Miss Woodhouse

[ShoelessJane]

Okay, I'm brand spankin' wet-behind-the-ears new to craftster, so new that I'm not allowed to post pictures yet, (i can has photos!) so please, be kind!

Also, this is not a recent project for me, it was done a while ago, but it *was* made from a bedsheet, has never been entered in any kind of contest, and I've been wanting to get some decent photos of it, anyway.  (If "not made specifically for this challenge" disqualifies the entry, so be it.)  Further, apologies for the kind of crappy photos--it's the webcam special tonight, I'm afraid.

The story.  My name, my real name (as opposed to my reenactor, etsy, and craftster persona) is Emma.  So I made this dress so I could be Emma for halloween, because that's the sort of thing that totally cracks me up.



The dress was patterned from a draft in Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion 2, and while I'd love to give more information on the original dress, the book is in storage at the moment.  I do remember that it's English, circa 1800-1810. -ish.

The construction is odd.  It's an apron-front, which means the rectangular portion that covers the bust and the skirt panel that's attached to it are only pinned to the back bodice. The back bodice has tabs that wrap around under the bustline and pin together there.  The front panel has long ties that wrap around the body (slipping through belt loops near the center back) and tie in front.  I would have taken photos with the apron front down, but they wouldn't be exactly family-friendly.



my crappy little webcam isn't good enough to capture the details, which is a shame.  The apron front has lines of soutache braid, mimicking the pintucks of the original.  The skirt has cartridge pleats in the center back, stacked box pleats to either side of the cartridge pleats, knife pleats at the side front, and a little bit of gathering at the center front.


(bonus kitten ears!)

The sheet in question is a very old, very soft, possibly linen (but if not, all cotton-no poly here!) flat sheet. It tears very easily, and the skirt has already been darned in the back where something caught and ripped a 14" hole.

[vitaboheme]

Gracious, Miss Woodhouse- that certainly is a lot of work you have done!

I am a fan of Jane (the original Jane, without the zombie ninjas...) and you have done a really lovely job here. And I love the braids- you are set for halloween!

[GlinkS1063]

beautiful work, it looks straight from emma, all you need now is a little nosegay

[Belladune]

absolutely gorgeous!

[jennilocker]

This is beautiful!!  Excellent job!  It actually looks comfy which is not how I imagined English women's clothes in the 1800's!

[ShoelessJane]

Thank you all!  You're right, I need a nosegay, as well as gloves, a spencer, maybe a fan...

But I'm sorry to tell you, Jenni, it's *not* that comfortable.  The construction of the bodice forces my shoulders all the way back.  Very elegant, and boobtastic, but not so comfortable.  (I could probably tweak the pattern to make it better, but then the lines in the back would be wrong. Probably.)

[raennn]

Lovely!! You know you did an authentic job if it isn't comfortable but still looks light and airy. lol

[psyche]

Oh so regency. Great job!

[TheSavoyTruffle]

This is lovely! I've been looking for a Austen-esque dress pattern to make for Halloween as well! Yours turned out very lovely!

[craftylittlemonkey]

I love it, it totally suits you. Welcome to craftster!