Chemise gown

[mandie_rw]

Yesterday I gathered the back of the dress and sewed the binding, and today I sewed the drawstring channels at the front neckline and put in the drawstrings. And then sewed on the shoulder straps. Which of course are too big, because I never learn. Will pick them off at the back and resew them tomorrow.

Where we are right now: world's most devotedly-hand sewn Weeping Angel costume?






There's no drawstring in the waist yet, and I might not put one in at all. Because 1/ I'm lazy, 2/ I'll very likely put it in crooked or at the wrong height anyway and that will just piss me off.

And with the sash (well, a length of what will be the sash if I ever get around to sewing it together!)


And now I'm sort of at an impasse - I can't decide which style to go with from here. I could go with the fluffy gathered sleeves and neck ruffles, a la Marie Antoinette:


...or the slightly later look, with no neck treatment at all (I made sure I sewed the casings and binding nicely, just in case!) and long straight sleeves, like Madame Seriziat.

(Her dress has probably got a fitted back, but there were so many variations on the chemise gown, that's not something I'm going to worry about!)

You may remember my original plan was to eventually make an open robe to go over the chemise gown, in which case the less fluffy style is better. But let's be honest, who knows when I'll get around to making that? In that case, is the less fluffy gown too boring on its own? Am I really a "fluffy" kind of person anyway? (Precedence of costumes says, not so much.)

So...I can't make decisions. Please make them for me!

Comments

[clarey-h.livejournal.com]

Oooh this is coming on nicely! Love that you you think you look like a weeping angel - you need to stand outside peoples windows frozen with a scary look on you face!

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

*snicker* If I left off the sleeves and painted it grey I'd be set for Halloween! Hmm, that's an idea... :D

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Looking really great!!

I didn't put in a drawstring at the waist. The sash really keeps everything in place just fine, but it's really up to you.

I have a neckline ruffle on mine, but as I'm generally a more tailored girl, I've been threatening to take it off for Bastille Day.

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And good to hear the sash keeps everything in place - I think I won't bother with the drawstring then. One less thing to do!

I do love how the ruffles look - on other people, haha! I think I'm going to hit up my favorite local fabric store and see if they have any decent lace, if not I'll leave it plain.

[blackcat452.livejournal.com]

Tough call, you could always do a neck ruffle and fitted sleeves or vice versa. Did I just make it even more difficult? And i like the striped sash!

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Yes, you did! ;) Too many options! I think I'm going to see if I can find some decent lace in my favorite local fabric store, and if not I'll leave it plain.

And thanks! Stripes are always good.

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

damn you and you're perfectly placed waist sash..I vote puffy sleeves for one reason IT'S GONNA BE HOT! and big and loose sounds cooler. but that's just me. I'm doing poofy sleeves with no neck ruffle cause I like the simpler look. So I vote puffy sleeve with neck ruffle for variety :-D

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

btw I think I have the exact same fabric that I was going to use for the sash..I'm thinking I better not now :-p

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

We don't seem to be a very ruffly crowd, do we? I think I'm going to see if I can hunt down some decent lace, if not I'll probably end up leaving it plain.

Isn't it great that the perfectly placed waist sash was a direct result of being too lazy to put in a drawstring? :D

Lol! We both have good taste in sash fabric, then? Mine's silk taffeta from Renaissance Fabrics in 1/2" stripes...I do have some plain light blue taffeta I could use as well if you're set on your stripes!

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

nah the stripes look good on you :-) I'll probably be lazy and use a sash I already have...like the one from my titanic gown. As I'm far too lazy to make a new one. that's effort!

and mine's not silk it's some poly something I got from my upstairs neighbor.

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Hemming sashes isn't very rewarding, I will say. Ugh, boring!