FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
Teacher Anne of Avonlea
(click images to to enlarge)
Other Credits
Just many thanks for my husband's help in taking photos !
Outline the story …
Entry inspired by Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Well I was just rereading Anne's adventures when I came across a beautiful fabric, some flannel in a beautiful light ochre colour, and I thought it would be perfect for a cold-season Edwardian skirt... I really like Edwardian era's fashion, and I think it really suits a 18 years old Anne. I wanted something simple but pretty, to show Anne's evolution since the time she wanted dramatic puffed sleeves, to highlight the fact she's now a working adult (so in short, I wanted an outfit practical for working but still pretty because, you know, Gilbert Blythe. That's why I picked up a shirtwaist pattern with some gathering at the yoke and shoulders).
I took inspiration in 1900s fashion templates, between 1900 and 1905 approximatively. I've also looked at Youtube videos about Edwardian fashion, because I am by no means an expert, to see what kind of outfits people would reconstruct. I was a little sad to see mostly white blouses or shirtwaists, so I went ahead and purchased some light blue and white striped cotton, as I saw multiple fashion illustrations with women wearing fancy printed blouses. So I made an outfit composed by a simple but warm skirt, and a fancier shirtwaist. Should I say I choose Anne of Avonlea because I love Anne ? It was the first book my mother bought me. Anne of Green Gables holds a special place in my heart, and I couldn't enter this competition if it weren't for this book.
Outline the construction…
About the construction, I am not really an expert in fabrics so I choose what seemed the most appropriate. The shirtwaist is cut in a lightweight stripped cotton, with lace insertions. For the skirt, the fashion fabric is a cotton flannel (a light one) and the underskirt is in a really light, almost see-through cotton. I choose cotton because it is breathable and was available in Anne's supposed era. I also bought a shirtwaist and a skirt pattern (from Truly Victorian) because I don't know how to draft and wanted to stick as much as possible between 1900 and 1905-8.
About the techniques, for the first time in my life I've used a french seam. It was also the first time I attached a sewing placket to a skirt. Almost every seam (skirt and shirtwaist) is a french seam. It was a real challenge for me, as I later discovered that french seam needs a LOT of seam allowance I had to redo some part of the shirtwaist after the first fitting, because it was way too tight I've watched a lot of videos showing how to do these seams! In fact, I've watched videos for the shirtwaist too, because I had a hard time figuring out how to sew plackets for cuffs, or how to sew the yoke without having visible stitches. I also improved my topstitching.
Oh, I want this outfit! I love the Anne of Avonlea books and these wonderful garments are perfect for the character of Anne.
All of the pieces of this look are amazing! I especially like the use of a tie at the back of the shirtwaist. Great job challenging yourself with French seams too, those definitely take some getting used to!
You nailed that silhouette! Both pieces are wonderful. Great job❤
Pretty colour palette give a nice lightness to this look. Very fitting for Anne. Nice silhouette. That cotton flannel almost looks like wool to me. Well done.
This is a lovely outfit, I think it goes together very well, and can definitely picture Anne wearing this! Well done!