A Summer Work Gown for Widow Ferguson!

I portray a widow, Elizabeth Ferguson, who assumed her husband's stay making business upon his death in 1770.  She has a nice crossbarred wool gown and a wool sateen mourning gown.  I figured that a July event called for the good widow to have a summer work gown.  The Ferguson's are assumed to be Scots immigrants so I decided on a crossbarred lightweight linen for her gown.  I decided to use the pattern I drafted for a 1760s gown with folded robings.  

I also made a heavy white common apron bound with hand woven tape.  Widow Ferguson is an upper middle class woman with resources so she looks nice but she dresses practically for her job as a stay maker.  

As usual, Luna was anxious to help me:

I added lacing strips to this gown.  I started doing this with silk gowns to cut down on the number of pins I use.  I find that the lacing strips help distribute the stress on the gown.

Here is how they work:

The strips are sewn under the robings.  They go from the waist to just below the top of the stomacher.

Put on the petticoats and your handkerchief if you want it tucked into the front and lace up the gown:

Pin the stomacher to the lacing strips.  I used a single pin at the top of each side.  You do have to size your stomacher to fit in this space.

Pin the robings in place securing the stomacher.  I used 3 pins on each side.

I didn't have time to make the petticoat to go with this gown.  I have a buttery yellow medium weight linen for it.  I hope to make it more of a working length.  I ended up wearing this over a 1760s shift, a linen dimity petticoat with a linen voile handkerchief and white linen work apron.

I really like this gown.  The 1760s styles are comfortable due to the looser sleeves.  Here are some pics of it in action.

It's always nice to have a new common gown!

UFOs and other sewing . . .

I made myself tackle some UFOs that were piling up.  First is the Washi dress which I  cut out and started summer of 2020.  I needed the elastic thread to shirr the back and just never did so I got a roll of it and finished this sucker off.  I made it tunic length but almost wish I'd done it dress length.  No photos of me in it yet. 

Next up--the Popover dress from Gertie's Jiffy Dresses book.  It's the one on the cover.  There is only 1 pattern piece for this dress.  You use 2 for the front and 2 for the back.  The neck facings are cut on.  The shoulder ties and pockets are the only other pieces.  It's much like a tent dress that uses a belt to cinch in the waist.

Front of the dress.  The back looks the same only without pockets.  It's over a crinoline.

This one isn't a UFO.  I bought some lightweight linen on Fabric Mart for $11 a yard to make a summer dress and I decided on one of my favorite patterns from 7 or 8 years ago.  I'd made both views back then and decided I'd just cut this one street length.

Pretty simple little dress and super comfortable on the hot days we've been having.

I had some leftover linen and threw together some shorts/culottes with an elastic waist and in seam pockets.

UFO sort of.  This skirt is one from the thrift store that was huge.  It slid down on my hips so I threaded elastic through the waist band and that seems to have done the trick!  I got this last year and never did anything with it.  I really like it!

I have one more modern summer dress to make before I delve into some 1920s and Regency stuff.  It felt good to get this done.