Patsy Cline, one of country and westerns beloved singers. She had a very successful career during a short 8 year period.

Patsy first performed as a 15 year old on her local radio station. Over the next few years she performed and her local performances caught the eye for appearances on television with Connie B Gay’s, Town and Country.

Her first major hit which I’m sure many of us know, was ‘Walkin’ After Midnight’.

She moved to Nashville, Tennessee to further her career in 1958. She became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, changed record labels and went on to produce other hits such as ‘I Fall To Pieces’ and ‘Crazy’.

A plane crash saw her career and life end way to soon at the age of just 30. As an influential performer of the 20th century, she became the first female performer to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, has been portrayed in films and her music still lives on to this day.

Now we have the back story, let’s get to the craftier side of this blog and the gorgeous outfits that Patsy used to wear.

Did you know Patsy Cline’s costumes were said to have rivaled those by Nudie Cohen?!

Hilda Hensley, Patsy’s mother, handmade the designs Patsy came up with. After Patsy’s death, she loaned the costumes out to the Grand Ole Opry and were on display for many years.

Dang, don’t recall any there on our visit in 2014!!

ANYWAY! I got a request for info from my favourite B-Western cowgirl, the one and only, Lil Magill! Could I produce two of Patsy’s outfits for her. Ohhhh yes, yes, yes!!

So true to our usual preparation, Lil sent me the ‘paint chips’ from Texas, USA to Queensland, AUS so I could begin the hunt for said fabric.

This was where my research began! So the first outfit was to be orange, more a burnt orange, usual fringing, bling, snaps and style! This one was to be similar in keeping with wagon wheels and steer heads.

Now research told me that the original outfit was in fact red and the fringing was actual leather. We’ve done that before with the Annie Oakley outfit so we went with the normal chain fringe.

Patsy’s outfit.

And Lil’s version.

Now I must add in here that from what I had read from the Christie’s auction site and other Patsy and Hilda information I found out that Hilda had done the appliqué in felt. So felt it had to be!!

Now just this evening as I write this blog, further information has told me that the next outfit was in fact Royal Blue in colour. One of Patsy’s most favored outfits worn, it had faded over time.

Lil wanted the next one in purple and whilst the colour match wasn’t as good as I would have liked it now seems fitting that it is slightly off!

The ‘Star of Texas’ I shall call this one, is as best I could work out from Patsy’s blue star version.

I am without a picture of Patsy wearing this one.

Here’s our creation.

They’ve arrived safely in the US a few weeks ago now. So if you’re heading to the Texas State Championships soon, then keep your eyes peeled because Lil Magill is sure to be adding the accoutrements, boots and special hats to make these stand out in the crowd!!

Thanks again Lil for allowing me to be part of this process! Loved every minute of the research and production once again.

Kat xo