It has been a busy month as most Januarys are for me.

The neighbor has sold her house and moved to Indiana for her new job. I’m optimistic because she sold hers (which is very simular to ours) in three days. And we have found some nice properties in our new target home area.

I’m still working overtime but not as much as I was three weeks ago. We should be getting back to a normal workload in the next week or two.

So yesterday I went to TOC and I wore the big German dress. It hasn’t fit for a few years and it’s on the verge of not fitting again so when I tried it on in the morning before we left, I decided to leave it on. I recieved so many compliments on it and it actually is more comfortable than I remembered it being. I had to fully explain its construction three times for people who were interested in making one. So here it is: I used the Period Pattern #46 for German Slash and Puff. I took the basic sleeve from Seams Like Old Times #8, figure 19 though I will caution that you should add some extra room to the pattern because when you sew it up it’s going to get a lot tighter. I stuffed the sleeve sections with that pastic mesh used in bath scrubbers because it doesn’t loose it’s shape. The base of the dress is a canvas weight cotton with a little stretch in it and it almost has the look of denim – a nice matte black. I used an iron-on stiffner on the lightweight strips before I cut them for the sleeves as this keeps them from unraveling – a washed wool would not have needed the special treatment. The gollar was cut from a single piece of cotton velvet, backed with a lightweight fabric, then sown like a snake and turned. Ironed and then beaded. Then the whole of it was sewn to the top of the dress.

The skirt is done with pleater tape and then sewn to a narrow leather belt. The entire back of the top was then sewn to the skirt. The center section is removable with hooks and eyes and the rings for the laces are sewn to the back of the gollar which pulls it all together. The skirt opens on the side-front, directly below the gollar. The gold and white pannel is stiffened with the eye end of the hooks and eyes and extends about two inches below the waistband but is not attached.

The hat and red band on the bottom of the skirt is a tiny wale cordaroy and the hat is pretty free of patterning, meaning that it looks like a quartered apple and the feathers had to be sewn in or would not stay in place.

I had gone to TOC to see a dear friend get elevated to the order of the Pelican. He had some wisdom for me and I found myself all misty eyed. It was a busy but enjoyable day.