Aurelia's Renaissance Faire Collection

[Lady Llanalla]

My daughter Aurelia (we call her Ari) will be attending Faire with me again in October. She is 18 months old now and will be 21 months then. This will be the fourth or fifth Faire for her, but this is the first time I have made her actual garb. I am excited and very motivated at the moment.

I started with 2 chemises. One is long sleeved and the other is short sleeved. It is usually very hot during the day at the Countries Largest non permanent faire (i.e. three days long), here in LAs Vegas, but it gets into the 30's at night (Fahrenheit), so she needs versatile clothing. Each Chemise took (all together) about 45 minutes, including cutting and initial hemming. I had no pattern. I just used shapes like I would for myself.

The over dress took a bit longer. I had to re-engineer the "pattern" I drafted initially, but I think it works well, and should still fit at Faire time in three months.

Action Shot 1 Facing Forward!


Action Shot 2 Profile


All three pieces lying on the ground.


I DO have documentation for the over dress. It is an Italian design, just not italian fabrics, though the second one will be. When I finish the second one I will post it here as well. Alas I did not do most of this by hand, but with my machine which is being yucky right now, so I am using my mother's fancy Necchi.

The next one (which I have already cut out) will be in beige and a dusky pink. Then it will be on to the Fairy costume to match her Auntie's, one of whom will be her "Mother" for the weekend. Ari, being the only child in our encampment, will be playing the Queen's child and since the Queen is Queen of the Fairies Ari needs a matching fairy dress. I have it mostly cut out. It will get it's own topic when I get it done as it will be specifically made so that it can grow with her.

[jazpurita]

Wow, that is amazing I cant wait to see the beige and a dusky pink one

[RemusRox]

That is hands down the cutest lil ren faire child I have ever seen! I like how much thought and detail you put into making it accurate.

[sewnutzz]

Very cute.  Something I have done for little girls for Ren-wear is to use the high-waist party dress pattern from Martha Pullen (you can use anydress pattern that has the waistline just below the armseye).  I particularly like the patterns by Martha Pullen because they fit exceptionally well.  Just extend the skirt to just above the floor length, plus hem allowance and tuck allowance...I put several tucks (about 1/2 to 1 inch) along the lower edge of the dress for lengthening later (kids grow up more than they do out).  I also like to leave the skirt closed in the front unless I have a proper underskirt to go under the outer gown. 

I often do lacing under the arms at the underarm seam...leave the bodice front nice and tidy. It you want to have an underskirt that shows, simply leave the side seams of the skirt open, sort of like a tunic or apron.  Putting an overdress just over a chemise is not period...it would be like having your slip show all the way up to your waist.  If you are worried about heat, make the overdress, inserting lightweight sleeves and trimming the neckline with a little ruffle or lace.

I love garbing little girls...they look so cute!
Anne

[Lady Llanalla]

Actually, this two piece approach is completely period for a child under the age of five. Boys and girls strangely enough. Some of the documentation is taken from portraiture of families in Italy and available online. One of the warmest places in Europe, Italy had some odd approaches to keeping cool. Little kids, even from wealthy and noble families weren't dressed in much. When she gets to be older I will let her decide what period and what fabric and all that, but for now this will do.

[littlebiskit]

Heeheehee, even from the thumbnail I knew it was Ari.  I must have been a good stalker that last round of swapping.     Seriously, could she be any stinkin' cuter???

BEAUTIFULLY done.  I am (again) in awe of your sewing skills.  Wonderful job!

[Lady Llanalla]

littlebiskit

Are you sure yellow is bad? I was going to send you something, but it was already finished and its kinda light buttery yellow, and green... lots of pale green.

On another note. My lovely husband and my father (Opa) took my sweet little darling off for a few hours today, so....

Voila!!!!


This pic has a better representation of the true color and you can see the texture of the fabric. I think I am going to add a bit of trim at the "waist line" both inside and out so that it can be reversible. Its not like she has hips to get in the way of the tabs if they were on the inside anyway!



What do we think?

[littlebiskit]

Oh my lord, that's ADORABLE!  And no, yellow isn't that bad, nor is green, it's more my issue than Lily's.  

(Hehe, read your comment better.)

[Lady Llanalla]

Well, I was making you both something and its the thing for you that is already made. Tell me what you think.  I will PM you with what I need. Oh, and I am so glad you approve. I am quite proud of it actually!

[MirthFairy]

Popping in since LadyLanalla couldn't remember where the original picture that inspired these dresses was: http://modehistorique.com/elizabethan/images/kids/holbkid.jpg It's a picture of Hans Holbein The Younger's daughter. Her outfit was so sweet and simple. I like how her whispy hair is braided from the back and pull up over her head with string.

We were surprised by the short sleeves! I always thought long sleeves, but here they are!

ETA - The dress is German - you know, since Hans Holbein The Younger was German. 

[jeannebaby1]

Oh she is adorable, and in so much more in grab. I think you did a wonderful job on her grab. I'm making grab for little ones myself, can't seem to find anything really for them.
   I like the colors you've used, they go together wonderfully.

[Lady Llanalla]

jeannebaby1 if you are just going for the day I highly suggest a pixie costume or something of that nature. The kiddos can get behind it and its a lot cooler for the middle of the day in the heat. These costumes will get used for early morning and evening when things cool off and get cold.

Also I will be posting updated pics of all of these things as I am/have added trim to them both.

[jeannebaby1]

Oh i meant at the faires you don't see many if any clothing for wee-ones.
   I make the wee-ones clothing myself, never had a problem too luckly. Parents seemed happy with it and no fusses for anyone. Thanks though, it was nice of you to say.
   And no kiddies after nights, parents just do the day runs.

[sewnutzz]

Popping in since LadyLanalla couldn't remember where the original picture that inspired these dresses was: http://modehistorique.com/elizabethan/images/kids/holbkid.jpg It's a picture of Hans Holbein The Younger's daughter. Her outfit was so sweet and simple. I like how her whispy hair is braided from the back and pull up over her head with string.

We were surprised by the short sleeves! I always thought long sleeves, but here they are!

ETA - The dress is German - you know, since Hans Holbein The Younger was German. 

From looking at the portrait, it is a casual setting, probably at home.  The dress on the toddler appears to fasten in the front, there is no indication of lacing, so I suspect hooks/eyes.  The skirt does not appear to be open to the hem, but appears to have a seam closing the front of the skirt that begins a couple of inches below the waistline.  This would make it easier to get a squiggly child in and out of the dress.  Given the short sleeves of the chemise, I suspect this could have been worn with an overdress. 

The dress itself is a common style for the period.  There  are plenty of example of these "Ren jumpers" in Italian art.  They are adorable and one of my favorite styles.  And while a toddler may  get away with running around with their shift showing as an underskirt, I have seen far to many grown ladies doing the same.  And I have not seen any thing that supports that was done in period.

SewNutzz

[Lady Llanalla]

So I finally finished the pink tabbed overdress! It is fully reversible

Here she is wearing it with the short sleeved chemise.


This is it in reverse...


And here is my angel in her chemise alone! SCANDALOUS!


What do you think? C&C Welcome

[TroubleT]

First, your daughter is beautiful!

You did some really fine work on her gowns. I agree with the others who said she will be one of the best dressed littles at the Faire!

[Lady Llanalla]

I just wish it were easier getting her to smile for the camera. She and my camera have thos love hate relationship. She loves playing with the camera (which is a no no), and the camera REFUSES to take the picture while she is smiling. It always delays just a second too long. I swear. You have to precognitiant to get a photo of my daughter smiling with my camera. Of the nearly 3000 photos I have of my daughter dating back to her birth moment I have maybe 50 with her smiling in.

[sunnysarah]

She is adorable! Her costume is superb!

[longtimegeek]

So sweet - I love it

[Lady Llanalla]

Excluding the trim I added (as you can see by the photos) to hide some wiggly stitching. They were really easy to do. Is any one interested in a tute? Or no...

[SewMamaLady]

I think that she's just precious and the dress rocks! Way to go on both a cute baby and a fab little costume. 

[rlynn]

Very sweet!  Ari looks just adorable in her dresses!  You make me wish I could sew!

[Saor]

Adorable - I love her in the second costume. And I love the name Aurelia.

[SweetPeaDesign]

Om my goodness yes, I'd LOVE a tute!
I LOVE the mauve & ivory one.  Your little girl is adorable!

[smrfchic]

I have been trying to find a tute for the little overdresses - I have four girls to garb for the Faire next month (13, 11, 10, and 15 months). LOoooooooooOOoove your daughters outfits!

[ScrappySue]

your daughter looks fantastic in her garb, wow.
S

[liewe_heksie]

Awww she is such a cutie pie!!!!pls post photos of her at the fair aswell!!!and well done on the dresses!!!so cute