I found this lovely woven in a striped purple linen/rayon blend at Joann's on clearance and I just had to get it. After waiting in a short line to get it cut or I should say measured, as there was only about 2.5 yards left! I was so glad that it was 60in. wide. I got matching thread and went home to decide what to make out of it:)
Since I haven't made an open robe in a long....time and I have been wanting to make something from my new Janet Arnold Pattern books, it became this new fabric's destiny:) I had to enlarge the pattern for the second time, since the original pattern is beyond a size 0, women were so tiny back then! It was a little tricky trying to get the pleating right so that it measured up with the lining. So I looked online to see how others were doing it and ended up just adjusting the pattern till it looked right.
Of course after I finished this robe I discovered how the back pleats are suppose to go. The ones I had found online; though the robes were gorgeous the pleating isn't quite right on them either. O'well it turned out pretty well for the first time ever using this pattern. Now that I have a better idea of how everything goes together I plan to make my next one out of silk.
Beautiful work! I haven't made any serious regency things. I have the patterns, just not the time or the occasion! I love this piece though. Perhaps I'll make one soon...
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this and I'd love to make one. Pinned! Following your blog now! Follow me too at www.sewsweetvintage.com I posted
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sewsweetvintage.com/2012/11/reversible-holiday-note-board.html to navy wife peters sub sunday party:)
How lovely! It looks like it came right out of a Jane Austen novel!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. You did a wonderful job. I have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop and would love to have you share this with everyone. It runs from Wednesday through midnight Sunday. Here is the link to the party.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.adornedfromabove.com
Debi @ Adorned From Above
Beautifully done! I just found this through a Pinterest search for "Regency open robe," as I'm planning to make myself one in the near future. Yours is very lovely, and I can't wait to see the silk version!
ReplyDeleteLooking closely at your pictures, I realized that I bought that exact same fabric from JoAnns last year! I've earmarked mine for an 18th Century petticoat, which I have yet to make. :p I love how the subtle stripe plays on the back of your bodice, especially.
Can you tell me where to find the pattern please?
ReplyDeleteApril, I believe that she drafted it herself from the book Patterns of Fashion 1669-1860 by Janet Arnold. There are two open robe patterns on the market, Wingeo's 1795-1825 Overdress Pattern, and the Manual Maker's Open Robe 1800-1820, but neither of them is exactly like this. I myself have considered trying to combine the best parts of both to make this robe, since I don't think I am quite up to replicating Janet Arnold. But then again, perhaps it is time I took that step. In muslin, of course.
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