Boston in Costume!
Posted by: Kaitlyn
You already know I love to sew right? Well lots of people are going to Boston in costume, and I'm hoping to be one of them. I'd like to make myself at least one costume.
I have this pattern but I think I really like some of the other ones I've seen. Here is the Vision Forum page with pattern suggestions. This dress pattern here really caught my eye, but is says you have to wear a stay (I think that's the similar to or the same as a corset) with it and I really don't want to do that!
I also like these but there are mixed opinions about them in our house. Some people love the pattern and some people don't. What do you think?
Do you have any suggestions for a pattern? Any period between 1509 and 1809 will work.
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Filed under: kids stuff
Well to be real honest, I’ve got mixed feelings about those patterns.
1. I Like how they look….But
2. They don’t fit me very well.
ROFL, sorry, couldn’t help it. You left me no choice!
Wish I could make it to Boston, but the NC trip was all I could do. Have fun.
I love Jenny’s regency patterns. They are very easy to follow and I think much easier than the major pattern company’s patterns.
I do love the colonial time period as well though….
I guess you will just have to decide for yourself!
Big help I am, right?
The Simplicity pattern would work fine if you aren’t going to be period correct picky,
Mrs. Chancey’s patterns are very easy to make.
You could alter the Robe à l’Anglaise to make it go over modern undergarments. You would need to raise or lower the bust points, but it would work.
I like the regency gown patterns. pretty!
I totally love Sense and Sensibilty patterns!
I’ve made both, and I must say my favorite is by far the 18th century JP ryan patterns. I adore my stays, my chemise, my dress and how I look in them. The stays are not hard to make and very comfortable to wear!
I have done historical reenacting from both of those time periods and have made my sisters and I several from each patten so I know them both pretty well.
If you want to wear the colonial J.P. Ryan gown you will definitely need stays. If you have a small figure you *might* be able to make it one size larger and it still work.
The Sense and sensibility patterns are both wonderful, but again the Elegant ladies closet pattern requires stays and is a bit more of an advanced pattern.
The regency gown pattern does not require stays though and is very beautiful and easy to sew ! I highly recommend it ! Good luck with your costume planning
Dear Kaitlyn,
I love the first patterns you showed. You would be beautiful in either period but I am partial to the colonial. I have a few friends, young ladies your age, that made themselves colonial period dresses that did not require them. I will ask for the name of the pattens they used.
We, Mr. Disharoon and I, are hoping to meet our guys in Boston. It will be nice to see you again and to meet the rest of the family.
Blessings on your costume making endeavors!
Mrs. Disharoon
I really like the regency patterns at the bottom of the Vision Forum page.
http://www.fashion-era.com/stays_to_corsets.htm
Here is a fashion history article that explains what stays are and when they were worn. It looks like if your dress is 1800-1840 you would wear stays. Before or after that time you would wear a corset. But they also talk about wearing a silk under dress which wouldn’t be so uncomfortable.
Dear Kaitlyn,
If you want to be correct, and you don’t want to wear stays, then I’m afraid the Regency gown is your only choice. Every time period before and after that wore stays, or a corset. However, I will say from experience that stays can be quite comfortable if not laced too tightly. They provide excellent back support. However, they are hot. I haven’t researched the Regency era, so don’t take my word for it that no type of stays or corset was worn. I believe that is true, but I’m not positive. Good luck with your costume!
Rambling Ewe,
Stays were worn in the Regency era. Regency gowns really need to be worn with them, especially for a full-figured woman, for the fit and look to be right.
In every era (even the Regency) women wore stays or corsets but the only pattern you listed that does not require stays is the original Sense and Sensibility Regency Gown pattern and the Simplicity colonial pattern. Stays and corsets are simple but they are not for beginners! If you were to use the J.P Ryan pattern you would have to buy another pattern for stays and another for a chemise. If I were you, I would buy the Sense and Sensibility Regency Gown pattern! I made it up when I was your age not to long ago and loved it! It is so much fun to make, looks good on most everyone and you can do so many things with the pattern to make it look different and unique. Look at Mrs.Chancey’s Show and Tell page: http://www.sensibility.com/pattern/showandtell/ It shows all of the things that you can do with this pattern. I think that all of your sisters (and your mom!) could design a dress using this pattern that they really like. Plus Mrs.Chancey has the e-pattern downloads now that make it so easy and inexpensive to use her patterns!
The colonial is pretty and unless you have a “modern woman’s figure” (i.e. on the curvier, stouter side!) you will not *need* stays, only really good posture, though it won’t have the nice flat front unless you already possess it naturally. But foundation garments could be a lot of fun to make, as long as you keep in mind that never should we sacrifice either comfort or style in the name of the other.
The Regency gowns, I think, look lovely on younger women; however, the bigger one’s bosom the frumpier they look to me (my opinion only); I can’t pull them off without looking horribly dowdy. In a light color and a tiny print it could be very sweet.
My daughter (15) is working on her third Regency gown using the Sense and Sensibility patterns. She has just learned to sew but really enjoys them.
Kaitlyn, The Regency Gown (girl on the right) looks almost exactly like my wedding dress. I felt so elegant the day I wore it. I did were a corset. It wasn’t that bad, it just got really hot and sticky
. I think the top patterns would be awesome. Good luck, i’m sure you will look beautiful in whichever you choose. You guys have fun!
Oops, I meant the girl on the right who is standing, in “The Elegant Lady’s Closet” picture. The dress was so pretty and ladylike.
I really like the patterns. I have a friend that had someone make a dress just like that for Jamestown for her.
SY
I think the first dresses are the nicest but is it really worth risking were one of those stay thinamagigs! I dress strikly for comfort.
Birtt
This page is really good a lot of patterns FREE:)
even kids costumes. (on the right side under “Patterns & Making”
http://www.marquise.de/en/1800/index.shtml
There is a lot of history and pictures too.
You can use an ordinary dress pattern, and alter seams to fit the tailoring look from past times.
then you’ll know the size will fit better.
http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5414.htm?tab=costumes&page=3
Just use some fabric that look less halloween:)
I usely always see if I can alter my patterns before making a new one..I’m a tailor:)
Hope your trip to Boston is wonderfull.
I’m from Denmark (Scandinavia) so I will not be able to attend:)
Kirsten
oh and by the way it’s a good idea to always sew it up in unexpensive cotton cloth and fit it then use the cloth as your pattern before cutting the actual fabric.
Mens pattern:
http://www.butterick.com/item/B3072.htm?tab=costumes&page=4
http://costumes.org/history/100pages/costhistpage.htm
sorry forgot to include this wonderfull page..