How to make a chemise gown that won't make you want to hurt people/won't look like the mumu from hades!

The chemise gown is a tricky thing. So I decided to post a little how-to with tips for making a totally awesome one! If my dear readers have any tricks of their own, I'd love if you left them in the comments below!

• Step 1: In my humble personal opinion, the key to making your chemise gown look less like a mighty poof of material/your grandmother's curtains is a fitted back. No matter how little or big you are, a little fitting goes a long way. For my gown, I used my standard quarter back pattern that I drafted for my gold polonaise. I lined the back but not the front.
  
• Step 2: Next, I cut two panels the width of my fabric and stitched them together, then sewed a channel and the top and, using a cord, gathered them to fit the back of my gown. I think that the gathering added just enough poof, which I don't suppose I'd get from pleating. These panels were cut with a slanty hem so I'd have a little train for the skirt.

• Step 3: I attached shoulder pieces to the back, which also formed the arm holes and attached to the front of the gown.
  
• Step 4: The front is actually just a single, 1-piece panel of material! I stitched a channel in the top, which the blue ribbon is threaded through and comes out through an eyelet I put in the middle. The top of the panel was attached to the shoulder pieces, and the rest of the arm holes were cut out of the first panel. The front and the back were then attached together.

• Step 5: To form the waist, I sewed a channel down the center of my fabric using bias tape and ran cord through it, then made a buttonhole for the cord to come out in the center front. The channel starts at the 'waist' of the back and continues up to the center front waist, arching up just slightly, as you can see from the picture.
  
• Step 6: Add your sleeves of choice! Instead of a more fitted sleeve, I made poofy ones, similar to the ones on my shift.

• Step 7: Use the cord and the ribbon to gather the front! :D

• Step 7: Hem it, trim it, and wear it! A sash and a GREAT hat (with feathers, ribbons, etc.) complete the awesomeness.

Coming Soon

How to make a chemise gown that won't make you want to hurt people/won't look like the mumu from hades!

Coming very, very soon, and with pictures!

Think I Might Win?

I entered my blue open robe Jo Ann's Prom 2010 contest. The top prize is a scholarship, which would be fantastic, seeing as I'm off to college next year! I thought I'd enter it, fully knowing it's not what most people were wearing to prom. Although it is a natiowide contest, not many teenagers sew. Do you ladies think I might have a chance anyway?

Purtyfulness!

I was browsing about the internet this afternoon and ran across these lovelies at Modcloth! So if any of you feel the sudden need to carry your 18th century madness out into the realm of everyday, hip clothing, I'm sure these would do the trick! You can find them here!

Oh, the chemise gown is essentially done exepct for the hem, but that's for another post!

My 1790s Chemise Gown and Blue Silk Open Robe

Or, the biggest pain in the rear ever. ever. Who knew it would take so many tries to figure out the draping of the open robe?! That being said, this is one of my favorite gowns, and the flow-y train (which I pinned up for the dance) and the thin chemise gown are just lovely to wear. I'm wearing over it my regency short stays (pics to come) and my regency petticoat. I debated on selling it, but i don't know if I can bear to part with it now! I'll definately be wearing it again, possibly for my senior pictures. :D

The Red and White Gown

I know, I know. I'm a horrible blogger. I ramble and my posts are few and far between. So I am updating now!

I've started a new pair of stays that just need the eyelets stitched and the edges bound. Hooray! Plus, I've made a red and white striped gown to wear to our trip to Williamsburg this September, and I'm very, very happy with it!

My next project will probably be a chemise/gaulle gown. :D

the ball and future projects- yay!

come with us, through time and space, to the land of the mighty POOF.

part of my group-- and you thought homeschoolers didn't have friends!

aren't they lovely?


yay!

It's about time I posted pics from the ball/the finished polonaise gown, considering it was a month ago!

The ball was lovely, and the gown was pretty close to perfect. I had only minimal trouble with the front closure (two pins came out whilst getting in/out of the limo) and I ended up taking off my fichu and putting it in one of my pockets during some of the dancing because it kept coming halfway off (grr!). My stays were surprisingly comfortable, although the worst part was not being able to slouch... bad posture, I know.

Anyway, two weeks ago I had major surgery on my hip joint-- long story. I got hurt in soccer two years ago and I'm just now getting it repaired. Needless to say, I've been sitting around doing very little because of it. Even though I have completely neglected posting any pictures , I've been working on a blue linen gown for a possible Williamsburg trip next December/next summer. It's a late 1770s- early 80s polonaise, with a mock zone-front and rutched trim. It's nearly done, except for the trimming and the evil evil evil sleeves... ughhh.... but it's been something to keep me busy whilst I sit.

As far as other projects, I've been meaning to make a jacket out of some white and blue cotton I have, which I'll probably start when I finish the blue gown. It shouldn't be too complicated! Also, I'd really love to make my brothers outfits for the Williamsburg trip, but then I would have to make the frightening venture into the daunting realm of man clothes! (*screams*) It can't be that bad, and I've started some of the research, but the biggest problem most people seem to be having is patterns for breeches. This worries me! Any advice??

Another more current project is making accurate 18th c. clothes for my cousin, Kate. I've been wanting to make some clothes for kids, because they just look easier and hopefully won't take as long to make, and she was the perfect guinea pig, so I'm working on a gown, a few petticoats, a fichu and a shift for her. She already has some of my old gowns from when I was little and a few mob caps that belonged to me! Recycling is awesome. :)

well, that's it for the time being!