Another question for the 18th century peeps

[robinsnest]

Thinking about trying to make a new gown to wear to Peter Wentz Farmstead for their candlelight tour on Dec 3rd...As I'm unemployed AND it's Christmastime I really cannot justify a fabric purchase so I'm trying to scrounge from the stash...options for wool are reeeeeeeally limited. What's the least amount you've ever used to make a round gown? I know I know a jacket would be much smarter but after the disaster of the last one I kinda want to do something different. and really how much more work is a gown vs a jacket, all the time's in the top anyway! 

Thinking about making something like this, I like the drop front. Although I'd probably do knife pleats and cut the back as one with the skirt instead of having a waist seam. 

Comments

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

I've done it in three yards of 60 inch fabric. Two yards for the skirt, one for the bodice. I'm a shrimp though! But a round gown can be done without much fabric.

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

wow that little? well that's very encouraging, although I am nowhere near as slender of figure.

[laracorsets.livejournal.com]

The biggest fabric consumer is the skirts. You need two widths of the fabric at 60" wide for each skirt. If you make the underskirt of a different fabric, and can cut the bodice and sleeves from a single yard then you can make the gown out of about 4 yards. If you want the underskirt to match then you need almost 3 yards more.

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

Ooo that bodes well. I wasn't planning on a matching petticoat, I figured I'd either close it in front and or wear my old petticoat and have it contrast.

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

I usually get 4 yards for a gown to be safe...though I bought 4 yards of that cranberry wool, and will definitely have some left over after the gown's finished.

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

eeeexcellent.

[blackcat452.livejournal.com]

4 should be enough, I think thats all I had for my silk round gown. If you use the apron front style, then it saves a ton of fabric

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

can you do an apron front with a stomacher? I was thinking if I made it with a stomacher I could change it up more easily without having to make something new every time...

[blackcat452.livejournal.com]

I don't know, stomachers started to go out of style around the 1760's while most of the round gowns I've seen have been from the last quarter of the century. Haven't make much of a study of it, so they may be out there, and there is no reason that it couldn't work.

[kleidungum1800.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

I know my question is totally unrelated to your post - apologies - but please, would you tell me from which collection this photo is taken from, as I just can't stop drooling over the dress/pelisse in the back.
Thank you,
Sabine

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

It's in the collection at a museum called Historic Deerfield in Massachusetts, I took the photo when my sister and I visited last week. I do have several of the pelisse as well, it certainly is gorgeous!

(http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll98/rbetzhold/Historic%20Deerfield/?action=view&current=IMG_3828.jpg)

You can see all my photos here: http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll98/rbetzhold/Historic%20Deerfield/

(http://photobucket.com/redirect/album?showShareLB=1) (http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll98/rbetzhold/Historic%20Deerfield/)

[kleidungum1800.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Wow, thank you very much for sharing! What a beautiful collection and the pelisse is just gorgeous 1820s!
Sabine