Successful outing

[mala_14]

After being picky about my skirt yesterday, nuranar had the great idea of weighing down the hem to make it less poofy. I was speculating as to what would make good hem weights that would be hanging around my house. quincy134 had the cool suggestion of using coins. However, since I was already out today running an errand, I figured I'd stop by the local dollar store and (when that was unsuccessful) the hardware store which is right by it. Bingo! The hardware store had bulk washers that were perfect. I got 18 at $0.15 each (one for each gore and each seam) which came out to $3.05 altogether. They're flat, not too big (about 5/8" in diameter), and have convenient holes in the middle to sew them on.

This got me thinking about what else such weights can be used for in sewing. Here's what I came up with: I remember reading about Ginger Rogers' dance costumes being weighted in the hems to help them swirl out. (Especially effective with big circle/bias skirts.) I believe there is an 18th century jacket in Costume in Detail by Nancy Bradford that has weights in the sleeve cuffs. I think that weights would be good for trains. They'd prevent corners and such from flipping up.

Do you use weights in your sewing? Any great ideas for making use of them?

Off to cut out a waistband and attach it to the skirt then the skirt to the bodice. Then I'm thinking a picture.

Comments

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Way to go! Washers are great, because you can sew through them. The home dec section of Joanns has them with the notions, for weighing down drapes. I'm sure I've seen some that were like shot, but with little loops for sewing through.

A primary reference I've seen is from a late Victorian newspaper, mentioning that someone - I think the Princess of Wales? - had her riding or cycling skirts weighted with shot to keep them from flying up.

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Really interesting! It makes so much sense for active wear like that!

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

There is the Martha Washington Bathing dress that has lead weights in it so the dress would stay down and be decent. http://marthawashington.us/items/show/48

I know there has been some discussion about heavier materials used at hems (like velvet tapes) going back to at least the 15th C. I haven't looked before that. You might be interested in this article: http://aneafiles.webs.com/renaissancegallery/doppia.html

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing! Just fascinating!

[starlightmasque.livejournal.com]

When I sold vintage clothing, I found loads and loads of weights on hems, necklines, cuffs. It was very normal for the upper crust clothing! I think weights are still used in couture stuff.

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Cool! I should check out my couture sewing techniques book.

[atherleisure.livejournal.com]

You can see the effect of the weights in Ginger Rogers' dress that she wears during "Let's Face the Music and Dance" in Follow the Fleet. If I recall correctly, they're in both the sleeve and skirt hems.

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Cool! I'll have to check that out. Thanks for the heads-up!

[fancyfrocks.livejournal.com]

Weights are great! I used fishing ones the last time :). Super cheap and have a hole in them already.

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Haha! I definitely spent some time in the fishing department checking out those weights too. :)