this dress, mostly because I quit wearing dresses, but now that I have been reminded about this, it could show up in my project cue.]

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The Infamous 1920s “One-Hour” Dress – Is it really possible?

[Obligatory disclaimer: This is an updated repost from my old blog dated July 9, 2019. Thus, if it seems familiar, it is.]

We’ve all seen references to mid-1920s dresses that can be made in an hour, and we’re intrigued by the possibilities.

If you are like me, you discovered the “Miss Fisher Mysteries” on Netflix and have become enamored with this non-formula detective drama with a strong female lead.  Not only does the show feature the brilliant, smexy as all get-up, burgeoning middle-aged Miss Phyrine Fisher and a delightful group of supporting cast, but some very wearable 1920s clothes.

So now, inspired by yet another television drama with fabulous clothes, the siren song of “Lady Google-lay” beckons us to comb the web for resources so we can create our own copies of her period-appropriate “Capsule Wardrobe.” [At some point, I’ll blog on my love-hate relationship with capsule wardrobes.]

So, sometime in March 2019, I had a Tea coming up. It was at one of my favorite places, which is housed in a building built in 1926. Rather than wear my sad Titanic-era dress and the abomination that is the hat, I decided that I would accept the challenge and attempt to make the infamous “One-House” dress and see if it could actually be done in an hour.

I raided my stash and found some fabric that reminded me of Miss Fisher’s companion, Dorothy (“Dot”) Williams. It’s been washed and ironed. I acquired a pattern, printed it, and read through it. Measurements were taken. The clock will start ticking as soon as I can get to my sewing room.

This is going to be fun!

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1970s reboot project(s)

[Obligatory disclaimer: This is an updated repost from my old blog dated September 2, 2023. Thus, if it seems familiar, it is.]

It seems that Hollywood has now entirely run out of fresh ideas and is, has, or is planning to reboot anything popular in the past. Thus, I have decided to take some inspiration from the folks “down below” and do a 1970s reboot of my own.

So, what does this mean in the Foxes’ universe? I plan to pull some of my favorite patterns from my archives and remake these vintage gems using modern fabrics that my meager allowance could not afford. I will then apply my current sewing skills and techniques that my 12 and 15-year-old self did not have.

We will also explore the beginnings of my Capsule Wardrobe obsession that started with Seventeen magazine’s August 1978 “Back to School” issue.

This will be a slow process (as knitting and possibly crocheting will be involved), and I’m toying with the idea of making videos along with the blog posts, but that is yet to be seen as I’m quite camera-shy.

PS: These finished items will ultimately be available for purchase and will be Missy sizes 12-14, as those are the sizes of the patterns.