Belmont & jacket dilemma

[jennylafleur]

Despite over doing it a bit (with my sore throat I now have no voice today!) and getting a rather badly sunburned yesterday was glorious. I had a marvelous time and even got my pic in the paper. :>

I didn’t get many pics (none of myself) on my camera but I know Tina did so I’ll ask for a CD of her pics to post. Speaking of - I have some pics from John of Gunston Hall that I will post later today…



When I got home I tried on my ruffly jacket toile, while I had all the petticoats and underwear on. I think the length is perfect and oh so cute! So that was easy. :>

Before I went to bed, I laid out the pieces on my fabric to see if it would fit. I didn’t have much left but luckily it’s 60” wide and I had a second piece left over from the width from the petticoat. After much fiddling and fussing I finally got everything to fit. As you can see I’ll have to take about 2½” of the fullness out of the peplum, but I gathered the pleats on the toile so really it should be just fine.

Of course there is something missing from the picture, if you will notice. The ruffles for the peplum and bottom of the petticoat. There won’t even be enough to piece a ruffle together for the peplum. I am bummed but I think I will go ahead without them. I really have my heart set on using this fabric for the ensemble and really shouldn’t spend money anything else. I’ll still have my lace and ribbon trimming, so I think that will be enough on the jacket. The petticoat will just have to stay plain.

My only fear is that the lack of ruffling will push this ensemble deep into the 1790s – far outside the usual range of RCHS events. Some events I can get away with early 1780s fashions but most events are in the 1770s making 1790s is impossible with this group. (my one complaint!!)

Okay beloved pin posse… what do you think. Should I save the creamy linen for a jacket I’ll get to use more (in a style without peplum or long sleeves to save fabric for some form of ruffling) and try to get another fabric for the ruffled jacket ensemble or stick with what I’ve got (saving money for CC) and just make the ruffled jacket sans ruffle? I can’t figure out the poll thing so replying is fine! :>

Comments

[girliegirl32786.livejournal.com]

Maybe you could just get a bit of contrasting fabric and make the ruffles with that? Im not sure if its period but it would still let you use the cream linen. Just a thought. Hope you can get everything worked out. It looks like its going to be a lovely outfit either way. :)

[newgarb.livejournal.com]

I would think there's some "period" way limited yardage was dealt with. If "they" didn't have enough for a ruffle, I would think that "they" would have gone without, or used contrasting/coordination fabric.

Use your powers of justification wisely:)

[joysdaughter.livejournal.com]

Why not use some muslin (English version) to make the ruffles? There is a ball gown in the V and A dated c. 1770 which has see-through silk gauze ruffles. You could sew them down with narrow, cross-way strips of the cream, if you have enough. It would not look out of place, I'm sure, and wouldn't takke much fabric.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

i really like this idea, sounds beautiful, so although i have no idea of my own, here's my vote!

[isiswardrobe.livejournal.com]

Well, my pierrot jacket is patterned from the 1790s and that one HAS a ruffle. So perhaps the opposite would work as well? I'm sure the petticoat will do without ruffle anyway.

[justawench.livejournal.com]

I don't know enough to comment on your question, but I wanted to say that your event looked like fun! I can feel your pain with the sunburn; I burn in about 15 minutes.