Finally Finished!

I finally put in the last stitches of hemming and finished off my entry for the HSF challenge: Art. I was inspired by 1790s chemise gowns. In contrast with 1780s chemise gowns, these ones have fitted backs and often long sleeves.

These paintings are from the Tansey Miniatures Foundation.


The rundown:

The Challenge: Art

Fabric: Striped cotton fashion fabric (I think it's a voile) and cotton broadcloth lining

Pattern: Started off as the lining from the Open Robe in Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion Vol.1

Year: 1790s

Notions: Cotton thread

How historically accurate is it? Pretty close. The design is totally accurate, the fabrics are accurate, the thread would probably not have been cotton though. Also, most portraits show some type of closure at the wrist, but I was able to get on my fitted sleeves without needing a closure. Machine sewing is obviously not accurate, but hand-finishing is! Overall, maybe about 90%

Hours to complete: Don't even know. I've been working on this on and off for the past month and a half.

First worn: Not yet

Total cost: Striped fabric was about $5/m and I used probably just over three metres, broadcloth was $10/m but didn't use much of that. Altogether, around $25.

( More pictures: how it is put on, hand stitching )

All it needs to finish off the ensemble is a petticoat, a sash, and some big ol' 1790s hair!