Making a skirt covered in bee embroidery! 🐝🐝🐝 (Based on one from the Edwardian Era - 1900s Sewing)

The first 1,000 people to use my link will get a full year of Premium membership to Craftsy for only $1.49: go.craftsy.com/sewstine/ Thank you Craftsy for sponsoring this video!
Gown was sewn on a Babylock Soprano with all the embroidery done on a Babylock Venture!
In this video, I do a deep dive into a 1901-1905 dress by Jacques Doucet's Bee Gown, as well as other gowns in that era. I also talk about how I used 60 yards of silk gauze, silk taffeta, silk satin to make this gown. All the sewing, digitizing, machine embroidery was done by me! Apologies - I do not get the entire gown done since I lost my sewing supplies in the middle of a move but I do show how the gown would have mostly looked!
I am in fact a Baby Lock Ambassador and these are the machines I use: @Baby Lock Sewing Machines
Embroidery Machine: Venture: babylock.com/machines/multi-n...
Sewing Machine: Soprano: babylock.com/machines/sewing/...
Serger: Victory: babylock.com/machines/serger/...
Digitizing Software: Palette 11:​ babylock.com/accessories/soft...
What I'm wearing today:
Dress from Linen Naive - Use Code Sewstine for 10% off!
www.linennaive.com/collection...
Sources:
Original Bee Gown by Doucet:
artsandculture.google.com/ass...
Materials I used:
Taffeta by
www.silkbaron.com/
Silk gauze from Dharma:
www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/...
Metallic Thread:
www.madeirausa.com/metallic/?...
Pattern by Wearing History
wearinghistorypatterns.com/pr...
Sand washed silk satin:
fabricfactory.in/products/100...
Lace:
www.etsy.com/listing/80171350...
Other tools (Affiliate links where available)
My favorite chalk pen: amzn.to/3zURGrP
American Duchess book: amzn.to/3CQhS7f
Cut of Women's Clothes: amzn.to/3EQTswp
Simflex Sewing Gauge: amzn.to/3geL8ul​
Clover Button Hole Cutter amzn.to/36K0TpZ​
Clover Tapered Awl amzn.to/3tP7989
Extremely large (40"x60") cutting mat - amzn.to/37GZYG4​
The incredible pin dish that I use thanks to @Costuming Drama - amzn.to/3mMgcUT​
Hot Fix Tool: amzn.to/3TTCQh8
Ruler - amzn.to/32YNIiV​
Favorite Needles for hand sewing: Tulip Sewing Needles - size 8-10
Favorite Thread for sewing:
www.superiorthreads.com/threa​...
Source for Shoes: Americanduchess.com who has their own channel: @American Duchess
Favorite Thimbles from: www.etsy.com/shop/NSMCreative...
Wall mural from Limitless walls
Me in different realms:
Blog: www.Sewstine.com
Shop: sewstine.etsy.com/​
Instagram: / ​
Other site: www.sewstineart.com/
Video sponsored by Craftsy
Music from ArtList

[@Sewstine]

I use Craftsy to get step by step instructions and you can too! The first 1,000 people to use my link will get a full year of Premium membership to Craftsy for only $1.49: go.craftsy.com/sewstine/ Thank you Craftsy for sponsoring this video!

[@karenruprecht6394]

Thank you Sewstine for the Craftsy membership. I did use your link. I have followed you for some time now and have really enjoyed your content. You inspired me to purchase my first embroidery machine! I have come to the conclusion either you do not sleep or have Hermione's time turner! The skirt is heavenly looking forward to your next video,

[@momosaku16]

Thanks for the great deal :)

[@dawsie]

I have been with Craftsy since it started oh so long ago, it’s my got too, when learning a new craft or I am needing to brush up on an old idea between Craftsy and KZbin I have all the angles covered. I love how it has something for everyone not just for the ladies, like it use to be in the early days but for both men and women.i am one of the lucky few who got a lifetime membership. It was on Craftsy that I learnt to do Tunisian Crotchet formally known as Afghan Knitting.

[@Sewstine]

AWWW! Thank you so much! :D I"m so honored that you got an embroidery machine after me! :D

[@thirza9508]

It's insane that the embroidery took 120 hours with a machine doing the actual stitching. Imagine how much time it must have taken to do it all by hand!!

[@faameexplains1192]

Tbf that was including the design and digitizing process

[@howcanikeepfromsinging]

Professional embroiderers can be very quick!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

The fact that we’re not into the bee aesthetic (apart from Penelope Featherington’s yellow dresses) these days is sad. We need more of that

[@impposter560]

I made a cotton slip a few years ago and freehand embroidered a bee on it. Its still one of my favorite articles of clothing, despite how threadbare its gotten. I love my secret bee and for such a tiny thing it made me so happy 🐝

[@Carolyn-qd8mj]

I have a 2-year-old granddaughter whose name is Wesley Bea. We’re pretty into bees in my family now. Bee themed clothing and fabrics are adorable on her.

[@MrsBrit1]

Fun fact, there are actually blue bees! I think they love in Australia, because of course they would, so you could have kept blue bees and been anatomically correct.

[@alexthegreen]

I was very excited about presence of blue bees on the original garment

[@threadsandpurrs]

They are an Aussie species.

[@mumsageek1883]

Yes! I get blue banded bees in my backyard sometimes. Always love seeing them :)

[@rouren4091]

Definitely got those in Aus! I adore the blue banded bees I think though a more fitting on for the criteria might be the blue carpenter bee (not an Aussie bee though, closest to that one we got is the peacock carpenter bee)

[@b.comeau2597]

I am from the US but a few years ago in a garden in Tuscany, was astonished to see blue bees on some of the flowers! I had never seen nor heard of them before and fell in love with the idea of blue bees in the world! ❤

[@ittybittylidicommittee]

The way you were roasting the clouds took me out. 😂😂

[@kirstenpaff8946]

Oh man, it's been ages since I thought about Angela Clayton. She was one the OG costubers who got me into this nerdy little corner of the internet.

[@Sewstine]

Omg she and I are friends and she is just so hilarious irl! She also is one of those who got me into costuming!

[@kmbarnett1200]

I used follow Angela on LiveJournal back in the day! OMG

[@kirstenpaff8946]

@@Sewstine Wow, I just saw Angela Clayton posted a new video. Can't wait to go watch it.

[@margotmolander5083]

She just posted a new video a few days ago (first in the past like 2 years).

[@mleonard3163]

I still watch her, her friend in real life Morgan Donnor, Abby Cox, and several others that are costumers but also historical clothing sewists. One of those days my sewing area will be organized enough to start taking on hand sewing and historically inspired clothing making as opposed to the mainly quilt making and jean skirt making I normally stick to.

[@kimberlyterasaki4843]

When you have the whole outfit done, you should have your son put on his "bee" suit and do a photo shoot! I know he might've outgrown it since it's been a few years but maybe you could alter the jacket into a vest at least?

[@raeb5525]

This is such a cute idea.

[@MichelleSMV]

The auspicious clouds make me so happy! I never knew this dress existed but we need to bring bee themes back lol

[@nlkeyser]

Omg that gold embroidery is supposed to be clouds? I thought it was the winding path of the bee's flight!

[@seonaelizabethcoster8465]

In regards to the blue bees: we have a blue-banded bee here in Australia, and they really are a beautiful iridescent blue.

[@jelsner5077]

I really like the "improvements" you made to the original design. Your clouds and bees are lovely.

[@RogueVideoRaven]

I haven’t seen anyone else say this so…. OH, NO, NOT THE BEES! NOT THE BEES! AAAAAHHHHH! OH, THEY'RE IN MY EYES!

[@taimatsuko]

It was my first thought! 😂😂😂

[@Cathrine-not-of-Aragon]

In the couple minutes before you talked about your move I was saying to myself "wow, that looks like Chicago" about the street outside your window. I used to live there and it's so funny how much we internalise an environment to the point of being able to recognise it without context. I hope your unpacking is swift and easy and that you enjoy the city.

[@purpleicicles]

Wow, sounds like life has been very hectic for you! Thank you for taking the time not only to make GORGEOUS things, but for also putting in the hours to turn your adventures into videos so we can travel along with you! ❤

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

Ok, I now after seeing those layers and layers of diaphanous fabric how a garment can be described as "frothy". I adore the bee motif, I now want to put honeybees and the orange-rumped bumblebees on everything.. And I'm glad you "improved" the clouds, they were kind of sad on the original.

[@user-nv7xv7rg2n]

As a fellow Asian this is an awesome project to watch you make! So happy you got better clouds!

[@LeeLee86]

Sewstine do not apologize!! I am just so grateful that you make these gorgeous gowns and also film them to allow us to see too!! If it takes a month or 6, I am still so appreciative!! Just because you upload videos to KZbin does not make real life stop 😂 The bee dress is absolutely stunning so far. I can’t wait to see the rest of the pieces ❤❤❤ 🐝

[@lucyj8204]

I am staggered by the amount of time it (rightly) took, and what that would translate to in sewist-hours when embroidered (etc) by hand even by hugely experienced and skilled in exactly this technique. Priceless!

[@carolinepierson6776]

We have blue banded bees in the garden. (Western Australia) They are pretty correct in the dress as they are longer in the body and in the sunlight are that gorgeous blue and sometimes even aqua.

[@kb-ny3ln]

This is amazing and I am super excited and patiently awaiting for all the updates! 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Also, please do not feel the need to apologize for not completing things or spreading things out! You moved, sold houses, bought a house, your things went MIA in storage, you're a doctor and mom! How you got so much done with all that is amazing to my brain. We can be patient for you to get your life sorted. 😊 Thank you for giving us this video amoungst your life chaos!❤ And take care of yourself!

[@lazygardens]

Your folding to get a clean edge was a great idea.

[@Sewstine]

Thank you!!

[@CFinch360]

"I can't have bad clouds" LOL I agree

[@samh.3421]

Those gauze layers are turning out so FROTHY and I am living for it. I want to fall into them. I want to live in the froth. More froth.

[@astreaward6651]

Doucet does not get nearly the attention and accolades his work is worthy of! I'm so happy to see your take on it :D

[@DipityS]

How on earth you didn't end up in stupor on the floor - moving and sewing this gorgeous gown all squashed in at once, I will never understand - I know I would have gone to absolute pieces. I love the gown - I love the colour - I love your clouds - the silk gauze - all beautiful - but I absolutely adore your cute little bees - they are utterly charming 😊

[@rudetuesday]

I really like those plump bees. They look nice and fuzzy. It's good to see you!

[@izby2652]

In England, bumble bees used to be known as humble bees.

[@KirRaeDreamer]

Absolutely love your videos. And, Oh my god! These dresses are amazing! Thank you for introducing me to Doucet’s work

[@sunriseeyes0]

It’s so soft and flowy! I wish I could wear pretty things like that here, but we have red dirt everywhere. But the bee and cloud embroidery came out PERFECT! It’s wonderful! 🐝☁️

[@r4dwolf]

This might be my favourite Sewstine project ever ❤ Love the bumblebees and I think going with just yellow ones was a good call. However, there are actual blue bees in nature! I was floored when I found out about them, but they are gorgeous.

[@kimberlycatton9937]

I am sure the embroidery is clouds but I also had a random thought of the swirls being the bee’s flight paths? #flightofthebumbleebee 😂

[@pearsfears]

i love the single queen bee!! what a great detail

[@victoriafrances2432]

And you certainly DO make the prettiest gowns on the Planet!!!

[@kathleenburns7065]

I still go back and watch Angela Clayton’s videos from time to time just because I loved her whole aesthetic and the way she would describe how she did things plus her humor always made me giggle. I saw in a reply you made to another comment she is a friend of yours and I bet she is just as quirky and funny IRL. Every time you showed the skirt embroidery as you were working on it I was trying to find the queen bee but I couldn’t spot her, might have to watch it again with playback speed down so I can actually hunt for her. Also can I just say if that’s where your sewing room is going to be then I bet it’s going to be gorgeous and you’ll have so much natural light! I hope your move went well and you’ll be able to get everything unpacked and set up soon! Looking forward to seeing your new sewing room!

[@junkin456]

I believe there are blue bees species in Australia!!

[@jcortese3300]

About the blue bees: you can find bees with blue butts in Australia. I wonder if the original owner of the gown had a connection to Australia? I am not a seamstress and will never be one, but this channel is fascinating. I watch a lot of woodworking and maker channels, and all of it along with your work is basically engineering and construction. This stuff is amazing, and congratulations on your move.

[@chaoticbookworm]

This is one of my favourite extant garments and it's so wonderful to see it recreated! As always Sewstine, your work is exquisite. May this beautiful skirt bring you happiness for many years.

[@JSanime]

OMG. The movement in the skirt! It just floats. ❤❤❤❤

[@YahveAnne]

Welcome to the Windy City, I hope you have plans for some good winter wear. You’re probably going to need it.😂

[@isabelasantos470]

Omg, the beauty of this gown! It's so gorgeous! Congratulations it's an amazing job! This kind of video makes me want to learn how to sew !

[@eliotapples2139]

Lol how's it feel to be smart, talented, beautiful, and now famous as well? 15k views on the first day a sewing video is posted? Woah dude congratulations!

[@San1984]

By the way the bees were one of the symbols of the first and second French empires. Also there's a type of bees with a black body and blue wings. They are called carpenter bees as they burrow into dead wood to lay their eggs. They are very cute.

[@CampingwithEmmy]

Your Bee gown is simply Heavenly! I am so excited to see it finished, with both bodices! You do impeccable work :)

[@emilyweeksstudio]

i love that you took the original design and improved upon it!

[@Nahsaghara]

Definitely relate to those 'moved and now I can't find anything' feels far too much. 😂 Skirt looks amazing so far tho!

[@deborahhouse9569]

Mind blowing. So inspiring and beautiful. How you got that together and moving is amazing.

[@tessiagriffith9555]

I love this dress. I love bees. I would have personally kept the blue bees as they are common where I live! They are called blue orchard mason bees, and they are major pollinators for fruiting trees in north america!

[@renjiai]

The attention to detail you give is amazing.

[@hrhprincesstricia4734]

This would be such an amazing wedding dress. I can only imagine how much it would cost, not just in materials but in time and expertise.

[@jr85009]

His gowns are amazing and your skirt is looking beautiful!

[@myhauntingromance]

Bees make me think of my favorite book (The Starless Seas) and loved watching the magic of this. I have no experience sewing, but havs been binging your content to gather whatever tips I can from the magic you share

[@sewannesew]

Congrats on the move! Your work never ceases to amaze me and I so love hearing about your process.

[@allisavercool227]

Sewing in the kitchen? Nah, that's my sewing room that conveniently has a fridge, sink, and stove

[@Heothbremel]

Good luck unpacking, it's beautiful already!!!!!🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@nondisclosureable]

I honestly never realized the original was supposed to have clouds. I thought it was just a representation of the bumbling flight paths of the bees intended to show motion. lol

[@MissMeganBeckett]

There are actually blue bumblebees in Australia, I was surprised to find out from a pottery painter on KZbin who made something with blue bees in it and they said it was representing a local bee species, I hadn’t heard about them before then either.

[@CheyenneSedai]

was surprised to hear the Erika mention, but she's great so I love to see it

[@Jane-cr9bp]

The blue bees remind me of the Australian blue-banded bee, although it is not anatomically correct, of course! I love that you stuck to good (Asian) clouds 🌥 The embroidery is beautiful, just stunning. That outfit is shaping up to be my favourite of all that you have done!

[@conniemurdoch8528]

What you see as clouds I thought were bee trails.

[@SueK2001]

Bumblebees are so cute! We have them in our garden buzzing about.❤ OMG your bee gown is going to be gorgeous! The clouds are definitely better in my opinion and the embroidery is stunning. So many hours! LOL. And doing all this while moving? Incredible.❤

[@brandimr23]

I have an embroidery machine with a smaller hoop 5x7, however I have no clue how to digitize designs I just buy them online. I love watching you make an embroidered piece, gives so much more depth and definition to your project. Sew Lovely!!!

[@leisongivangomo4478]

Gorgeous! I can’t wait to see not only the rest of this gown; but also your new sewing room!

[@Sewstine]

Thank you! I’m so excited to see if it turns out just the way I hope!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Happy Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈 Thank you for giving us joy and a safe space! Stay fabulous 👏🏽

[@Annie-ex3ge]

So gorgeous! It is something absolutely special.

[@Sewstine]

Thank you!

[@megankuchta9145]

I’m just imagining this with the fabric that literally floats that Bella Mae used in her Cinderella gown construction.

[@Sewstine]

Omg her construction on that was sooo incredible!

[@alexiscarlton1355]

Your dog has expensive tastes, sleeping on silk :D. Thanks for sharing.

[@mirisoji8406]

Welcome to Chicago! The dress is coming out amazingly!

[@firefly5421]

Loving everything about this (except maybe that we still have to wait for the finished look, but now I have a tour video to look forward to!) You do amazing work and I wish I had even half of your talent and skill! One day maybe, you're a fabulous inspiration ma'am! I know I'm late to the party and you may not see this or remember an earlier comment I left asking you to speak slower - or if you even saw that to begin with... But if all of that sounds familiar, thanks a mill! I notice a difference and it is easier to follow along as you're speaking now! Can't wait to see the next part!

[@lesleyharris525]

Beautiful skirt, you are so patient with the whole process of making the most amazing dresses and gentlemen clothing, good luck with the unpacking of your new home and i look forward to seeing your new sewing room next month, ❤

[@mylena3086]

I agree with everything excspt that there are axtual blue bees But the cloud and anatomically correct thing are relatable

[@AnniCarlsson]

OMG that evning bodies of the bee dress. Me love the cut of it

[@CatariaNigra]

As much as I love all your videos, I am most fond of your 18th century dresses 😉

[@marikotrue3488]

Edwardian gowns are my ultimate fantasy gowns. While not in my skillset, watching these fantasies become realities gives me gives me such joy.

[@shamancarmichael5305]

Congratulations on your progress so far, it's stunning! Also, happy new house, enjoy the settling in! 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@San1984]

Your bees are definitely cuter than the spider wasp monstrosities of the original 😂

[@alexandrawickham2513]

Omg, I'm so excited! This is my favorite vintage dress!!🎉🎉❤❤ Im partially basing my wedding dress on the bee dress. 😊 Wait, you're telling me all my favorite vintage dresses are made by the same man?? 😂😂 I'm so glad I know that now, thank you! Also, your work is stunning, so beautiful and and well reserched/skilled.

[@jayne_dough97]

I love this so much, bees are awesome We actually do have blue bees in Australia, maybe I need to embroider them on something

[@laggyy3987]

😂 I just saw American Museum of Natural History pushing a story about blue bees on facebook!

[@HexxWhat]

gotta love some BEES

[@bluestarfish95]

They are Not Clouds - they are the routes the bees flew - flight patterns - their contrails so to speak. 🐝- - - - - - - - - - -

[@dawsie]

I love bees, it’s just that I’m allergic to them😿😿 we get this wonderful bumble bee where I live, it’s called a carpenter bee she is massive about 3-4 times the size of the UK bumble be I found one in the garden when the temperature dropped suddenly trying to find a warm spot so I got a tissue and she crawled onto it I then made some warm water and sugar for her and made a cosy safe haven for her as it was going onto nighttime made sure that she could make her way out once the morning sun hit the sheltered spot I had placed her. She had a drink and then crawled deeper into her overnight B&B 😹😹she was gone the next morning long before I woke up as sunrise was around 4:30am at that time of year. I love the dress so far it looks stunning. Looking forward to you sewing room setup next month.

[@rayshelld791]

I LOVE this dress. It unique and so lovely. All those hours embroidering the bees makes it a work of art. Well done.

[@Kylla8]

I can't wait to see the new sewing space.

[@laraontoast]

Enjoy Chicago! We have fun here.

[@maleahlock]

We have bright blue bees here 😊

[@seriliaykilel]

It's looking fabulous!! Congratulations and good luck with the move!

[@susanpolastaples9688]

I'm in love with your bees. They're so can one ssay cute, lifelike and adorable. Clouds too.

[@cleoalexander7590]

I gasped as soon as I saw this 😊

[@sugarbee00]

OH this is FANTASTIC!!! I love bees so much i named my cosplay handle after them (ToT) this dress makes me insanely happy and as always your work is *fantastic*. always a good day when i see one of ur videos up

[@bernadmanny]

Blue Bees are a real thing.

[@bohemiansusan2897]

I look forward to seeing the finished gown. The layering of gauze and lace looks dreamy for the skirt looks dreamy. Do you have an event to wear it to? On a different vein than Worth, I've had some ideas for embroidering silk organza to layer over black satin or taffeta on the chima part of a chima jeogori ensemble. The hanboks of my childhood had such dreamy floral embroidery. Everything is in the brain storming and planning stage right now. It will be my daughter's Goth wedding Hanbok. I've got a lot of time to come up with it.

[@anissaneal8733]

Followed the link and excited to up my tailoring game!!!! Thanks Sewstine!!!!🙏🏾💙🙏🏾

[@merelymayhem]

the skirt is stunning ! I'm looking forward to the next videos for this dress

[@armfart890]

It's so gorgeous already! The Edwardian period is one my favorite fashion eras.

[@annbrookens945]

My goodness, those diaphanous layers are gorgeous! And the bees on that original are so nice from a distance but your bees are much better!

[@kimmismith9174]

🥰 OMG! This is my dream dress. I love the way Doucet's gowns have a grown-up whimsical quality. Congratulations on the move. You are a wonder woman for getting this much done with all of the demands on your time. ❤ There's no need to apologize for giving a project the time it takes to get it done right. I recently made myself a super frilly nightgown for my vacation. The one week project took a month because of mock-ups and fit issues. It turned out lovely but I still want to make another and do it better... and in purple. 😅

[@ajetton]

What lovely work. And welcome to Chicago!

[@samanthapereira3733]

Oh it just looks amazing! And i think you helped me with my current project, so thank you!❤

[@kindalegendary-mh4wk]

looks great so far! good luck finding your sewing supplies!!!

[@mudpuppystitchery]

Love love love! 🐝

[@lilykatmoon4508]

I LOVE this so far. I adore bees, and I really love the changes you made to the embroidery motifs with the clouds and bees. Can’t wait to see it slowly unfold. I hope your unpacking and all the transitions happen smoothly for you and your family. Take care.