Fitting Customers

This is a ball gown I made today from some fabric I have had for over a year (and part of a table cloth). I used the La Mode Bagatelle pattern for everything but the sleeves, which are from the Sense & Sensibility "Elegant Lady's Closet" pattern. Yesterday I made a bodiced petticoat from the La Mode pattern. For those who don't know, a bodiced petticoat is a lightly boned corset of the regency period with a skirt attached. I ran out of fabric for the skirt, but I will post pictures of it later when it is complete. The bodiced petticoat is extremely comfortable and really does create the proper empire waist silhouette. The La Mode pattern includes this and patterns for two gowns, a reticule, hat, and embroidery. I wanted to make a ball gown using one of the gown patterns, but I was so impressed with the bodiced petticoat that I decided to make a ball gown using the same pattern with a slightly higher neckline to conceal the undergarments. So the dress you see is actually a corset/stays pattern!

This gown looks wonderful when I put it on. It is quite low-cut, and reminds me somewhat of the green ball gown that Elinor (Emma Thompson) wears in Sense and Sensibility. I also decided to pleat the skirt all the way around, which I really like. One thing I would like to know is how this gown would fit on someone a little more...ahem, "well-endowed" than myself. It is very fitted and flattering on me in that respect, and I wonder if it might be a little too much for others. Any volunteers? I would like to make other versions of this gown to sell on ebay, but I am not very confident with how it might fit potential buyers. If anyone would like to volunteer themselves for a fitting experiment let me know! What I would do is make this gown in your size (with different fabric), and fit it to you. What you get: a lovely gown!

Patterns used: Sense & Sensibility "The Elegant Lady's Closet" http://www.sensibility.com/,

This is a very easy to use pattern for anyone. No previous sewing experience is needed according to all it's reviews. I agree.

La Mode Bagatelle Regency Pattern: http://www.ravenrook.com/bagatelle/

This pattern requires some sewing experience, and fitting knowledge.

Things A Seamstress Can't Live Without

Every seamstress must have a few sewing tools she can't live without. Things she uses so much that they have almost become part of her. Things she automatically reaches for every five seconds. Things she has almost gone to the supermarket still carrying, without realizing it.

For me, this is my wristband pincushion. And yes, I have almost left the house wearing it numerous times. I wear it so often that I hardly even notice it's there. I eat meals with it still on, do my hair and makeup, talk on the phone, email, whatever - that thing is part of me! But recently (today to be exact) I had to make a few changes to it's design. For one thing, the chinky plastic wristband it came with was terribly uncomfortable and scratchy. I don't notice it most of the time, but when I take it off there are red marks on my wrist. Another thing was that it kept falling off. I would be walking around the house doing something and POOF! it was gone. With a quick flick of the wrist it would fall off and maybe even fly quite a distance. I have searched for that thing so many times! So today I broke down and bought a strip of Velcro (I have a particular aversion to Velcro). I cut a strip of the scratchy side, ran it through the loop on the bottom of the cushion, cut a smaller strip of the soft side, attached it to the wrong side of the other strip with stitches on either side, and voila! a wristband that will stay on my wrist comfortably!

I wonder what the other seamstresses can't live without? It would be funny to find out. Sometimes I wish I could watch myself trying to sew without my pincushion. EVERY TIME I take out a pin, I reach for it, whether it's there or not. It might take up to a dozen pins for me to remember that it's not there. I have a wonderfully interesting life!

What is it that you can't live without?

The Correct Impression

I have a question. Where does one find historically accurate patterned linen for a regency gown? Some other obsessive costumiers have found that most of the gowns from this period were made of a very lightweight cotton or linen, but they don't happen to mention where this type of fabric can be purchased. I am assuming that they don't know either.
Having this fabric would allow me to create costumes that are truly period correct in all aspects. The look of lightweight linen is so different from a regular linen or cotton. And I know that linen would be wonderful to wear.
My goal (the ultimate one for my business) is to offer every day modern women the experience of wearing something that would have been worn a hundred or two hundred years ago for a fair price. This would set me apart, and maybe allow me to go on to other costume related careers, such as museum work, movies, plays, or authoring books. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see your costumes on tv? Or to have other costumers refine their own skills with your help? Finding the right fabric is just one example of how hard it is to accomplish this.
Perhaps I am boring my readers, but isn't a similar mindset important in all businesses? Shouldn't we always be seeking to become masters at what we do? Researching, reading, practicing, and being obsessively particular about quality. I know I am sounding like my managers at the T-shirt shop. And yes, when you are talking about T-shirts it is laughable. But costuming is an art; an art that is fading into the past. And I adore it.

Learning Along The Way

My dressmaking business is off to a very promising start. I am always surprised by how many emails I get from people who want things besides just a gown. They want the period undergarments or a jacket to match the outfit. It seems no other seamstresses on ebay have picked up on this wonderful opportunity. I just posted a spencer jacket, and as far as I can see, it's the only one! And my chemises are a very hot item - I've sold more of those than gowns!

People also email me wanting custom-made clothing, which is quite easy to do with Regency attire. Ebay does the advertising for me. All I have to do is keep something regularly posted. It's great! And I admit customer service is much easier to deal with online than in person.

I am excited to see where this will go in the future. It is certainly a lot of work managing every aspect on my own from purchasing materials, emailing customers, shipping the garments, and trying to stay aware of what the other ebayers are doing. But I love that I am using a gift God gave me to support myself. I hope that my success might encourage others to do the same.

To bid on this spencer jacket go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/Regency-Jane-Austen-Empire-Waist-Spencer-4-Dress-Gown_W0QQitemZ260262543349QQihZ016QQcategoryZ53362QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Well, I have begun my ebay business! It is wonderful working at home and being my own boss. It's rather like being homeschooled again- except with a job.

This is a gown I made today. Like I told my sister, I think I could probably sew a Regency gown blindfolded now. And two more months of this before I leave! By then I will just be able to think of sewing one and it will appear.

To bid on this gown go to http://cgi.ebay.com/Regency-Jane-Austen-Empire-Waist-Dress-Gown-Size-S_W0QQitemZ260260642885QQihZ016QQcategoryZ53362QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem