Getting started on Hanacky Kroj

What a find! I found a book on Czech-Slovakian Embroideries. Look at this beautiful design...perfect for my new project. The design features lots of cut-work but due to time, I am not doing the cut-work. I am instead going to embellish the design with beads, sequins and rhinestones. Sarah is hoping to wear this costume to an event at the end of September and the cut-work takes much more time. I scanned the desired design in to the computer and printed it out of vellum (transparent) paper. By doing this, I can print a new pattern any time I wish. Then I place the pattern over the area I want to embroider and trace the design with tracing paper. You can see the start of the embroidered design but I have lots more to do.

Kroj from Hana

Well, I have started a new project...a reproduction of a kroj from the region of Hana. I have not found much information on it but here are a few pictures I found. The only description I found was:
Folk costumes from the Hana region are really magnificent and - thanks to their richness and embellishment - extraordinarily becoming. They reflect the calm nature of Hana's inhabitants as well as the affluence of this region. The costumes are extraordinarily elegant, with the white colour prevailing in women's garments. In contrast with other parts of Moravia, the skirts are longer and are supported by numerous pleated underskirts. As well as that they are adorned by a white embroidered apron. The most outstanding feature of the local women's garments is a richly pleated white ruffle dating from the Renaissance period, which stands in contrast with a specially tied red flowery headscarf.

Sarah Modeling her Czech Kroj

This video clip is Sarah modeling the Czech kroj that we made. This was taken at the Miss Texas Czech-Slovak Queen Pageant in April 2008.

Newsletter of all things Czech

If you are Czech, or just interested in anything Czech. You will love The Dumpling Newsletter. The Dumpling Newsletter is an e-newsletter/website produced by a good friend of ours, Zora Pergl. This delightful lady puts together a newsletter full of Czech events, pictures and information. Not only does Zora produce a website; she puts together some of the best Czech trips you will find anywhere. My husband, Sarah and I were very fortunate to travel with Zora Pergl and Maggie & Ernest Grmela on an Alaska Polka Cruise last year. We had the best time of our life and can't wait to travel with them again. Be sure and sign up for her FREE newsletter, she will email you the new newsletter each week, you will love it! This picture is from the cruise, Sarah is pictured with Zora. Be sure and sign up for Zora's newsletter at http://www.thedumplingnews.com/.
Maggie & Ernest Grmela lead the dance on the Alaskan Polka Cruise in May 2007.

Westfest

If you are interested in seeing authentic Czech costumes, come to Westfest in West, Texas. Westfest is always on Labor Day weekend. On Saturday afternoon you will see one of the largest collections of authentic Czech costumes anywhere. For more information, check out their website...

www.westfest.com.

Making the Apron for the Kyjov Kroj

I used black polished cotton for the apron. I selected a small stencil to use for the background design. Use fabric paint and follow the directions, you may need to wash the fabric first. Sarah and I have heard that in the Czech Republic young girls would embroider their aprons. They would start on the bottom row. This row is usually smaller, simpler designs. The next row, the designs get a little larger and more elaborate. I used iron-on embroidery transfers and transferred them to the fabric by tracing with white tracing paper. Only do a small area at a time because the white tracing design will rub off quickly. So far, I have only completed two rows of flowers on the apron but it is enough for Sarah to wear it. Our plans are to make the third row with Texas flowers: yellow roses, bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes. The horizonal lines are made by crocheting a simple chain stitch. The apron is tied with very simple flat cord. The ties of the apron are not designed to show, they are tucked in to the apron and covered with an elaborate ribbon belt.

As I finished the second row of flowers, I decided to put Sarah's initials worked in to the design. I traced an S and an M on to the fabric. When I removed the tracing paper I noticed the vine of the morning glory formed a C but this was perfect because Sarah's middle name is Christine.

Sarah has really learned a lot about the costume by helping me finish it. She loves to show it off and talk about it.

Making a Blouse for a Kyjov Kroj

When I started the blouse for the Kyjov kroj I didn't know what I was getting myself in to. I went to great lengths to make it as close to the authentic blouse that I could. I took the authentic blouse to a copier and made a copy of all of the embroidery. I used this to trace the design to the fabric with tracing paper. Since I did not have a pattern I chose this McCalls's pattern. What I was looking for, was a blouse that had a simple collar and full sleeves. As you can tell, the sleeves on the pattern are not near as full as the authentic ones so I cut the sleeve pattern in half and added more paper to give it the needed fullness.

This blouse took over 500 hours to complete but I am very proud of the finished product. The Kyjov kroj is one of the most beautiful of the Czech costumes.

Sarah is pictured in her new kroj with Ashley Sulak, 2008 Miss Texas Czech-Slovak Queen and Marianne Beran, 2007 Miss Texas Czech-Slovak Queen. Ashley is wearing the kroj that Sarah wore as queen and this is the kroj that I tried to reproduce. Marianne Beran is also wearing an authentic kroj. You will notice that Sarah is not wearing the scarf on the shoulders...I am still working on that piece.

More Beautiful Costumes

Czech people of all age enjoy proudly wearing their kroj. Whether authentic or Americanized, they are all beautiful and unique.