Summer Sewing: the Chemise Gown Project

Or basically, what else can M-P possibly distract herself with?

Before the hot weather began here (we had an unusually cold May! )I’d been working on finishing a natural form plaid wool bustle gown that I’d had some issues with. It’s going great, but then... the HEAT arrived. Even thinking about working with thick fabric was bringing me out in a heat rash. But tucked away in my fabric stash were two sets of IKEA’s Matilda cotton voile curtains, and I’d been saving them for making a chemise gown at some point... so out they came!

I opted for using the Laughing Moon Chemise Gown pattern, although I changed the long sleeves to elbow length and added a ruffle. (I have pretty wide shoulders, so the big puff sleeves would have made me look like an American football player) I wanted quite a sleek look on the rest of the gown to contrast with the fluffy double ruffle at the neckline.

The all but finished chemise on the dummy, looking really quite lovely in the evening light!

( I should really have moved that hanger, though. Oops.)

And finally, I actually laced myself into the mere (light by 18th century standards, I suppose!) 3 layers of clothing for a quick photoshoot!

All in all, I'm very pleased with this! As reenactment events start opening up again, this is a great 'lighter' option for summer. I found it pretty comfortable to trot around in (although I may try a bigger rump pad next time! The 1780s are AAAALLLL about big butts)