Need help with gown

[auntiegiggles]

Hi All!  I am need of advice.  My sis and I are attending a Faire with a Medieval theme.  I have a gown that, as of last night, I finished trimming out.  I completed the veil this afternoon.  However, I am partially disabled and unable to carry bags or anything else for long periods of time (one hour is my max).  Is there any special way of attaching a bag to the gown?  Because of the detailed mid-section (with delicate beading - i.e. falls apart easily) I can't see adding a belt.  What suggestions do you have?
Here is a pic of the garb:



Thanks in advance for any help!  The faire is next weekend (June 12th and 13th) - so I don't have much time     

Amy

[Marietta Graziella]

I don't have any ideas but the gown is lovely!!! 

[gem]

That is beautiful!  Well done!

The first thing I would do is absolutely minimize what you plan to bring: credit card, ID, cash, pillbox is the minimum I can travel with. If you can get away with this little, your options are easier.

Unfortunately, all of my suggestions are going to involve minor surgery on the gown itself. Is there a side seam that can be opened up to allow access to a tie-on pocket? (Or even just add a real pocket to the gown?)  You could do one out of plain fabric (a la 18th Century ones), or a decorative one like Anea shows on her site. It looks like the skirt is open in the front (or at least has an opening); is there a way you can capitalize on this for access to a pouch or pocket? Can you wear a narrow mundane belt under the gown and hang a pouch from that?

Is there any way to remove or reinforce the band of trimwork at the waist, and add a lining of sturdy webbing that could support the weight of a pouch? Or a ring you could hang a lightweight pocket/bag/pouch from?  When I didn't want to wear a belt with my pink corset, I used a kilt pin hooked to my skirt waistband.  You can kind of see it here. A better solution (which I plan to implement before the next wearing) would be to sew a ring to the inside of the corset, so the weight of the pouch doesn't pull down on the skirt.

I'm sure others will have additional suggestions.

(edited for spelling)
Good luck!

[auntiegiggles]

Thank you for the wonderful suggestions!   I will need to look and see if there is a side seam - I hadn't even thought about adding a pocket!  I too thought about adding a ring to hang a bag from.  I'm still a novice sewer so I don't know if I could reinforce the detailed belt to support the weight of a pouch.  I will see what my mother-in-law has to say(she's my go to person with sewing questions).  The skirt itself doesn't open - its two pieces of fabrics sewn together for that faux over skirt look.  Otherwise a belt would have been perfect.  I will definitely be bringing a  minimum amount of stuff into faire.  Sunscreen will have to stay in the car    Thanks again!  I will keep you posted on what I ended up doing 

[operafantomet]

Hi All!  I am need of advice.  My sis and I are attending a Faire with a Medieval theme.  I have a gown that, as of last night, I finished trimming out.  I completed the veil this afternoon.  However, I am partially disabled and unable to carry bags or anything else for long periods of time (one hour is my max).  Is there any special way of attaching a bag to the gown?  Because of the detailed mid-section (with delicate beading - i.e. falls apart easily) I can't see adding a belt.  What suggestions do you have?
Here is a pic of the garb:

*pic removed*

Thanks in advance for any help!  The faire is next weekend (June 12th and 13th) - so I don't have much time     

Amy

I agree with the others - what a beautiful outfit!

I also agree with what Gem wrote: minimize the stash, and try out a loose pocket. There are variants to be worn under the skirt (common at least in the renaissance and in rococo fashion), and variants to be worn over the skirt. Both are tied/buckled around the waist, and hangs loose.

I've made a site about the variants worn in 16th century Italy, here: http://aneafiles.webs.com/saccoccia.html

I also came across an illumination showing a merchant selling loose pockets/pouches. Pointed bottom with tassels occurs in very many sources, and these were usually worn over the skirt:
http://store.tidbitstrinkets.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/CodexManesse-1305-40-SirDietmarofAstHerrDietmarvonAst.jpg

Here's an extant one from the 14th century: http://www.bildindex.de/bilder/MI07906e01a.jpg

And last, but not least: this gal has gathered lots of pictures in her site: http://www.larsdatter.com/pouches.htm

[auntiegiggles]

The sites are amazing!  Thank you Operafantomet!  I think even with my limited sewing ability I can put one of those pouches together    Thank you so much for the suggestions!

[gem]

I made a tie-on pocket for my 18th century ensemble, and it is the most useful thing ever (close-up of just the pocket here)!  It's probably larger than you'd want if you were making a decorative one to go over top of a gown, but the construction was super-easy, and would be really easy to duplicate with pretty fabric. You could even make one of leftover velvet and trim from your gown (and then I'd arm-wrestle you for it).  Ever since Anea first posted her saccoccia links, I've been wanting to make one for my Ren garb.

Oh, happiness!  It looks like the Victoria & Albert Museum now has a free pocket pattern on their website! Make Your Own Pocket

[auntiegiggles]

Thank you Gem!  I love the pocket idea!  You're right, it would be perfect in smaller scale for my gown.     I am going to see what I can do 

[operafantomet]

Glad we could help you out! Such pockets really are handy, and can be as little or much decorated as you want.

[Kate XXXXXX]

I need to make some pockets like that for my 18th C kit too.  I'm thinking about how to decorate them.  It's a while since I did any embroidery...  But pockets sound like a great place to practice some crewel work.

[Cilean]

Hello!

Have you heard of 'Girdle Purses'?  They were used back in the day to carry many items.
So you would need a thin leather belt that can be of any color.  You can attach a lovely purse to
the belt.

Here is some information about Purses:

http://www.companie-of-st-george.ch/dragon-3.pdf

Here are some suggestions on inspiration to what you could make for your purse.







And here is Larsdottir's Site:
http://www.larsdatter.com/pouches.htm


I hope this helps you!

[auntiegiggles]

Thank you Cilean for the links!  The pictures were great!

[auntiegiggles]

Thanks to everyone for the advice and great links!  Here is a pic of my new pouch and belt.  While at Joann's I also found more trim for the gown (LOL)

[gem]

SPLENDID!!!

Now go share those pix in the Finished Projects thread, and be sure to take lots of photos of you and your sister at fair!

[auntiegiggles]

I will do that.  Thanks Gem for all of your help 

[Rosamundi]

Holy canoli, you made that purse in two days? Send some of that sewin' karma my way, girl. (And you call yourself a beginner?! Hah!) Seriously, it's gorgeous. Have a wonderful time!

[Kate XXXXXX]

What a spendid purse!  Well done.