Sunday 12 October 2014

Broken scaphoid bone and History Wardrobe again

Well I finally went to the A&E since the pain in my wrist and thumb was getting worse and lo' and behold, there is a break in the scaphoid bone, beneath the thumb lol
Well what do you know!
You can still move your fingers and yet have a break in the wrist!
Got to go back to fracture clinic tomorrow for a cast, meanwhile I'm in a fashion-less rigid forearm splint : )

Yesterday was our monthly stitchy club meet and we had a 2 hr session with the History Wardrobe, this time the subject was
'Frocks on Parade'.
A run through fashion from 1945 to the 90s.
So here's a selection of photos, to maybe jog your memory.




that's some horrendous hat below isn't it lol


If you enlarge the pic below you'll see on the left an original - wonderfully smart, I adore them - 1940s ladies tailored suit.
Classic styling and wonderful fine wool fabric,
love those upturned reveres!
In the foreground is an original more recent Zandra Rhodes - bought from a York charity shop!! It was amazing and has stay press pleats.


After the war it became even more common for women to make their own clothes and a rise in the selection of paper patterns occurred. Fabric colours became more interesting and this home made dress below took my eye, partly because I liked the fabric but also because whoever made it, also made it with a matching coat hangar!


The History Wardrobe had been donated a fabulous black lace dress that had a stunning coloured lining to it, the pictures a bit crappy, but just look at the label!!



Dressmaker to the Queen no less!

As fashion moved into brighter colour and more interesting design, and through the godawful nylon stage! - through the whole crimplene period - here are some examples -



sparkly crimplene lol and next to it a pink floral mini dress, next to 1950s poppy fabric dress ~



This coat above I think was a Mary Quant, but it was just delightful!

Oh and here's one of the very early Laura Ashley dresses -


I didn't think this was as enthralling as other shows they've done but never the less the two Lucy's who chatted us through women's clothing history were superb as usual.

Added here >>>
Many thanks to Hazel for pointing out that crimplene was developed in Harrogate, at Hornbeam Park, Yorkshires own Crimplene Valley!!
I had no idea and the History Wardrobe didn't mention that fact to us Yorkshire folks!

My Mum wore it for a long while, I guess since it was colourful ( lairy loud often lol) but easy to dry in a house with just an open fire and no central heating.
Mum used to wash and dry hers on an airer in front of the open fire - since its so flammable, a bit scary looking back!! Mum smoked like a bloody chimney and most of her skirts had burn holes in them from falling ciggy ash come to think of it.
I have picked up odd offcuts at charity shops and used them to make some interesting textured broaches and have some to put aside to use for rag rugging.

Interestingly there seems to be a finer but similar fabric being used again, I've seen it in women's tops in Asda recently! I must check to see if its labelled as still flammable!







5 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear about your wrist! I hope the cast will help it heal quickly.

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  2. I guess you know that crimplene was developed in Harrogate (Hornbeam Park) in the Crimple Valley? Hope your wrist does not take too long to mend.

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  3. What an interesting show! I had to laugh at the dress patterns you had in the background in the first picture. One looks very much like a pattern I have downstairs. LOL. Good to know you have that wrist under control. Hope you are running on all 4 cylinders soon.

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  4. Hope you can get a lift to the fracture clinic. If you drive there, you probably won't be able to drive back............but I'm sure you've thought of that :) I do hope it heals quickly so you can get back to your crafting.
    Hugs.

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  5. Sorry about your wrist but now that you know what's wrong it should be fine soon.

    I remember crimplene. Wash and wear. It used to melt in a rather scary way. My parents had a wholesale/retail fabric business and we couldn't keep it in stock. It was at least 60 inches wide so all you needed was your length to make a simple dress. It didn't fray so you really didn't need to do a lot of fussy finishing on the inside seams. It really got a lot of women sewing their own clothes.

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