HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Sept 3, 2013 1:16:54 GMT
Sharpiefan, that's the outfit I thought leaned into Steampunkishness. With a few accoutrements, it could go that direction -- it's the right period and look. uHf, I have a couple of patterns here to choose from (not the KK, but some others). When we moved, I lost my sewing space and just haven't carved out a new one yet. That's the real holdup. And I won't start the stays without doing the chemise, because you can't measure yourself with proper undergarments on if you don't have them. HMSCody
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Post by Sharpiefan on Jun 30, 2014 21:22:42 GMT
I am most of the way through making a new sailor's shirt (I only bought the fabric last Sunday!! This is incredibly fast for me!) It's in cotton ticking, with a reddish-brown stripe on a beige/off-white background, and at this rate it's likely to be done by Friday, if not Thursday - all by hand!
Photos will naturally follow when it is finished. (Along, hopefully, with a better shot or shots of my original blue checked shirt...)
SF
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AnneElliot
Midshipman
Waving, not drowning.
Posts: 75
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Post by AnneElliot on Jul 2, 2014 20:59:27 GMT
I will love to see this shirt when you are done!
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Post by Sharpiefan on Sept 24, 2014 19:23:44 GMT
Oh Lord. Must get photos of that shirt... Ha-h'm. Anyway, I have just ordered three patterns from Patterns of Time (AMAZING website - they have all the period patterns you could possibly desire, and some you never even knew you needed!): For a chemise, for stays, and for a gown. (Hopefully I can figure out how to alter the latter for a half-cup size bigger than the biggest they say - and work out which of the sizes is most likely to fit me, American and British clothing sizes differing as they do). This is going to be an exercise in interesting. Anyone have any tips to pass along to someone who counts herself as very much a beginner when it comes to dressmaking of any sort? SF[/a]
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Oct 18, 2014 4:54:41 GMT
Just saw this, Sharpie.
Although some of our other shipmates are very practiced at creating historic clothing, I thought I'd step into the breach because you haven't had a response yet.
You have made other things in the past, and done (what looks like from here) a fine job, so you're not a total beginner!
I'm in pretty much the same boat as you in regard to this Regency wardrobe thing, but I've done some Renaissance Fair stuff and some late Victorian and Edwardian clothes in the past and learned some tricks that I think will transcend time periods.
1. You probably know this already... make the underwear starting with the innermost pieces and work out. In the case of the Regency, make your chemise first, because everything else has to go over that.
2. Make your stays second. Make a dummy out of sturdy fabric first, so you can check the fit, re-cut pieces that need enlarging or shrinking, and so you can measure for your boning. Temporarily insert your boning in your dummy stays, to make sure it doesn't shrink unexpectedly when it's stiffened up. Sit, stand, and walk around with your dummy on and if something is uncomfortable you'll be able to fix it before donning the gown for the ball. To go up that half-cup size, I'd start with making the gussets in the bust a little wider and a bit longer. You may not need to do much else -- try that first.
3. When you get your stays right, mark the heck out of it and use it to make a pattern for your real stays. By then, you will have had some practice making it and it should go together easily.
I have that same gown pattern, so when you get to that part, we can have a virtual sewing party. I'm going to start with a day dress so I can make plenty of mistakes with less-expensive fabric.
Hope this helps! You're inspiring me to get on the ball and get going.
HMSCody
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Post by Sharpiefan on Oct 21, 2014 13:43:27 GMT
I have that same gown pattern, so when you get to that part, we can have a virtual sewing party. I'm going to start with a day dress so I can make plenty of mistakes with less-expensive fabric. I've got fabric for a day-dress already which I plan to make up as my first gown - though I'm thinking about also doing a trial of that - I'm pretty sure a flat double sheet has enough fabric for a Regency gown; I've got a double duvet cover which has two different colours of fabric in it so I'm going to use one side for a trial run for the stays and the other side for a trial run for the gown. My one draw-back, really, is that I have a love-hate relationship with sewing; I kinda like doing it but get bored fairly quickly, which is a bit of a nuisance when you have to (or ought to!) do a mock before doing the actual garment. Hopefully with a bit of encouragement and goal in sight, I will be able to get over that! SF
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Oct 21, 2014 20:42:15 GMT
Using sheets -- how clever! Wish I'd thought of that!!
If you do a really good job with the sheet, you might be able to use that as lining for the stays, if it's a good, strong fabric. Then you're halfway there.
HMSCody
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Aug 26, 2015 22:54:14 GMT
All right, shipmates... show 'em if you've got 'em!
I'm still trying to get my own act together, and I'm looking for inspiration.
My goal is that I want to have a set of day clothes complete enough that I can attend one day of the Jane Austen Festival at Locust Grove, Kentucky next summer, and see the Acastas open their mail bag.
HMSCody
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Post by Sharpiefan on Sept 7, 2015 7:18:59 GMT
All right, shipmates... show 'em if you've got 'em! I'm still trying to get my own act together, and I'm looking for inspiration. My goal is that I want to have a set of day clothes complete enough that I can attend one day of the Jane Austen Festival at Locust Grove, Kentucky next summer, and see the Acastas open their mail bag. HMSCody Good goal to have! I demand photos; I will be sending them some more mail for it and would love to see their reactions, even second-hand. (I need to practise my period hand-writing between now and then, too.) SF
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Sept 7, 2015 15:09:13 GMT
I do, too! A year between scribblings isn't enough to really master the hand. If postage between the UK and the US wasn't so expensive, we could practice by writing to each other. Perhaps we could write, and then scan or photograph the letters and post them here...
Have you seen this site? Her Reputation For Accomplishment
"Lady Smatter" works behind the scenes in a museum somewhere, and has amazing research skills. This site was not just helpful for the latest round of letter-writing but really inspirational.
HMSCody
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Post by LadyJamers on Sept 7, 2015 21:52:31 GMT
That is so cool! I was just reading an article about wafers the other day. The "high class" looked down on them and preferred the wax stamp. I have to go look for it. Romance writer Candice Hern always has great articles and links on her Facebook page.
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Post by LadyJamers on Sept 9, 2015 20:44:10 GMT
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Post by QueueMistressMags on Sept 30, 2015 18:15:37 GMT
Cody, just so you know...you can attend the Louisville JA Festival not in costume. I have, twice. Only wore a gown for the ball (a separately ticketed, completely separate event in a different location) the second time I went. You will NOT be out of place, by a long shot. Most people who attend do not wear costume. I think the phrase ushhfan uses is "Regency attire admired, but not required." I understand it's more fun to attend in costume, but don't punish yourself from attending if you don't have a gown.
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Post by Phizz on Sept 15, 2016 20:46:29 GMT
While visiting Ft. George in Niagara-on-the-Lake, I took in their museum store. What a treasure trove! There were some cards with illustrations from the 1800s of dresses that I thought those into making Regency era dresses might like. There is a web site listed on the back of the card www.fredericacards.co.uk. Thought you might like this. ~Phizz
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Post by QueueMistressMags on Sept 19, 2016 20:48:22 GMT
Neat stuff!
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