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The Walking Skirt of Dreams
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Outline the story …
Book: The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters
It's about a girl named Olivia Mead, and she goes and sees a hypnotist on her birthday - that also happens to be Halloween. The hypnotist picks her for audience participation, and he makes her stiff as board and stands on her (crazy things.) This was printed in the newspaper, and her dad finds out - he's a dentist. He does not like Olivia to be doing these un-lady-like things and she is being too much like her mother. He is double mad because he finds out that Olivia is going to women's rights things, and he does not like that. So he hires this hypnotist to make her compliant, but what he really does is make Oliva see the world how it truly is. This gives her the power to see people's true selves, for example, she sees her dad as a vampire and knows to stay away. The book explores freedom and activism for women during the women's rights movement in America. I got my inspiration from the photos in a book of women rights activists in 1900 when the book is set.
Outline the construction…
I used off white muslin for the lining, duck canvas for the bottom stiffener, and a cotton-polyester blend for the outside skirt pattern. I am in college and during a pandemic, a sewing machine is too big to bring into a dorm, when you might get kicked out at any time. So I hand sewed the long seams that connect the different pieces together (I don't know what they're called) also, the waistband, and the pocket. Then when I got home I finished all the inside exposed parts with my sewing machine as well as the hem. I used the pattern Truly Victorian ‘1898 Walking Skirt’ from Bernadette Banner's making an Edwardian Walking Skirt video. I know that it is not a 1900 pattern, but I wanted it to be historically accurate and I know I can trust patterns that Bernadette recommends..... so oh well. Some challenges I had to overcome was this was my first time sewing anything since middle school when I tried to make a green skirt, and let's just say that was interesting. So the whole project was me figuring out how to do any stitches that were not a running stitch or a backstitch, while my great grandma's voice yelling at me because my sewing is terrible. Also, I did not get enough fabric so I had to improvise and do some piecing. The internet was definitely my friend with this project In the end. I am very happy that I did it.
It’s got lovely shape. I’d be delighted to wear it. And I love the choice of fabric, which is a departure from the plain or tartan you usually see. Fab work. Best of luck!
Beautiful print.
Lovely shape and lovely fabric choice. I hope you feel fabulous when you wear it.
Piecing is period so YAY for getting to include it. I hope you get years of wear out of this as it’s wonderful! Thank you for the story as well
You can see that lots of thoughts went into that skirt, and it really paid off. Great job!!
Wonderful job!! And totally cute and practical for everyday-wear as well. Love it!!
I really like the skirt 😀 The Video shows the beautiful silhouette and OMG it has pockets!
Well done!
Piecing is period! 🙂 I’m not familiar with this book, but the way you describe the protagonist’s journey, I feel like this explosion of flowers – but in black and white – fits her so well. Nicely done, and good problem-solving!
Beautiful skirt! I love the trim and pockets – well done!
Wow, very nice. I like the way this skirt hangs! Thank you!
This is a beautiful walking skirt! I love your choice in fabric