This weekend I attended a workshop at the New England
ALHFAM conference, which was taught by the well dressed ladies from
Genesee Country Village & Museum. The workshop focused on recreating a c.1805 transition short gown in their collections. Making this garment was a fun break from my slowly progressing attempt at stay-making--and it was super easy.
Here's how it turned out...
There are two main differences between mine and the original. Mine is long-sleeved. By extending the length of my sleeves a few inches...
...I took advantage of the selvage edge. The other main difference between mine and the original is the location of the drawstring. I had move my drawstring down a few inches so it fit properly.
This short gown was really easy to make because...
...there's no pleating in the back. It's gathered with a drawstring from the interior. And...
...there's no need to flat fell the interior seams. I'm told that because the fabric is cut on the bias it should be OK.
One detail I really loved about the examples they had in the workshop was the use of printed cotton for the drawstring. I trimmed a little of my
scrolling floral stripe "printed cotton" to try and recreate that look.
After just a few hours of handsewing it was done! There's just one problem...this is going to be a busy year and I don't think I can make it to an early 19th century event. : (
thank you for the refresher - this is excellent! Just what I needed! I had not made a simple short gown in a few years - knew intellectually what I needed to do, but being a visual learner, well you know. I'll keep my drafted pattern in the KISS pile - keep it simple sewist! Have been creating period attire for the peculiar civil war-victorian-edwardian period most often ... ah - the fate of a 'lapsed' regency / mantua maker! Thank you again!
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