With only about a month left until we leave for Williamsburg, I have rather a lot of sewing to do!
I was giddy when I found this Indienne print cotton at Lowe’s, and now it’s time to make it into a dress. The “Prelude to Victory” event that will be taking place during our trip is set in 1780/81, so everything I have been constructing has been late 1770s, but no later than ’81.
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| Costume in Detail, gown, 1780s – My changes – moving the skirting more to the front, changing the closure from lacing to self-covered buttons |
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| Costume in Detail, page 70. |
I’m using a gown in “Costume in Detail: Women’s Dress 1730-1930
” for reference, page 69 and 70. It has no specific date, just “1780’s,” so my plan is to set it a little earlier in that decade, by bringing the skirt more to the front than is on the original. The overall construction is not much different than a 1770s Robe a l’Anglaise.
” for reference, page 69 and 70. It has no specific date, just “1780’s,” so my plan is to set it a little earlier in that decade, by bringing the skirt more to the front than is on the original. The overall construction is not much different than a 1770s Robe a l’Anglaise.
| The original gown from “Costume in Detail,” from the Snowshill Collection, National Trust Inventory Number 1348733 |
For the pattern I sortof smooshed together my basic bodice block and the pattern from the last Robe a l’Anglaise. I want to try the squared-off tail style in back, along with a narrow-cut back, and a single-piece front/side/side-back piece. The shoulder strap is in-one with the bodice on the lining piece, but separate for the fashion fabric. The sleeve has yet to be tested.
So far so good with the bodice. I cut the center front well on the bias, and it has made a supremely massive difference in how the front/side/side-back pieces are fitting to the form. I’ve turned the side back seams and pinned them – they’ll be top-stitched into place, and if any additional fitting is needed, I plan to take it up at the center back seam.
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| Progress so far |
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| Back pinned in place. |
Here’s hoping the rest goes as smoothly as it has done so far…I say this before getting to the sleeves, which always seem to stop a project dead in its tracks! Someday I will stumble upon the perfect sleeve pattern…maybe this will be the day. 🙂
22 Comments
Mutemouia
September 7, 2012 at 7:27 PMIt is already stunning !! *-* I admire you, your hands are magic !!!!!
Lauren Stowell
September 7, 2012 at 9:12 PMwow, thank you so much!
Jenny
September 7, 2012 at 7:29 PMI think I like this one best of all the ones you have made…. And that's saying a lot 😀 Love the fabric, and the sketches alone are amazing!
Lauren Stowell
September 7, 2012 at 9:12 PMI think I agree with you – I really like how it's turning out.
Abigael
September 7, 2012 at 7:49 PMThis is going to be so pretty! I bought those curtains, actually, and was debating making them a skirt or a gown… this is looking so gorgeous, I think they'll have to turn into a gown. I love watching your projects unfold!
Lauren Stowell
September 7, 2012 at 9:13 PMMake a gown!
Caroline
September 8, 2012 at 12:15 AMLooking great! I bought the curtains as well. The fabric is beautiful. Im excited to see yours completed. Chintz gowns are a favorite of mine. So pretty!
Lauren Stowell
September 8, 2012 at 8:44 PMGood call! I can't wait to see what you do with them 🙂
Unknown
September 8, 2012 at 1:06 AMWOW! BEAUTIFUL!
Unknown
September 8, 2012 at 6:12 AMThe perfect pattern for this fabric, it looks so good!
Lauren Stowell
September 8, 2012 at 8:44 PMThanks!
Sandra Brake
September 8, 2012 at 11:17 AMGosh that looks gorgeous. Is Lowe's online? I'd love to buy some of that fabric.
Lauren Stowell
September 8, 2012 at 8:45 PMThere's Lowes.com, but when I went looking for the Waverly curtains online I couldn't find them, had to physically go back to the store to get them. I thought maybe they were on their way out of stock, or just freshly in
Sandra Brake
September 9, 2012 at 9:29 AMThanks L, they do have them online at the moment but don't post to Australia. Nevermind. I liked the one with the dark background too. Anyway I wouldn't make one with the same material as yours – mine would suffer too much in comparison! : ) How many curtains did you need to buy or could you buy the material by the yard?
Lauren Stowell
September 9, 2012 at 10:00 AMI bought two curtain panels and it's been enough to make the gown, but of course not the matching petticoat. If you like, I can pick up your choice and post them to you.
Sandra Brake
September 9, 2012 at 11:53 PMYou are a Duchess aren't you! And a good fairy. I have no will power – I'd love a pair of the same ones you have bought and a pair of the dark background ones. Will drive you up the wall?
Sandra Brake
September 10, 2012 at 3:23 AMAside from the nice ones you bought did you think the black background was nicer than the red background?
bauhausfrau
September 9, 2012 at 4:46 PMIt looks lovely! I predict a Lowes curtain costume craze similar to the Ikea curtain one a few years ago. 😉
Jen Thompson posted links to the fabric on the Lowes website in her latest blog post:http://www.festiveattyre.com/2012/09/an-ode-to-curtain-costuming.html
evette
September 9, 2012 at 10:40 PMWow Lauren! Just wow! You'd be surprise what you can do with a lot of stuff from Lowes or Home Depot! Very beautiful Lauren!
Janelle
September 10, 2012 at 12:57 PMThis is going to be SO pretty!!!!
Unknown
July 10, 2016 at 11:13 PMHow many yards for that gown??
Anonymous
June 23, 2018 at 1:49 PMapp do i see stockings filled with lentils subbing for boobs?
explain this to me cs if it does what i think it does (move up like boobs would when lacing the stays tight etc) you are a genious !!