Make a Civil War Dress
Civil War dresses have an elegance and style rarely duplicated since that time. Sleeves and skirts were full, held aloft by a hoop skirt underneath, with bodices narrow and usually pointed at the waist. You can use a small check, satin stripes, or a solid color for your dress, with velvet ribbon and narrow lace trim. The project requires some skill at sewing. Buy one of the patterns on the market, or make a dress from scratch by taking apart clothing you have to use as a guide. When you're finished, you'll have a beautiful custom-made 1860s style dress to wear.
Instructions
1. Cut the back and front pieces of the A-line bodice, tapering it to the waist in front and ending in a point. Make a slight cap sleeve at the ends of the shoulders. Once the bodice is assembled, trim the round neckline with a narrow row of cotton lace. Add a velvet or satin bow at the throat. Sew four bands of velvet to the bodice, two on either side on the front, descending from the shoulders so they curve downward and meet at the pointed waist.
2. Make the sleeves long and full. Draw the fabric in at the end of the sleeve by finishing it with a tight cuff. Attach the sleeves at the shoulder beneath the cap sleeves of the bodice. Edge the cap sleeves with a band of velvet and narrow lace.
3. Make the skirt in sections to create fullness. Civil War skirts are often sewn using four panels. Once the panels are sewn together, use elastic to gather the skirt at the waistband. About a quarter of the way from the bottom, end the skirt with a ruffle. Add a second layer of fabric below that, bringing the dress to the ground and hemming it with a bottom ruffle. Make the ruffles from the same fabric as the skirt, or make them out of white eyelet for contrast.
4. Attach the bodice to the skirt at the waist by stitching them together. Allow the pointed waist to show over the waistband of the full skirt.
5. Buy a stiff crinoline square dancing slip to wear beneath the full skirt to make it even fuller. The crinoline underneath will make the skirt puff out and start falling from the knees down as you want it to. You can also leave it out for ease and comfort if you prefer.
Tags: pointed waist, Civil Dress, full skirt, Make Civil, Make Civil Dress, narrow lace