Try-on
I got the fronts attached to the backs at the shoulders, so I pinned the side seams and had a try-on. I was expecting to feel frumpy and butter-churny etc, but OMG, it's actually kind of cute! With regard to the Regency pattern I drafted for this, I think the fit is good, but I would like the waist to be about half an inch to an inch higher, the front neck a bit lower, and the have the back piece curve narrower at the waist. But really, those are such minor things, the waist length really doesn't matter for this, I can cut down the neck a bit before adding the collar, and increasing the curve is just an aesthetic thing. I am SO GLAD it fits well!
The details are kind of lost with the busy print and I have a feeling it's going to be very visually...um...interesting combined with long sleeves and a petticoat. The pattern is taken almost exactly from this cotton spencer because it had the style I wanted and similar measurements to me, but altered to have a long crossover front. The back skirt is just a rectangle (12" long fabric width) pleated to the waist with double knife pleats. What's left:
Eventually, to finish off this outfit, I'd like to make an apron, a cap, a straw bonnet, a neckerchief, an alternate short-sleeved shortgown in a different print (for hot days), and a wool spencer (to wear with the petticoat for cold days). Then I could just stop worrying about what to wear for living history and focus on other, fancier pretty things. ;p
The details are kind of lost with the busy print and I have a feeling it's going to be very visually...um...interesting combined with long sleeves and a petticoat. The pattern is taken almost exactly from this cotton spencer because it had the style I wanted and similar measurements to me, but altered to have a long crossover front. The back skirt is just a rectangle (12" long fabric width) pleated to the waist with double knife pleats. What's left:
- Sew side seams
- Hem fronts and bottom
- Sleeves, with wristbands
- Collar
Eventually, to finish off this outfit, I'd like to make an apron, a cap, a straw bonnet, a neckerchief, an alternate short-sleeved shortgown in a different print (for hot days), and a wool spencer (to wear with the petticoat for cold days). Then I could just stop worrying about what to wear for living history and focus on other, fancier pretty things. ;p