Simplicity 8881

[madamemodiste]

So I've begun the new Ren gown. I got out my Simplicity 8881 that I used 10 years ago only to find that the only piece that is cut out is the over skirt.

? o_O ?

I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out how that is possible. I made the dress. I'm looking at it right now. How is only the overskirt cut out of the pattern? I was just learning to sew then. Did the girl helping me loan me her pattern, and later I bought my own? There are no tracing marks on the pattern, so I didn't trace it. I have no memory of it! And here I thought I'd be one step ahead because I thought the pattern was already cut out! LOL!

One trick that girl taught me was instead of inserting boning, cut a sheet of plastic canvas to the shape of the front of your bodice and flatline it to your interlining to get that stiff, conical shape that was popular. I think something more period correct would be to use buckram or serious padding, but I am trying to use stuff in the stash and am not concerned with being period correct in this instance.

OK, I'm off to cut out fabric now! Wish me luck!

[edit] Ahh! The plot thickens! There are two copies of one of the pages of directions in the pattern bag. This proves there was once another copy of this pattern! I wonder what happened to it?

Comments

[degracieuse.livejournal.com]

Maybe the cat ate it?

[centuriessewing.livejournal.com]

Ah the Shakespeare in Love pattern.

The plastic canvas trick does give you the stiff shape but I think that would be very uncomfy to wear and give you no support.

Hmm The dress itself is a bit of a mismash of styles but for what it is trying to be, I think a pair of bodies would be worn under the gown. The gown itself would have minimal boning, or perhaps just a busk to keep the front point of the bodice from curling up.

Actually now it is going to bother me until I figure what it is trying to be. Bah. Off to stare at paintings for a bit!

[curiouschilde.livejournal.com]

Ok.. just a quick tip on using hooks and eyes on these types of gowns.. don't put All the hooks on one side, and eyes on the other side. Reverse them.

example, cus i can't figure out the correct wording:
H E
E H
H E
E H
etc.

I've done a number of costumes that way. and it was period to have hook and eyes. I have that documented somewhere.
Plus, some of the shapes of period trimming will hide those if ya want.

Kat, if you have any questions.. lemme know. I'm home taking the day off of all my craziness.

[blackcat452.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see what you do with it. When are you thinking of going to the renn fair?