Construction of the Regency gown

[madamemodiste]

I'm using the Sense and Sensibility Elegant Lady's Wardrobe pattern. So I have the bodice constructed! Not sure it looks right, though! I know it will hopefully look different once attached to a skirt, but it looks so...square - even the shoulders look broad. Ah, well. I'm sure it will hang differently on me, right?

So here's the bodice so far. I hand sewed the neckline drawstring casing. I figured that would make the hand sewing fans around here pleased :) I even hand sewed part of the arm scye because it was being difficult.



Oh, and that crazy long drawstring tie will be shortened and tucked back to the inside where it belongs :)

.

Comments

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Looks great Kat! The squareness may not happen when it's on you.

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope so!

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

That looks really cute so far. I really like the material.

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The fabric was a good find :)

[valleyviolet.livejournal.com]

Very pretty! I wouldn't worry too much about the squareness. I assume you're going to have another drawstring or a ribbon under the bust, and that will make it appropriately Kat-shaped. ;)

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Hee hee! True!

[curiouschilde.livejournal.com]

The squareness you are seeing is probably a result of the dummy being very straight. It looks lovely!

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

OK, thanks for calming my fears!

[aylwen.livejournal.com]

I love your fabric. This is a good pattern, I've used it many times both with and without the stomacher. Definitely needed to wear stays underneath or it was too tight across the shoulders. Did you read Jennie's oops page about the sleeve markings?

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Oh, crap! No, I didn't see the opps page! The sleeves *seem* positioned fine. Well, since it went unnoticed for three years, maybe I fiddled it in right? Ha! We'll see. No wonder they were such a b***h to set! And I also didn't notice that the "length" on the skirt piece is not right. I might have to cut new skirts! Man, good thing I have more of this fabric, eh? Thanks for the heads up!

I already made the stays a few years ago (see here, but I'm not sure how stays are going to affect my shoulder width. Explain for this newbie, please!

[aylwen.livejournal.com]

The stays push up the bust so there is more ease in shoulder movement - so you're fine there. I'm thinking of adding a bit to the back width in my next dress to make it easier to get on and off. Its a good pattern to use if you don't have anyone to help you dress.
Jennie mentions in the instructions that the front skirt is only a guide - it is just a big rectangle, the top of which needs to match the width of the front bodice, and the side edges need to be the same length as the back side edges.

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

yeah, I measured my front panels after I got your reply and they are short by about 3.5"!! The back is fine. I'm drying the new panel of fabric to cut now, so it'll be ready soon. I'll cut it to match the back panel at the sides as you suggest. Thanks again so much!

[aylwen.livejournal.com]

Thats ok. I get caught sometimes too - I have a bad habit of not reading pattern instructions, I just dive in and get started!