Red Work
Red work, that’s what I’m calling this recycled muslin, original draped dress. Red work was used in the late 1800's thru early 1900's to practice embroidery stitches. Using scraps from all the muslin I plow thru when testing a new pattern. I simply stitched them all together with red thread. I used my serger to do all the stitching.
I just began stitching snippets of muslin, some pieces as small as 3", up to larger pieces. Once I had a nice hunk of stitched fabric, I would take it to the mannequin and play with the drape. You could make yards and yards of this fabric, and just lay your favorite flat pattern and cut and sew. The top portion of the dress was a bodice I tested for another pattern. I figured it would be easier to just drape from that. Plus the bodice didn't go to waste.
I had a stash of small red buttons. So on the ruffle at the neck, and a few on the sleeve, and hem edge, I added a few here and there.
The cropped jacket I used a pattern from Tina Givens, @sewtinagivens. The circus fabric I'd had in my stash for years, and lined it with a checked silk dupioni. Right now I'm working on another muslin piece with traditional red work embroidery. Stay tuned!
Another accessory is a purse from Peru, a gift from my daughter-in-law, Claudia.
Photos by @robert.gelber. The cropped jacket is a @sewtinagivens pattern. Cotton circus themed fabric lined with checked silk dupioni. Gingham espadrilles and cowgirl hat complete the look.
Photo Credits: Images by Robert Gelber
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