2012 - Week One - Let's Do This2012 - Week One - Let's Do This I'm starting off 2012 with a positive surge of energy and eagerness because I know this is going to be a great year!  This year, although I don't set new year's goals or resolutions, I am looking forward...

Read more

Week Fifty - GiftsWeek Fifty - Gifts This week's post is all about gifts.  First I'll start with the gift of an amazing husband who cares for me way more than I could ever deserve.  This past week, my laptop that I use for doing my job...

Read more

Week Fourty Nine - Lessons LearnedWeek Fourty Nine - Lessons Learned One of the things I have learned about blogging over the past years, is that the very thing that you most want to write about generally keeps you from writing. That thing is called life. When I get busy,...

Read more

Week Thirty - Rabbits Reborn and Sharing the Game of SoccerWeek Thirty - Rabbits Reborn and Sharing the Game of... This week has been a long one.  Scott has been in Africa all week and does not get back until Wednesday.  Although I have missed him greatly, I have been able to accomplish much with the quiet house...

Read more

Week Twenty Nine - Missions and MittensWeek Twenty Nine - Missions and Mittens Scott left for Uganda yesterday on his first mission trip, ever.  He will be gone for 10 days and is part of an all male (testosterone rich) group of coaches and active guys.  He was excited, nervous,...

Read more

twitter

Czech This Out

Category : Fiber Arts, Patterns

Ok, I couldn’t resist that one. I am so excited that I have finally finished the costumes for the National Polka Festival that begins in less than 30 days.

The dress ensemble is mine to wear in the King and Queen Polka Dance Contest. The slacks, shirt and vest combination are for my father who will be competing with me. Let’s face it, I would look pretty silly out there dancing alone!!

I also made a vest to match my dress for my husband, Scott, who, although he likes to dance with me, does not embrace the same competitive gene that my father and I possess. Last, but not least, the little vest at the bottom left belongs to my grandson, William, who, if I have anything to do with it, will be learning some really cool dance steps next month.

Czech costumes for the 2008 National Polka Festival

This project was a lot of fun. There was no knitting involved, but the sewing, lace, hand embroidery, and trim work allowed me to be creative and do my own thing. I already have my color scheme picked out for next year’s costume. We are seriously going to have to investigate going to Illinois, Nebraska or Wisconsin for some other festivals during the year. Why save these costumes for only once a year?

Comments (6)

They are just outstanding!

I agree with you Scott….they are beautiful! A true craftsman’s art….or is that an artist’s craft??

the costumes turned out beautifully, well done!

Thanks for the kind words Elsie.

Your costume is beautiful. I would like to make one too. Could you tell me if what pattern # you used for the vest and the blouse? I think I can figure out how to make a skirt and apron but I am lost on the vest and blouse?
Thank you.

Mary,
Thanks for asking. For the blouse I used a basic, sleeveless pattern (New Look #6483) and added the sleeves myself. The vest for my costume is a modified version of the vest found in the Simplicity pattern #3809. The men’s vests were all made from the McCall’s pattern #8337. I hope this helps. Let me know if you would like more information and perhaps I will put more details in another blog post down the road. I will be making another costume set this year and will try to post more details as I go along.

[...] the construction of the men’s vests and now I need to embellish them. If you look at the costumes from last year you can see how the ribbon, sequins, etc. go around the outer edge of the vests. Please help me [...]

[...] just not as frequently.  I am tossing around the idea of combining the knitwith.us website with my blog so that all the patterns and instructional videos are in one [...]