Chemise

[SusannaMott]

Hi im new to the whole renaissance fair world. First year as a cast member. I need a Chemise for my costume. Very simple, And hopefully very cheap, Does anyone know of any websites that sell them. Thanks


oh and if there anywhere that sells simple skirts at a cheap price that would be great to.

[isabelladangelo]

You might want to search through the old threads for buying them at a decent price.  There is always ebay, etsy, and artfire, of course.   However, a simple chemise is VERY easy to make out of muslin and shouldn't cost you more than $10 (if that!).   

This thread might be of interest:
the what is a chemsie thread  (lots of pretty pictures!)

And a couple of links to chemise patterns:

How to make an easy Italian chemise

Elizabethan Smock generator

Skirts are also ridiculously simple to make.  Take about 4 yards of fabric.  Cut a strip 3" by the width of the fabric (so, typically, 45") off the end of the yardage.  Pleat the yardage to your waist measurement plus 1".   Sew the pleats to the 3" strip of fabric.  Fold the 3" strip over to hide the top of the pleats and sew it down.   Sew up the two edges of the fabric for the one seam in this skirt.  The seam should be left open from the waistband to about 8" down.  Add a hook and eye and you are done!

[gem]

Well met, Susanna, and congratulations!

Agree with Isabella, but here's an important question: What era and region does your fair represent (Elizabethan England? High Italian Renaissance? etc), what social class are you portraying (nobility, merchant, working class?), and how historically accurate do you need to be? Have you gotten any guidelines from your costume director yet? Those are all really important considerations before we can advise a cast member on costuming.

That said, you absolutely, positively cannot go wrong with linen, and the link Isabella provided for the Italian chemise and Elizabethan smock generator will pretty much cover you for any eventuality.

Good luck!

[SusannaMott]

Our faire is Elizabethan and im a middle class worker.
The costuming guidelines only say:
That the chemise much reach our knees and be long sleeved.
The faire is very strict on being historically accurate.
It must be made of cotton, wool or linen.



Thank you for any help you can give me.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Does your Chemise have an open neck like that of a Wench type, or more of the high Necked collar with a simple Knife pleated ruff?

[SusannaMott]

It can be either as long as it sits on your shoulders, it cant be off them.

[operafantomet]

Our faire is Elizabethan and im a middle class worker.
The costuming guidelines only say:
That the chemise much reach our knees and be long sleeved.
The faire is very strict on being historically accurate.
It must be made of cotton, wool or linen.

Thank you for any help you can give me.

You've gotten good patterns already. I think three golden rules I can add is:

1. English smocks were usually close-fitted around the torso, opposed to the much wider Italian chemises. So if your faire is Elizabethan inspired, you'd want a narrower fit. Were talking Elizabethan:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YpFZVVY-vFU/TZ7HcTylaJI/AAAAAAAAALU/XGgzGgCK4-g/s1600/Drea+bath+smocks.jpg

VS Italian:
http://quinnmburgess.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/late-16th-century-linen-italian-blouse.jpg?w=500


2. Apart from some very, very few exceptions, smocks/chemises were made of white or cream linen. I know the needed line quality is hard to get by though, so cotton is a perfectly acceptable substitute. Coloured chemises is mostly a fantasy product, and silk ones were probably only used on top of linen ones, for effect or warmth. So a white, soft fabric is your best friend. If you wash it a time or two before sewing, it'll be comfortable to wear and it will not shrink when washing it after use.


3. The chemise usually followed the lines of the main dress. So if you're doing Elizabethan style, a square neck opening looks a lot more convincing that a rounded elastic/drawstring one. Also, if some areas of the sleeves were very narrow, chances are the chemise sleeves was narrowed there too. But for walking comfort, make the chemise as wide as possible around the hem. Nothing is more annoying than having to take baby steps the whole day because the chemise is too narrow around the ankles (AKA "been there, done that"). If you're heading for middle class, though, end the chemise just below your knees.

[SusannaMott]

Thanks so much for all your help, I was able to find one on Etsy and it should be here in a few days and then I hope to get pictures up.

Again thanks to all who posted it really was a lot of help.