When Jen Thompson of Festive Attyre came up with the idea for a Curtain-Along, I thought it was a fabulous idea. Using the Waverley Felicite curtains to create an 18th century garment was an inexpensive way to start my foray into that time period. I have been wanted to create costumes from that era for a very long time - they are all SO beautiful! So I ordered two panels from Amazon with the intention of making a Robe a l'Anglaise. However, with 3 kids and going to university full time (which also consists of an hour-long drive each way), I wasn't able to start right away. When Leimomi over at The Dreamstress announced that Challenge #9 was going to be Flora and Fauna, I decided that I would combine both challenges. Luckily the HSF challenge deadline fell after my final exams, giving me a week to complete the outfit. It was at this time that my husband, Shannon, said that he didn't think he would be able to go with me and the kids to our first re-enactment of the year. Since my family does 1812 re-enactments, and all my clothes were back-fastening, I needed to make two new outfits that I would be able to get into myself. I was planning on just doing either a crossover gown or an apron-front gown, when I came across this
on Pinterest. I immediately fell in love! Who wouldn't? That jacket/bedgown/whatever you want to call it, plus a petticoat would be perfect for the event. It even had a print similar (though in a smaller scale) to the Felicite print. I got to work immediately. I pulled out my trusty, reliable Regency bodice pattern and whipped up a toile. Changing from back-opening to front opening was no problem, making it gathered instead of fitted in the front was no problem. The armsyce seemed fine after a minor adjustment, so I whipped up the real thing.
I was careful in the placement of the pattern for the back and the side-back pieces, as these were fitted. I wanted to have a large flower on the centre back, and other flowers centred in the side back pieces rather than having them cut off at a seam.
The skirts and the front of the bodice pattern placement didn't matter as much, as these would be gathered. In fact, I had to piece part of the centre front of the bodice, which was no big deal. Once it was gathered, no one would know.
I attached the skirts and ran olive ribbon in the neckline and waistline.
I then made a mockup sleeve. And that is where everything went wrong. If the sleeve wasn't pulling across the upper arm, I couldn't lift my arm. And if I fixed that, then there was something REALLY funky happening to the neckline of the bodice. It was totally ridiculous. I went through five or six mockups. The Waverley print is not a tight weave, so trying my mockups onto the actual bodice was starting to fray the edges. I finally gave up trying to fix what I had. I used the sleeve drafting tutorials here and here to completely draft a new sleeve/ I sewed in the bottom half and the day before I left, had my sister pin the top half in while I was wearing the bedgown. By this time, the HSF #9 deadline had come and gone, and I actually wound up hemming the sleeves at the event about an hour before the gates opened to the public.
I made it to wear with my olive petticoat. I might pull out some other colours and make a whole slew of petticoats to go with the jacket.
I only have one shot of me wearing the jacket at the event. (Please excuse the goofy look on my face)
I will be having my sister take me out for a photo shoot so I can get some decent pictures of me wearing it soon. I am just about finished another project and will have her take pics of both at the same time.
Because I TOTALLY overshot the HSF Challenge #9 deadline, and it fits with the Challenge #14 - Eastern Influence theme, and was finished within the limits of that challenge (even if it wasn't blogged about til now), I am submitting it in the Eastern Influence album.
The Challenge: #14 - Eastern Influence
Fabric: Waverly Felicite Curtains (purchased from Amazon.com)
Pattern: Sense and Sensibility Regency Woman's Dress, with modifications
Year: Not totally sure - there is no date on the original, but somewhere regency - early regency, I think. I will be using it for War of 1812 reenactments though
Notions: Thread, ribbon
How historically accurate is it? appropriate fabric, based off of museum piece, with alterations that could be used in period. Only fail on this is that it is almost entirely machine-sewn. Not sure what that would make it. 7/10 I guess
Hours to complete: far too many. 6 or 7? Most of that was messing with the sleeves.
First worn: Saturday, June 1st
Total cost: Approximately $20, though the only thing I specifically bought for the challenge was the olive ribbon, the rest was stash stuff.
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