Someone please talk some sense into me! LOL

I'm in the process of making a similar dress, and trying to get it done by next Saturday:

http://brocadegoddess.wordpress.com/sack-dress/ (scroll all the way down to see the finished gown). It's called a sacque dress, or robe a la Francaise.

It will be, if I ever get it done, my "best" 18th C. gown, for formal wear. Mine is a lighter, ice blue cotton damask fabric (think satiny, self-floral, tablecloth fabric!). I've had the fabric since the last week of July, and have been meaning to cut it out, and sew it, "So this year, I'll be ready for all of the Halloween parties we go to--no more rushing to do it at the last minute!"--hah hah.

Am I certifiably crazy?

Did I mention that I'm HAND-sewing the danged thing? (I cut some of the dress out this afternoon; I already have sewn the long seams in the over-skirt, and cut out the underskirt.)

Wow, that's amazing! I'd love to see your finished dress too!

I so wish I could sew. I don't even understand my Sewing for Dummies book. I just make up stuff as I go along, and nothing more complex than hemming pants or sweing buttons, or making a GPS case with snaps, or a phone case (I use a phone sock, made from the top of a kneehigh sock), or a 'mouse' shaped cat toy. Nothing detailed or complicated for me, whether sewing by hand or trying to figure out the sewing machine.

Originally Posted by DarkMavis

Wow, that's amazing! I'd love to see your finished dress too!

I so wish I could sew. I don't even understand my Sewing for Dummies book. I just make up stuff as I go along, and nothing more complex than hemming pants or sweing buttons, or making a GPS case with snaps, or a phone case (I use a phone sock, made from the top of a kneehigh sock), or a 'mouse' shaped cat toy. Nothing detailed or complicated for me, whether sewing by hand or trying to figure out the sewing machine.

Click to expand...

I'm also self-taught. I're sure I don't do many things properly (and I knot my threads...oh, dear! ) When I make period clothing, though, I do construct and stitch authenically. Luckily, none of the time periods I've ever done required buttonholes--I'm hopeless with those--even with a machine that does them. DH makes good buttonholes on his gear; as did a former Civil War reenactor boyfriend who tried to teach me how to sew them.

Her gown is amazing, isn't it? Mine won't be trimmed as elaborately. The actual construction doesn't take much time with these gowns, it's all of the top-stitching and trimming.

Originally Posted by MargeCat

Am I certifiably crazy?

Did I mention that I'm HAND-sewing the danged thing?

Click to expand...

Yep, cetifiably crazy!

That's one heck of a task you've taken on.

Oh my goodness, but that's going to be amazing! I envy your sewing abilities. Please post a picture when you're done; I'd really love to see the gown.

Originally Posted by MargeCat

Am I certifiably crazy?

Click to expand...

You are insane!! But that is gorgeous! Post pics when you are done, I can't wait to see them.

I wouldn't even know where to begin a project like that. Yeah I do...I'd call you!

That looks like an incredible amount of intricate work (and months of it). I'm hopeless - I can take stuff in, hem pants and make curtains, but that's about it. I've always envied my sister - she'll go out around lunchtime and buy fabrics and a pattern, and have her outfit ready to wear that evening. My mom and grandmother were the same way, but not quite as fast.

Take some photos as the dress progresses and post them here.

A little crazy (this coming from a fellow costumer).... I tend to create, rather than recreate... I have some period pieces, but cheat by machine sewing... I do not have the patience for hand-sewing.

I'm currently going all batty dealing with a specialty corset for a gypsy costume... the person this is for is very tall, and heavy... and she asked for extra coverage over her belly... but this is making it all difficult for me to wrangle the right boning and everything... I think I've given up on using busks or lacing bones ... she isn't a costumer by any means... so she'll get the modern cheat that I loathe to do: a zipper in the back. Eff it.

Of course, your personal challenge is reminding me to finish my Edwardian party dress... I took it back apart to finish it properly... it's been sitting for far too long now...

Yes, you may be crazy, but if you have the patience to hand sew it, go for it. (this coming from the chick who made a hard leather corset last year... learning as she went)

Wow! That's going to be amazing! I work in a 400 year old country house, and am often surrounded my paintings of the previous residents in these amazing gowns. Can you imagine if we still dressed like that! That would be so much more fun!

Originally Posted by Jessy

Wow! That's going to be amazing! I work in a 400 year old country house, and am often surrounded my paintings of the previous residents in these amazing gowns. Can you imagine if we still dressed like that! That would be so much more fun!

Click to expand...

Have you ever worn that style of clothing for any sort of all day event? It may look fun, but it's difficult to breathe... and don't even ask about doing things like going to the bathroom...

Hoop skirts are a royal pain in the b*** to wear... you can't sit down normally... and you likely need assistance getting dressed and such... it may look glamorous to us nowadays, but the reality of that style of clothing... it's a much different picture.

I'll take my space-case goofy designs over hoop skirts any day. I don't mind an occasional corset, especially the kind I'm intending on making at some point (not period by any means) ... but that stuff was not easy to wear...

Originally Posted by RubSluts'Mommy

Have you ever worn that style of clothing for any sort of all day event? It may look fun, but it's difficult to breathe... and don't even ask about doing things like going to the bathroom...

Hoop skirts are a royal pain in the b*** to wear... you can't sit down normally... and you likely need assistance getting dressed and such... it may look glamorous to us nowadays, but the reality of that style of clothing... it's a much different picture.

I'll take my space-case goofy designs over hoop skirts any day. I don't mind an occasional corset, especially the kind I'm intending on making at some point (not period by any means) ... but that stuff was not easy to wear...

Click to expand...

I couldn't have said it better! I used to reenact the 1860's, and, while you can get used to hoops, you wouldn't want to dress like that every day. I used to drive to events fully dressed, and found that one of the wire hoops, if looped near the stick shift, actually shifted my gears! (This happened several times!). And let's not even discuss wearing a corset every day...

RubSluts'Mommy, I also have done a lot of corset-making, and understand where you're coming from! I actually enjoy making them (only for myself). The 18th C. stays I use now are the most annoying garment I've ever worn. They don't make your waist smaller, like most corsets (your waist can even be larger in them); the goal is to flatten your chest, push your breasts up, and turn your torso into a giant inverted cone shape. They are like body armour, they are so boned/reinforced:

http://18thcstays.blogspot.com/p/ori...ys-online.html

See all those sewing lines? There are strips of baleen ("whalebone") or cane, etc. in between those lines (those lines are outling the channels into which the stiffening strips, also called stays, are inserted).

oh yeah.... I'm mostly using modern steel, both coiled and flat. This one I'm doing now is for a 'larger than average' woman... will i ever do this again? heck no (replace 'heck' with the other word and that's a little closer to how I feel). I've currently given up wearing more modern 'boulder holders' due to my back spasms, and I'm looking at using a variation of what a company called Tactical Corsets makes. Solid, open at the back, using parachute buckles to secure at the back, with strapping going all the way around. then you tighten it to suit your needs and comfort level... i just need to finish other costumes for other folks before tackling mine. I can wear those every day, though... light boning, mostly spiral steel... maybe a couple of flat steel in the front. I'm looking forward to making them. I'm not making fitted costumes for 'friends' ever again...

Amanda

Ah yes, I hadn't thought about the practicalities of it all!

Originally Posted by Jessy

Ah yes, I hadn't thought about the practicalities of it all!

Click to expand...

When I did 1860's reenacting (think BIG hoop skirts) I had to back into the porta-potties, and have someone outside close the door for me (you can't easily turn around in that tiny area while dressed like that). Female reenactors were happy as pigs in a mud puddle when we managed to get the large, handicapped ones! You not only could use the toilet easily, but you could also get dressed in there!!!

It would have been nice to have a porta-potty at last week's Revolutionary War (18th C.) event. It hadn't been delivered, and the event staff told me to use the woods. Yes, I did, in case you were wondering...this was at the start of the event, with 3+ hours left. I couldn't wait! I plan on complaining to those in charge (for next year). Not having toilet facilities is discraceful--especially when we go to so much effort and expense to make money for them (they sell tickets). Now, I'm a big girl, and can handle using the woods if I really must, disgusting though it is; however, like I said, if this historic site wants our help, they should provide porta-potties.

I always said that the best part of a reenactment was going home, stripping off the corset and sweaty clothing, and taking a nice, hot bath! My favorite perfume is Tommy Girl, not Eau de Reenactment (a lovely blend of horse manure, frying bacon, brewing coffee; with a topnote of sweat). When I'd remove my corset, I would have criss-crossed lines on the skin over my spine--where the lacing was over my chemise. And then I'd literally PEEL the folds of the chemise out of my skin all around the waist area. I don't sweat much, but what little I did would imbed the chemise (a white cotton, below the knee nightgownish garment worn under the corset) folds into my skin. It's like peeling off a huge Band-Aid. And they would itch like mad all day! Someone once suggested using Gold Bond powder to prevent that. It didn't; but it sure gave me a huge rash! Now, THAT was a FUN day!

I love sweat pants and t-shirts...

I need to get this stupid dress done by Saturday night! ARGGH!! You just have to hand-sew some parts--the ones where any stitching shows (no sewing machines in the 18thC.). It's taken 2.5 hours just to hem 4 lengths of fabric... I do have the stomacher panel done (a pin-in, inverted triangle panel of fabric, either the same as the dress or contrasting. You decorate with with bows, etc. The front of the dress is open in order to accept the stomacher thing. This way, the dress is expandable should you gain weight). The sleeves are ready to be inserted. The underpetticoat is done, except for hemming and the waistband. I have the bodice and lining cut out, but will need DH to help me pin it to fit. This is going to be the hard part! At least I can draft him to sew--he's a great tailor, and makes his own gear!

On top of it, my allergies came up this a.m.--and my left eyelid is swollen, making seeing a bit hard.

Wow! Marge was just trying to climb the bookcase next to the desk, and fell HARD on the keyboard! I think she's ok.

Gorgeous and please please please post pics.

Im soooo addicted to the romance novels set in that time period and dont get me started on my obsession with Civil War era dresses. LOL I would be happy as a clam to dress up like that even though df would think I was a nutcase. But if I had something that gave my bubbies cleavage he would probably sing a different tune. LOL I have always wanted a corset that did the lift and oompf.

Originally Posted by 3CatsN1Dog

Gorgeous and please please please post pics.

Im soooo addicted to the romance novels set in that time period and dont get me started on my obsession with Civil War era dresses. LOL I would be happy as a clam to dress up like that even though df would think I was a nutcase. But if I had something that gave my bubbies cleavage he would probably sing a different tune. LOL I have always wanted a corset that did the lift and oompf.

Click to expand...

Most corsets will do that. Even though my 18th C. stays don't cinch in the waist much (or at all), they give one very nice cleavage, indeed!

The 1860's drawers leave a lot to be desired, though...well, some men must've found them exciting; they certainly produced enough kids back then!