Gallery of In Progress Projects

[Valencia]

I would knife pleat, and stack the back pleats so that they sit on top of each other. It will put the weight towards the back of the garment, but if you hook the skirt to the bodice, it won't be so bad. I did that with a skirt using a slightly lighter material and I love how it turned out.

[The Wee Wench]

Valencia, that's an excellent idea about the hooking.  This skirt is sooooo heavy.  I did make the pleats a bit deeper in the back.  I'm fairly pleased with how it looks but will know more once I get it on my dress form.

[Lady Rebecca]

Wee Wench, that is so beautiful! I'm glad the knife pleats are working out for you. Where did you find that fabric?

[Sorcha]

Yes, that fabric is swoon-worthy!  I'd love to see lots of pictures of this in the "Finished Projects", when you're done.

[Dinobabe]

So how accurate are the knife pleats?  I may do this on mine.  I would also love to see the back with knife pleats if someone has a pic.  How do you finish/overlap/whatever at the back flap opening?  Thanks!

[operafantomet]

So how accurate are the knife pleats?  I may do this on mine.  I would also love to see the back with knife pleats if someone has a pic.  How do you finish/overlap/whatever at the back flap opening?  Thanks!

The knife pleats are very H/A. There's a bit about various pleats, including knife pleats, here:
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/pleats/

I've used it for two early Florentine dresses, both based on Raphael portraits. The knife pleats are very visible in one of the portraits, while the other one barely shows the upper skirt, so that was more of a guessing. But it's a good way to gather lots of fabric, and you can play around with exactly how they meet. For the orange Raphael dress the pleats were facing the back. They meet up in the back, both in a double fold. The skirt fans out when moving, which is a cool effect.



However, the closing of the dress is in front, so I have no good tips there...

[gem]

Natasha, if have the Margo Anderson Elizabethan Lady's Wardrobe, she gives instructions for a "continuous lap placket" at skirt openings (she also gives the same technique for the sleeves on the high-necked smock in her Underpinnings pattern). I am powerless to explain this to you, as I have not quite gotten that far in my kirtle skirt, however!  It looks like a quick Google will bring up several tutorials for this technique.

[Dinobabe]

OK, great! Thank you guys.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Nicki!!

I have broken many a needle and broken through skin when handsewing pleats of an overskirt to a waistband. It goes with the territory of handsewing.

The sign of a true seamstress are the bit up hands from handsewing. Mine are bit up!!

[Rani Zemirah]

Wasn't a heavy weight garment a sign of higher quality, anyway?    heheh  Truly lovely fabric, and wonderful work! 

[Lady Catherine]

my contribution seems paltry by comparison, bUT, here it is:

A semi-ha tudorish gown fro my niece for out vow renewal. She needed something, had a base bodice, old, rennie ish dress, and a rug, so voila!





The stomacher will be made of the same material as the underskirt, sleeves will be tudor , matching the wide band at the bottom:

[CenturiesSewing]

Today was evil sleeve day.



The front doesn't have hooks and eyes or lacing yet, so it hangs a bit loose.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

The challanging alteration is finished. I am back to working on the play. I have the 1890's Blouse finished and now working on the Coat/Vest in a Plum shade. Photos ensue.

[amy]

Well Lady Catherine if that is your offering with a hand-me-down and a rug, you are welcome to ransack my entire closet!  That is a brilliant make over!  Please make sure we see the rest!

Centuries the sleeves are lovely! You always look like a portrait at every stage!

[Lady Catherine]

cebturies, lovely colors!! looks very nice, and comfy too!

Lady Amy, you shall see it opening weekend of GARF. Lemme re-state though. It was a dress, rug, and one curtain! lol!

beginning dress is the very right:





She lost weight and wanted an Elizabethan, so..... Rachel is gettibng a new one!