Tiger Lily's Threads

Just got back from the George Washington Birthnight Banquet & Ball at the Famous Gadsby's Tavern Museum in Alexandria, Virginia. Though I have previously attended formal events at Gadsby's in the past, this was the first time I've ever attended their birthnight ball; in 2017 I attended another birthnight ball at Williamsburg's College of William & Mary where the venue was held. Fast-forwarding to Saturday night's events, I really had a great time. WE'RE LOOKING FABULOUUUUS! For those who aren't not familiar with birth night, it's an evening celebration of George Washington's birthday which was on February 22, 1732. While I do not know when and where the tradition actually started, a birthnight ball is held in his honor around the month of his birthday and has been going strong for almost 150+ years. The time period for this ball was pre-federal (1799) which was a few years after President Washington ended his term in 1797, once agai...

This is a relatively short post (mostly because I'm still sewing). Originally, I wanted to make this gown for the upcoming George Washington Birthnight Ball that's occurring next weekend at the Gadsby's Tavern in Virginia, and needed to make a 1799 era evening gown. Looking at different examples, I settled on gown that I felt would be easy to make....  Putting my best foot forward I won't lie when I say that this wasn't a tough project. I felt that I might have gone just a little in over my head and won't be able to wear the gown in time for the ball (thankfully, I have a backup). Reason being, is mainly because of the materials. For starters, the fabric is one of a kind; meaning if I made any mistakes in cutting the Sari fabric, immediately the project is over. I had to be EXTRA careful. I also had to utilize an 1809 pattern from Period Impressions. This wasn't necessarily challenging; I just had to fit the 1799 look by raising the waistband a bit ...