Thursday 22 November 2012

Creating a Victorian boy

DS is studying the Victorians at school at the moment. So far he is loving it. In a few weeks he will be off on a school trip to Preston Manor for a Victorian day, where he will spend the day as a Victorian servant. I think this may come as something of a shock!

Of course, he has to look the part. Fortunately the school has cut back a bit on dressing up days. I have known parents pay out quite a lot of money for a costume on the internet. I wanted a waistcoat, but I wasn't about to spend much on something for just one day! I trawled the charity shops and came up with a small adult shirt:


It was actually quite a nice shirt and I felt a bit guilty chopping it up! I shortened it and cut off the sleeves and collar. Once I had hemmed all that I took it in a bit at the sides so now it looks like this:


It's a bit more "Little Lord Fauntleroy" than "Oliver Twist" - he will have to be a valet rather than a gardener!

After all that sewing I am now determined to overcome my phobia of sewing machines. My Mother-in-Law gave me hers last year but I haven't had the courage to use it yet! I think my fear stems from being absolutely useless at needlework at school. There are so many things I want to make, I just need to have some gumption and get on with it!

3 comments:

  1. Well done you for creativity. He looks very Victorian now!
    Why not use the leftover bits of shirt for sewing machine practice? Sew a few rectangles into bags or something, just to get familiar with your machine.

    Ask around [at the school gate?] to find a sewing friend who will give you an afternoon's help threading up and re-learning machine basics. [or email me if you've got questions]

    Your confidence will soon come back and yu will be running up costumes like a pro

    blessings xx

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  2. Thanks for the encouragement, Angela! I need to set aside a quiet afternoon before the end of term and have a go. After all, what is the worst that can happen?!

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  3. How neat! We don't have many options around here for children to participate in things like that.

    You did a great job on the alteration.

    Angela is right -- sewing machine use has a small learning curve and then you can do pretty much anything with a little patience. Once you start you'll love it.

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