Tudor gown done!
Ah, up to the last minute sewing, but the Tudor gown was completed, mostly, on time.
Since I had little time today to sew on the skirt, I did not do the rolled pleats as I had planned on. Instead, I tried the large cartridge pleat technique from the Tudor Tailor book, but with 16 pleats instead of 8 very large pleats. Yes, it goes quickly, and maybe I am missing something, but I don't like how it hangs. Perhaps if I do the larger pleats it would hang better. But I had to fiddle with the placing of the under pleat, especially after using the bathroom (which is hard to fiddle with back pleats by yourself) and you could easily see my bright yellow linen kirtle in the holes from the pleat openings. I will be taking them apart and seeing if I can do the rolled pleats, otherwise, I am not sure what I will do.
I am not sure how I like the front placard. It is not sitting well. The front bone that the TT instructions called for makes a ridge that is noticeable. The placards also doesn't stay up in the center front, even with the bone. The whole thing is shifting downward, exposing the lacing holes a bit. Hmmm... maybe a bit of non-period velcro to keep the center front from slipping? I will have to ponder what to do.
I also have a few minor things to redo, or adjust. I sewed the sleeves too far down the back, not surprising since I didn't do the sleeves while wearing it before I sewed them into place. But the sleeves worked nicely, except for the parts that pulled. I do have to tack the folded back sleeves in place where they were pinned. I forgot to sew a chin strap to the Fhood, so must do that. Must make a partlet as the winter winds bite on the upper chest. And make a girdle that matches in color to the gown, since the black one I made really makes me look fat (yes, I know I am, but that horizontal line across the middle just makes it look really bad).
But all in all, I was really liked how this new Tudor gown fits, even with the mods I made from the original for the front/back straps thing. I may have to cover the upper sleeve of the kirtle with silk remnants, to make it slippery so the gown sleeves don't catch so much. But since I didn't wear either kirtle sleeve, I will check that later. I didn't have time to fiddle with the foresleeve yet, and I forgot to hunt down my old pair. Things to do before 12th Night.
rwfranz took them of me while we were at the Barony's Yule. Oh my the food was delicious, and the plenty of desserts... I am so stuffed. I will have photos posted, when they are processed. I was going to bring the digital camera, but couldn't find the new card that had room. Yule... very nice yule with people. I met a few people I hadn't met before, and really enjoyed myself. The drive home in the rain was not fun, however, since I need new windshield wipers.
And I plan on taking a small break from sewing, so I can do other things that have been on hold while I've been busy with the needle... like cleaning up the house again, including this room that still has fluff all over. It will also give my sewing hand a bit of time to heal.
Edit: Note: I must get a canvas box to put the gown in. It is big, mostly the skirt with sleeves second, but too big to put on a hanger and expect it to stay up, even with loops. I think a canvas box that can fit under our bed would be the best choice.
Since I had little time today to sew on the skirt, I did not do the rolled pleats as I had planned on. Instead, I tried the large cartridge pleat technique from the Tudor Tailor book, but with 16 pleats instead of 8 very large pleats. Yes, it goes quickly, and maybe I am missing something, but I don't like how it hangs. Perhaps if I do the larger pleats it would hang better. But I had to fiddle with the placing of the under pleat, especially after using the bathroom (which is hard to fiddle with back pleats by yourself) and you could easily see my bright yellow linen kirtle in the holes from the pleat openings. I will be taking them apart and seeing if I can do the rolled pleats, otherwise, I am not sure what I will do.
I am not sure how I like the front placard. It is not sitting well. The front bone that the TT instructions called for makes a ridge that is noticeable. The placards also doesn't stay up in the center front, even with the bone. The whole thing is shifting downward, exposing the lacing holes a bit. Hmmm... maybe a bit of non-period velcro to keep the center front from slipping? I will have to ponder what to do.
I also have a few minor things to redo, or adjust. I sewed the sleeves too far down the back, not surprising since I didn't do the sleeves while wearing it before I sewed them into place. But the sleeves worked nicely, except for the parts that pulled. I do have to tack the folded back sleeves in place where they were pinned. I forgot to sew a chin strap to the Fhood, so must do that. Must make a partlet as the winter winds bite on the upper chest. And make a girdle that matches in color to the gown, since the black one I made really makes me look fat (yes, I know I am, but that horizontal line across the middle just makes it look really bad).
But all in all, I was really liked how this new Tudor gown fits, even with the mods I made from the original for the front/back straps thing. I may have to cover the upper sleeve of the kirtle with silk remnants, to make it slippery so the gown sleeves don't catch so much. But since I didn't wear either kirtle sleeve, I will check that later. I didn't have time to fiddle with the foresleeve yet, and I forgot to hunt down my old pair. Things to do before 12th Night.
rwfranz took them of me while we were at the Barony's Yule. Oh my the food was delicious, and the plenty of desserts... I am so stuffed. I will have photos posted, when they are processed. I was going to bring the digital camera, but couldn't find the new card that had room. Yule... very nice yule with people. I met a few people I hadn't met before, and really enjoyed myself. The drive home in the rain was not fun, however, since I need new windshield wipers.
And I plan on taking a small break from sewing, so I can do other things that have been on hold while I've been busy with the needle... like cleaning up the house again, including this room that still has fluff all over. It will also give my sewing hand a bit of time to heal.
Edit: Note: I must get a canvas box to put the gown in. It is big, mostly the skirt with sleeves second, but too big to put on a hanger and expect it to stay up, even with loops. I think a canvas box that can fit under our bed would be the best choice.