Finished Project: Early 1920’s Combinations.

At first I wasn’t sure if it would be done by the Historical Sew Fortnightly deadline, but I made it!  The finishing touches were done last night.

If you missed the prior post, with more details on the process, you can find it here.IMG_0830 IMG_0831 IMG_0832 IMG_0833 IMG_0834 IMG_0835

The Challenge: Historical Sew Fortnightly “Pink” Challenge

Fabric: Vintage silk crepe

Pattern: Butterick 3201

Year: 1921

Notions: Vintage lace edging and insertion, vintage “imitation silk” embroidery threads, silk ribbons for embroidery, pearlized off white beads, hook and eye tape, and a few little ombre ribbon flowers.

How historically accurate is it?  Very.  I used all period correct techniques, including french seams and insertion methods.  The modern things would be of polyester, including the ombre ribbon flowers used at the sides and the straps, polyester thread, and the hook and eye tape is most likely polyester, with the hooks and eyes having some sort of white plastic coating.  Otherwise, it’s all authentic, with period correct techniques and materials.

Hours to complete:  A lot.  I spent a good amount of time on embellishment.  Otherwise it would have gone together quickly.

First worn:  Not yet!

Total cost: I’m not sure.  The fabric was bought at an estate sale a long while ago, and I don’t remember the cost, but it was probably $5-$10.  The lace and trims probably total somewhere around $5.  I don’t remember the cost of the pattern.  So we’ll say, probably $30 or so.

It hangs a little funny on my dress form, because she is not biforcated. ;)

I’m pretty proud of this one!  I spent time of doing French seams and embellishment.  I think it looks pretty close to some of the period ones I have seen, and, because of the fabric, even feels like a real one!  Yay!

16 Comments on Finished Project: Early 1920’s Combinations.

  1. Stephanie
    February 17, 2014 at 4:12 pm (10 years ago)

    Looks amazing Lauren! :D

  2. Natalie (Zip Zip)
    February 17, 2014 at 4:14 pm (10 years ago)

    Oh my! If you hadn’t said you’d made it, I’d have thought it came from your vintage collection.
    Triple bravo!
    Very best,
    Natalie

  3. PepperReed
    February 17, 2014 at 4:34 pm (10 years ago)

    Lovely!!!

  4. Corinne
    February 17, 2014 at 5:34 pm (10 years ago)

    Absolutely lovely. Insertion lace is an elegant touch to intimates as well as blouses. Your fabric choice is perfect for this application. The embroidery, stunning! I learned the techniques in a Martha Pullen school or two. Love to use them on nightwear and little blouses.

  5. Cassie S.
    February 17, 2014 at 6:08 pm (10 years ago)

    Absolutely amazing! One of the very best that I have seen through this ‘pink’ challenge!!
    I just love it! Your accuracy is diverting! It is stunning!
    I made a 1890 apron for this round!

  6. Tiffany
    February 17, 2014 at 7:37 pm (10 years ago)

    This is beautiful!! I’ve always loved these, but one thing has stopped me from making one. Since these are not a skirt, and are not split in the back like pantalettes, how does one do the “necessaries” without having to completely undress? If someone can solve this for me, these will go into my queue immediately!

    • Wendy
      February 21, 2014 at 3:05 pm (10 years ago)

      I’ve made a few combinations in this style (nowhere near as lovely as this one!) and own an original as well. In my experience, the fullness at the bottom is enough that you can just gather everything to one side when nature calls. I think the gathers or pleating usually used at the waist in these styles do a good job of hiding how much volume there actually is at the hem. I hope that’s helpful to you!

      • Tiffany
        February 22, 2014 at 7:15 pm (10 years ago)

        Thank you so much! It definitely makes sense now. I’ve got some Haslam patterns for these that I will definitely make now. Since those don’t really have instructions, I always feel that I need to know exactly what I’m getting into before I cut! Thanks again for your input!

  7. Carla
    February 17, 2014 at 7:37 pm (10 years ago)

    It turned out amazingly! I absolutely love all the embellishments and everything. Great job!

  8. Gina White
    February 17, 2014 at 9:26 pm (10 years ago)

    Squee!!! OHMYGOSH!! These are seriously adorable and look like they could have been made in the 1920s!! I so adore the embroidery and the lace!! Laaaaaaa!! You have outdone yourself Lauren!!

    Blessings!
    Gina

  9. Siri
    February 18, 2014 at 12:22 am (10 years ago)

    This is really lovely! Great job on the embellishments ;)

  10. witness2fashion
    February 18, 2014 at 1:43 pm (10 years ago)

    Congratulations on a lovely job — and for overcoming the “pinkness” with delicious ornamentation.

  11. Carol Barclay
    February 18, 2014 at 4:18 pm (10 years ago)

    Just beautiful! I’m glad you finished and you did a fantastic job! I love the embellishments. I had planned on making something similar, but used my maddening piece of very hard to sew on material to make a little girl’s dress, which I have had to put aside or go insane!

  12. Tanith
    February 18, 2014 at 10:15 pm (10 years ago)

    So gorgeous! And I agree with Natalie’s comment above about looking like genuine vintage garments. The soft colour and the embroidery particularly make them seem just right.

  13. Emileigh
    February 20, 2014 at 9:30 am (10 years ago)

    This is GORGEOUS! I’m totally in awe!

  14. Wendy
    February 21, 2014 at 2:59 pm (10 years ago)

    I actually gasped when I saw this! The gorgeous fabric and dainty little details are everything I love about lingerie from this era. I’m really interested in the construction because the bit of shaping at the waist makes it seems like it would be more flattering on my body than similar patterns from the era. (I’m obsessed with all things late 1910s/early1920s, but I have a very 1950s figure — lucky me!) If you made a pattern for this, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Again, you did an amazing job on this!

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