The Vintage Nerd Sews

For my second gown, a working class gown for summer, I went with the Angelica gown pattern by Scroop and Virgil's Fine Goods again. The fabric is a gorgeous striped linen from Burnley and Trowbridge. This was my big splurge for spring, and 100% worth it. I got just enough to cut out the gown, and I'm not joking when I say I had ribbons left over. I did my best to balance economy of cut and match the stripes, and somehow I was successful. I have enough room in the hem that if I decide to dress this up for a more middle class impression, I can easily bring the hem down to achieve that look. The first step in assembling the gown, and my favorite. I love the elegant lines of the center back pieces.   Bodice assembly underway! Trying to pleat the skirt and do justice to the stripes was the most difficult and time consuming part. I did this two times before I called it good. I have the most helpful assistants. I mean, just look at how helpful.   The initial finished product   I fini

Jacket, bedgown, shortgown. There seems to be a lot of overlap in both definition and construction with these short, everyday pieces to cover the torso. In fact, the more I researched, the more confusing it got. Buckle up folks, because this is going to be a long one. Disclaimer: I am not a professional researcher! But I have been doing a lot of searching of museum databases, books, and asking questions of those who know more than me. I'm continuing to do a research deep dive, and will be sharing my findings in an upcoming post. For now, I want to be sure that I have something to wear to Williamsburg at the end of the month, so I need something. But what?  In a fit of impatience, I went ahead and made up view C from J.P. Ryan's jacket pattern, and I have to say, I'm pleased with the fit. I'm long-waisted, and this typically means adding between .75 and 1.25 inches to most patterns I make between underbust and waist. This is part of why my first shortgown was such a di