Excellent point! I have my eye on a bright pink and green fabric... (little strawberries)... mmmm... maybe? Maybe not. I'll keep looking.

Valley Violet, we must have pressed the "send" button exactly at the same time! Thank you for the info, I'll go and have a look at the discussion and the books. What do you mean by "pretty wild colours in the 1880s"?? Very bright colours? Patterns?

Thank you. Good point about the light coloured background but with a small and sparse design on it. I must admit I am a bit worried about working with stripes and plaids as they can be difficult to match well (though I've seen some beautiful examples of striped gowns that people have made on this si...

Thank you Valley Violet. I think it will be a "late bustle" gown (just ordered the cuirass bodice to go with the summer overskirt I already have). I just want to make a gown that feels "summery" in lighter fabrics (I have a dark blue gown which feels a bit "heavy" for s...

Which event is that Louisa? It's not the one at Llandrindod Wells, is it? If you don't mind me asking that is...

Hi, how colourful were victorian fabrics for a summer dress? I'd like to make something that feels authentic and just been to have a look in the fabric shop and am really not sure what type of fabric to have for a summer gown... did they wear florals? Or was is more plains, plaids and stripes? Would...

Hi Louisa, I guess our American friends are all still in bed. I often write (or visit the site) during the day and then realise I'm going to have to wait a while to get an answer! I'm sorry I won't be any help with your question but look forward to your answers as I think it's an interesting questio...

Great! Thank you so much! Just didn't know if I'd change the shape too much by pulling the strings in tighter... I guess it just makes the bustle stick out a bit more at the back. Not a bad thing some might say... Congrats too to Danibelle and Big Momma Black - I've not lost vast amounts yet but eno...

Not too near I'm afraid - we live in the South West (Cotswolds area). Are you just temporarily living in Germany then? It's been a while since I've been up north but Yorkshire is beautiful.

Hi Beatrice (don't know if it's your real name but it's a really nice one!), Not sure if the bodice is that much too big all over. But I may take it apart anyway as it doesn't fit right as it is and I particularly like the embroidered silk on the front. If all else fails, I could just re-use the fro...

Thank you Danibelle - I was starting to feel a bit lonely with my question... so it's nice to have somebody write

Thank you Ladies. Valley Violet, your scans are very nice to look at. And you're right, the older children seem to pretty much wear smaller versions of adult stuff!! As for the period, I'm not sure exactly as I like both the "bustled" periods. I'm thinking of making something with the summ...

Thank you Louisa. Yes that pattern might work (and it would fit both girls), I'll go and have a look at my sewing shop to see if they have it. Though I have to say my 12-year old would like something a bit more elaborate, like the polonaise pattern (she likes the drapes and the "pouffs" at...

Thank you Urban Gipsy. I'm fairly new at this period sewing (well, have been coming to this site for a few years but compared to many other ladies here, have only put two and a half outfits together so far) but I think in all future bodices, I won't fully line them so I can alter more easily afterwa...

Thank you again Heather, can you tell me more about the piped facings you mention?

Thank you Miss Cindy! Some good info there on both boys and girls.
... And did you see I amended my signature?
Not quite right yet but haven't figured out how to include a nicer font as an image into my signature.

Thank you very much Heather. Yes, I'm sure you're right that I would be better off starting all over again but I do like this bodice and may have a go at altering it, following your advice. Makes me start to wonder whether it's better NOT to fully line the bodices.... making it easier to alter after...

Hi,
Can anybody tell me what middle-class girls would have worn please (9 and 12 years old). Also what a boy of 5 and a boy of 13 would have worn. I'm hoping to outfit all the family for an event in August (if I can manage!!!).
Many thanks.

Hi, I made this bodice (which some of you may have seen) which I wore to a wedding (without a corset and with a straight skirt) a couple of years ago and would now like to wear it this summer but it is now quite a bit too big! With my corset on, I can completely overlap the embroidered front (from t...

I've at last moved from the extra-large size to the large and wondered if it was possible to make my bustle smaller (TV101)? Would you just tie the ties tighter? With a good fit, where should the ends of the wire on each side lie? Around your hips? Against the back of your bum and legs?? Not too sur...