new project

I've found a costuming buddy in my program, which is nice; usually most people look at you funny when you tell them you sew costumes for fun, so it's a treat to have someone in closer proximity to work on projects with. She has located a Civil War era dance, and since I like period dance in its many forms I agreed that should be our next project. Of course, it's a month away. Wheee.

My compatriot is going to make a day dress AND a fancy dress, but  I'm aware of my limitations. I am much more interested in bustle fashions, which are sadly not Civil War period as it turns out. So for a variety of reasons I didn't want to put a lot of cash into this outfit. I wandered the JoAnn's Red Tag section yesterday and located this (sorry for the crappy quality, my real camera's battery is hiding from me):

It's a mulberry purple with a lighter purple and blue. The bolt was marked $4 / yard, but it rang up at $1 / yard. So I scored 11 yards of 54" wide fabric, which should be more than enough for the Truly Victorian 1854 gathered dress. I guess I'll have to cut it in half when I go to launder it or otherwise the washing machine will choke. If that fabric is way off base for the time period, one of you will have to let me know. It's the costuming world's equivalent of telling your friend she has spinach in her teeth.