Costuming Outlander Inspired “Cross Creek” Claire

It’s the duvet that keeps on giving.  When my dogs attacked my prized Pottery Barn duvet cover in the dead center of it (rendering it completely useless as bed clothes), I cut the bottom lining off to use for other projects and saved the decorative top for…whatever may come up.  Turns out I have super educated and talented friends who spotted the pattern as Indienne, a fabric pattern popular between 17th and 19th centuries.  So I’ve just been adding garments to my growing 18th century wardrobe to compliment the pieces I’ve already made for my Claire from Outlander (season 1 and season 3).

 

 

As the pieces started to come together, I began to call it my “Cross Creek” Claire, as inspired by Claire’s time in North Carolina at Jamie’s aunt Jocasta Cameron’s house at Cross Creek.  We haven’t seen these scenes in the show yet, as they’re currently still sailing the Atlantic, but I’m eager to see these book (Drums of Autumn) scenes come to life in season 4 neat year.  The fabrics and pattern colors that I’ve been using for these pieces have a lighter feel than what we’ve seen in the Scotland scenes, and are easier to wear in our Houston heat.  Here’s everything I’ve made with the duvet (so far):

 

The Duvet That Keeps on Giving

Sewing 18th Century Pockets

Sewing 18th Stomachers

Sewing 18th Century Jackets

Sewing 18th Century Stays

Sewing 18th Century Petticoats

Sewing 18th Century Hat Trim

Sewing an 18th Century Drawstring Bag

 

 

Sewing 18th Century Pockets

When I made my Claire from Outlander (Season 1) costume last year, I didn’t include pockets in the skirt.  Pockets make every outfit magical, from 18th century on.  So rather than adding the pockets in the skirt I so desperately coveted, I decided to make a set of traditional 18th century pockets that could be worn underneath any 18th century dress (over petticoat, under skirt/dress).  Because pockets!  For the full pockets build, read here.

 

 

Sewing 18th Stomachers

I’m of the opinion that one can never have too many stomachers.  They’re like the statement necklace of the 18th century; interchangeable, drawing the eye to the chest *giggle* and worn in the closure of women’s shirt jackets.  And because they’re easy to make and need little fabric (yeah, scraps!), I currently have six…and counting!  For the full stomacher build, read here.

 

 

Sewing 18th Century Jackets

Determined to expand my 18th century wardrobe with available materials and my mediocre sewing skills, I grabbed my JP Ryan 18th century ladies jacket pattern and never looked back.  For the full jacket build, read here.

 

 

Sewing 18th Century Stays

As I work my way through salvaging a dog damaged duvet cover, subsequently building a small 18th century wardrobe with it, I️ had enough scrappy pieces to make a set of 18th century stays.  I just LOVE this Indienne pattern.  For the full stays build, read here.

 

 

Sewing 18th Century Petticoats

My first 18th century skirt (note: not a proper petticoat) was made for my Claire costume from Outlander (Season 1).  I didn’t have a pattern or much skill/knowledge, so I bought 9 yards of heavy upholstery fabric and manually box pleated the hell out of it.  Wishing I had pocket slits, I went back about a year or so later and cut hand holes so I could wear 18th century pockets underneath.  After joining an Outlander Inspired Costumes group on Facebook, I learned from a very knowledgeable and helpful friend in the group that had I made proper petticoat (with front and back sections overlapping and tied separately), pocket slits would just naturally happen.  For the full petticoats build, read here.

 

 

Sewing 18th Century Hat Trim

As I work my way through salvaging a dog damaged duvet cover, subsequently building a small 18th century wardrobe with it, I️ had enough scrappy pieces to make hat trim.  In fact, the slim scraps I used for the hat trim was part of the discarded side trim where closure buttons were sewn in to close the duvet cover.  Why not use as much of this duvet as possible?  For the full hat trim build, read here.

 

 

Sewing an 18th Century Drawstring Bag

I cut down a quarter of the duvet cover for the 18th century jacket and stays, and used some scrappy areas for a stomacher, pockets, petticoat waistband, and with what little was left…I made a small drawstring bag inspired by a bag carried by Claire from Outlander in season 2.  For the full drawstring bag build (and pattern), read here.

 

 

Although I made the Cross Creek outfit for warmer Texas weather, it traveled with me to North Carolina where I tried everything on and enjoyed the cool mountain air as I imagined Claire Fraser would when she and Jamie reached the Americas (come on, Season 4!).  Maybe not in Houston summers, but in North Carolina I was quite comfortable!

 

 

As for the fated duvet cover, I was able to salvage a large enough piece to pad and close up for a foot runner (before and after above).  This prompted us to repaint/redecorate the bedroom, and I actually prefer the new look…just don’t tell the dogs I said so.  They’re smug enough.  All that remains of the duvet cover is about a fat quarter and some strips…what else can I make with it?  What would you make?

 

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