Grow with you gowns?

[LadyFae]

Hi ladies!  I am giving in and finally going to make my daughters each a noble gown.  Now my question is: what are some tricks to make these gowns wearable for at least a couple of years?  My girls are only 1, 3, and 5 so they are still growing like crazy.  They are skinny girls so I don't expect width to be much a problem, just lengthening things. Any suggestions would be helpful!  Thanks!  =D

[operafantomet]

Ooooh, skirt pleats/tucks, no doubt! It was much used in 19th century skirt for girls, possibly also earlier. You can make an effect out of it if the fabric is stripy or otherwise patterned, or you can let the tucks themselves be decorative.

Do three tucks for the smallest ones, and maybe two tucks for the elder girl.


ETA: some examples:

Plain black folk costume skirt with two tucks:
http://www.reflex.no/Portals/0/productimages/101-177-150.jpg

19th century dresses with one tuck:
http://www.bunad-magasinet.no/den-vakre-verken-fra-hadeland.279041-28791.html

One tuck on overdress and underdress (probably done for fashion and not practical reasons, but still):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze3/bronzinoschoolisabellamaybeprivate.jpg

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Lady Fae,


As I did with my Granddaughter when she was 7, I drafted a pattern to be at least 2 sizes up in places where growth would matter. I made her an Elizabethan Noble ensemble http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/172622184uADOKe She was able to wear it for 3 seasons, as she is petite. She has grown taller since 2004, but is still petite. More leg than Torso.

Make sure you have enough seam allowance in the side and shoulder seams to let out if needed. Having a deeper hem like 4" to let down and cover the crease with trim later is a good idea. Modesty panels for back lacing adds life to a bodice. Chemises can always be made larger. The ensemble starts out fitting looser, but can be adjusted as the years pass.

Here are some photo links...

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/1181390416025619629XQoOOq
Her first wearing in 2004

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/1435198225025619629gAbyAZ
He sencond season in 2005

I do not have photos from 2006, but she still fit in her ensemble. The ensemble I made her last year, less Noble, but fun, will fit he this year as well..http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2089009630025619629IMXFgL

Hope this helps.

[LadyStitch]

Make the dresses 6-8 inches longer and use pin tucks to shorten them.  That is something we do in the theater.  One grandma told me she made dresses for her girls that were cut to 2-3 sizes too big, but ran a band of elastic around the back of the waist that pulled it in until they didn't need it any more.

Another option I was told that works was make it so you can add decorative 'bands' to them.  IE   6 inches up the hem insert a matching decorative fabric so that as they grow you just  add more 'decorative' trim to it and hem gets longer. 

There is always my grandmother's trick of do a 6-8 inch hem and as they grow let it out.  Granted having that deep of hem was a pain wearing but it worked.

[LadyShadow]

I made this for my lil girl. With intentions of her wearing it for some time. I have extra fabric stashed up in the bottom hem. I also have enough extra of this fabric to add it on later with a ribbon between whats currently on the dress bottom and what the extra for the dress bottom would be. To add tons of inches if needed. And the front closing I used snap tape for right now. Which as she gets bigger I plan on putting in either grommets or lacing rings. And since it was nice and toasty on Halloween she opted for not having a shirt at the time. So I still need to make her one of those.

[Adriana Rose]

I make my little guys stuff at least a size or two bigger.

This season all I have to do is let out some tunic hems and make 2 or 3 shirts and britches. I made his britches 2 years ago out of some old pillow cases. So Im not out a fourtune in work and fabric when he out grows the stuff, but then again boys are way easier to garb than girls

[Harbinger]

The way my wife and mother in-law did it was to build
it in two separate pieces, with the top laced up in the
back to allow for growth, and the skirt was initially worn
high with the top holding down the skirt.

it is going on its third year, and has boning added to
help keep the front flat.

FYI: the shirt I'm wearing is just another example
of the fine work of our own Lady Kathleen



http://www.flickr.com/photos/parseexception/4026182642/sizes/l/

[LadyFae]

Ooh, I had never thought of the pin tucks!  I had thought long hem and banding but the pin tucks would be functional and pretty too!  =)

So do you all think that a back closure would be better than a front closure?