Iron Dress
A fun project I did in 2009 was called the Iron Dress. This project is a competition created by a group of costumers that use patterns created by Margo Anderson. The rules are that you can use only fabric and trims from your own stash, plus $25 for minor additions. You only have one month to make the garment, and you must use Margo's patterns. This was my first attempt at doing an Iron Dress. ![]()
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The Project: |
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Day One: | I cut out the bodice pieces in duck cloth and fit it on myself using pins and a mirror. I chose side-back lacing, to give myself more adjustability than I have on my current bodices which use hooks and eyes. I decided to cut the back down into a square neckline so that I could run the trim in a full loop around the bodice. I continued construction, getting to the point that the bodice was basically complete. The lining was not handsewn down and there were no lacing rings at this point. | ![]() |
Day Two | I cut the forepart out of the drapery panel, lining it with some gold cotton broadcloth. This is pinned to an existing underskirt that I already had. The farthingale and bum roll were also existing, as are the smock and corset I plan to wear with this outfit. I lined the overskirt and edged it in wide ribbon, but it is not pleated to a waistband at this point, just pinned to the dress form. I chose a phoenix sleeve style, since I had not tried that previously. The sleeves are also pinned to the dress form at this point. | ![]() |
Day Three | I used Margo’s pattern to create a partlet from the embroidered organza scrap that I had. In the past I’d drafted my own partlets, but I liked the shaping of the neck and the ribbon ties around Margo’s version better than mine. On this day, I also did hand finishing on most of the pieces, including sewing down the bodice lining, and adding lacing rings to the side backs and under the wings for the sleeves to tie on. I created ties for the sleeves from seam binding since the color was a good match and sewed them to the sleeve edge. I also cartridge pleated the skirt to a waistband. | ![]() |
Day Four | At this point, I could work on finishing touches. I beaded most of the partlet using a regular placement of beads over the more freeform pattern of the embroidery. I also made a caul that matched the sleeves and forepart, as well as a flat cap that matched the gown. | ![]() |
Day Five | A few more touches were added today. I gathered a few scraps of the embroidered organza into faux ruffles for the sleeves. I whip-stiched these to the lower edge of the sleeve. I also finished beading the ruffle on the partlet, which I had skipped originally. | ![]() |
Day Six | I added a few beads to the new sleeve ruffles and hemmed the skirt. This officially finishes the Iron Dress entry. I also decided to make some jewelry to go with the gown, though this was additional cost and is therefore not an official part of the Iron Dress entry. I found some large faux jewels in olive and cinnamon, which I alternated with sets of faux pearls to make a choker necklace. | ![]() |
Day Seven | The final day included some additional accessories that are also extra. I made a belt from some larger pearls in addition to more of the gems and pearls. At this point, I also made a caul and flat cap to go with a coordinating gown that I had made for my daughter several years ago out of the same olive velveteen. Finally, I made sleeves for her outfit out of scraps, since it previously didn’t have any. | ![]() |
The Cost:
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The Result: I am very pleased with the result of this project. I love this color combination, which is why I had so many fabrics and trims in these colors. I am also becoming a huge fans of partlets, which I have incorporated into several of my recent gowns. The sleeves and forepart on this outfit are begging to be beaded heavily. The design is tone-on-tone and doesn’t stand out as much as I’d like. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the time to do the detailed beading to accent the detailing in this pattern. This project has also encouraged me to work on some of the other projects that should be made out of the contents of my stash. I have fabric for at least three gowns for me and two doublets/slops for my husband. Some friends’ fabrics are also stashed in amongst my collection, and I really should work on making those into garb for them as well. I am looking forward to wearing this new outfit for a special SCA event in a couple weeks. The Middle Kingdom is 40 years old, and we are celebrating with a special event here in Chicago. I think my daughter and I will look splendid in our olive and gold Elizabethans. Thanks for reading! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |