What is the best tudor gown pattern for a novice?

[Queen Genevieve]

I think that pipe strapping works much better than cable ties.

[Kate XXXXXX]

It really IS worth the effort and the minor extra expense* of getting real corset boning.  For this era, poly baleen replacement stuff is what you need.

*If there is any!  I found it faster, less expensive per usable inch, and a lot easier to find proper boning of the right type than to get cable tie substitutes.  Don't look in the high street shops, though: buy from a haberdashery wholesaler catering to corset makers.  I had a MASSIVE saving on cotton tape and reels of boning.  For example, a whole 25m reel of narrow Trenslo triple fold boning was about £6.  Bought in the shop, the same reel is about £19.

[Cilean]

Wow, reading all this is inspiring me to make a gown 

20 years ago now? I began make Messes I thought were gowns, so I would say emphatically to get a sewing machine, some fabrics and good patterns and go for it!!

In my day? We had to use wedding dress patterns, the only patterns out there were the Period Patterns and the others were for Wench gear, not my personal cup of tea! So I say-
Why not make it your New Years Resolution!!! 

This year we did a set of workshops for the skin out and many people are still on the PoB and Smock section still! Some are involved in pearling the heck out of their foreparts/kirtles and others are still looking for the perfect fabrics.

It takes time and energy, but in the end it will result in something you can feel good about and? You can make it as wonderful as you want it to be!!

Cilean