Hi Friends!
*This post includes a review of a product from Organic Cotton Plus as well as a promotion for upcoming sales. I received this fabric for free in return for a review and promotion. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
I hope you’re enjoying a lovely Thanksgiving if you celebrate the holiday, and if you don’t, I hope you’re having a wonderful Thursday. Either way, if you like shopping for deals — especially on Black Friday! — Organic Cotton Plus is having 15% off the site all day using the code: FRIDAY15 and on Cyber Monday, they’ll be having all day sales up to 60% off with additional flash sales every two hours. It’s a great time to score a deal on fabrics that you’ve been dreaming of. I’m especially fond of their organic cotton jersey and the local wool that I used to make this pelerine.
As I mentioned, I used this lovely local wool from Organic Cotton Plus. It’s 100% pure virgin wool from American sheep and made in America. It’s a really gorgeous 13 oz wool and perfect for historical costuming. I can also, of course, imagine sewing a beautiful jacket or a skirt with this.
For my wool, I sewed this lovely 1840’s/1850’s pelerine or capelet from Laughing Moon #114 (Ladies’ 1840’s-1852 Round Dresses). Most pelerines of this time period seem to be either lace or made in the same fabric as the dress. I did find some examples of wool pelerines, so I didn’t feel that I was doing something wrong using this pattern to make one out of wool. After all, I’ve seen a lot of similar capelets, capes and shawls from this era.
My pelerine is lined with white muslin with just one hook and eye to fasten it at the front. This pattern is only two pieces, so it’s a quick one to sew. I did want to use a printed cotton for this project, but busy patterns and colors show through the natural wool fabric. I also considered adding some embellishments, but decided against it as I wanted this to go with pretty much every dress I have or will make of this era.
I’m wearing an 1840’s dress also made with Laughing Moon #114. I’ll share more photos of this dress at a later date. I’ve already been wearing it quite regularly for my California Gold Rush era impression. I did intend to share this pelerine along with my Gold Rush Christmas dress that I’m making right now, but as with most things, I’m running behind and still making it. I’m planning on wearing it to the Dickens Fair next weekend, so hopefully I will finish that and the bonnet I plan to make to go with it. If I don’t, at least I have a backup dress. 🙂
Happy Sewing!
Pretty! Happy Thanksgiving Tanya!
Thanks, Natasha! 🙂
The pelerine is beautiful, and modern looking enough to wear with contemporary clothes too! I can envision wearing that style with a turtleneck and jeans. The blue dress you made also looks gorgeous. I’m looking forward to getting a better view of it when you post the photos.
Thank you! I do think that it could be worn for so many eras. I’ve been planning to take photos of that dress when I’m volunteering at my museum and haven’t done it yet. I will shoot for January!