Gallery of In Progress Projects

[CenturiesSewing]

Skirt is attached, sleeves are made just need to be whipstitched in, cuffs need to be drafted.

[gem]

You are whipping along there! Did you tell us what this is? From "cuffs need to be drafted," I'm thinking Tudor gown...?

I am nearing the end of my piping on my purple bodice and hope to cut out a lining for it today!

[CenturiesSewing]

Gem I'm making a version of this gown.




I have plans for the hood as well, but that is going to take a good bit of tweaking and research. =)

[Valencia]

oh, wow!!! I LOVE that picture! I can't believe you are doing it by hand. You have some serious patience.

[CenturiesSewing]

Valencia, only partly by hand. 

The fabric I am using doesn't lend itself very well to hand sewing, so there is a good bit of machine work in the skirts and a tiny bit in the bodice. I do a lot of hand finishing for outer details and places where the machine isn't very useful.

The kirtle I'm going to wear under the gown is all hand sewn however. 

[The Wee Wench]

Hello, all!  It's been a long time since I've participated in the forum, but I'm hoping someone might have some suggestions for a snag I've hit in a current project.

It's an Elizabethan gown and I've already finished the bodice except for some hand work.  I knew the fabric I was working with was very heavy and had concerns about the skirt, but figured I could just make gored panels instead of rectangular.  Anyway, it isn't working.  The fabric is too heavyweight to make an entire skirt out of it.  It weighs almost 5 pounds by itself.  So, my question is, how odd would making a skirt out of solid, lighter weight fabric in a complementary color look?  Is that an option?   Here's what the almost-finished bodice looks like.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

As heavy as the fabric you are using, Nicki, I would suggest using the same fabric as the Bodice.  You can cut the fabric in gores and Knife pleat a the waist.  Using a different fabric would look odd. Then have that lovely trim down the front opening of the overskirt.

Here  are examples from ELIZABETH R..credit to the site who captured these photos..





Hope this helps.

[Lady Catharine]

OMG>>
That is gorgeous fabric....**sighs**for not sewing...

[The Wee Wench]

Yes, I used the gored panels and carried through with the silk and trim from the bodice on the overskirt openings.  I'll try the knife pleats.  I normally use a gathering stitch then attach to the waistband.  I just like the way it 'pops' versus the pleats.  I still think it's going to be too heavy and bulky to fit into the waistband, but I'll give it a shot.  It's one of those situations where I wonder if I continue throwing more time at it and possibly still have it not work or just write it off as experience.

Thanks, Lady Kathleen!

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

All of here have had those "learning experience" moments. That's how we prefect our craft.

What color is the Underskirt?

[The Wee Wench]

Here's the fabric for the underskirt forepart.  I'd planned on sewing blue Swarovski crystals at the center of each of the embroidered filigree designs to tie in with the blue in the primary fabric.

I'm going to go try those knife pleats now. 

[gem]

Is it possible to cut the skirt so that it needs NO shaping at the waist? No pleats, no gathering, just goes straight across under the tabs of the bodice? I'm not sure that's completely period, but it would look more period than a different-colored gown skirt, and it would reduce a lot of the material you're using. (I think it would mean that the gores would need to be narrower at the top and wider at the bottom to accommodate your farthingale.)

[LadyShadow]

Such lovely fabric. I hope you can figure out the waistband/pleat issue.

[Lady Catherine]

Lady Rebecca!! how beautiful!! i am in awe!i love the sleeves!

The swimsuit is too cute!

Wee wench, I love the fabric, too delicious! I am in agreement with Gem, perhaps try to make the gores deeper. Perhaps still do a small knife pleat for look? it would be a shame to put it aside knowing all the time you have in the bodice, plus the fabric is AMAZING!!

good luck!

[The Wee Wench]

I had forgotten what a helpful, lovely group of people you all are!  Thank you, everyone!

The knife pleats saved the day.  I broke a needle in the process (and spilled my bowl of pins on the floor for the third time in three days) but by gosh that skirt is in the waistband.  I'd really begun to think this project was cursed. 

Thank you, Lady Kathleen!