Wow! Not only did you answer my question, but you actually managed to send me a link to a web page that I had not seen before - funny considering that I am familiar with Festive Attyre, but just missed that chemise page! That's practically an early X-mas present!
I agree completely about the 'gathering' looking like very fine cartridge pleating. It will be a test of my stitching patience, but I love the look. Yes, the softer and lighter the fabric, the better my odds for success. I'll try my cotton first, just as a practice run and because it is here and ready. After that...time to shop I suppose. Thank you so much for your response. With everything that everyone has offered up in the way of links and ideas, I'm comfortable finally with getting this chemise started and finished. Laurie T. -----Original Message----- From: h-costume-boun...@indra.com [mailto:h-costume-boun...@indra.com] On Behalf Of cw15147-hcos...@yahoo.com Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 12:08 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] Chemise pattern As I recall, the general consensus is that this raglan-style is not supported by current research. If you want a more documentable pattern, go with this one: <http://www.festiveattyre.com/research/chemise.html> As her notes say, this pattern was taken from the book "Cut My Cote" which (as I recall) itself took the pattern from a surviving garment. People have used this pattern for years, and I would say it does result in a garment that looks a lot like your example painting. Refer also to Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion 4 for tips on how to accomplish the gathering. Gathering, back in their day, is a lot more like super-fine cartridge pleating. That's really just how it turns out when you do gathering stitches by hand (it doesn't have to, but it sure looks good that way). I think you mentioned that you have fabric, but I will note: to best approximate this look, you'll benefit from fabric with a super soft hand. This: <http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/cgi-bin/showAll.cgi?id=286&category=Cotto n%20Fabric&fabric=53> might do the job. A pure silk voile might even be better, but I don't know where to find such fabric. Claudine ----- Original Message ---- > From: Laurie Taylor <costume...@mazarineblue.com> > To: Historical Costume <h-cost...@indra.com> > Sent: Mon, October 11, 2010 11:53:55 AM > Subject: Re: [h-cost] Chemise pattern > <snipped> > Pattern-wise, I'm leaning towards the pattern shown on both of these links. > It should be close enough to the chemise in the image that started all this, > at least for my purposes. If I were going to produce my own fiber, spin and > weave it, I'd be more concerned about exactly how the image chemise was > made, but this will do. > > http://www.elizabethancostume.net/cheminst.html > > http://www.reddawn.net/costume/chemise.htm > > http://exhibits.denverartmuseum.org/artisansandkings/?page_id=23 > > Any other thoughts on the pattern most welcome. > > Laurie T. > <snipped> _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume