Past Projects · 1780s Polonese Gown

This is an older project (back in Aug-Dec 2010), that I re-discovered and finally accepted this past year. :-)  I found out about Burnley and Trowbridge's Polonese Gown-Making Class back in 2010 and was just barely able to make it in- someone canceled 2 weeks before the event, and I was first on the waiting list!  I did have a bit of panicking to make a new pair of stays before the class, and thankfully I already had the right amount of silk in my stash for the dress. :-)  It was my first exposure to draping clothing and entirely hand-sewing a garment, but I was committed to learning!  It was SUCH a great class and I learned so much.  At the end of the weekend, I had the dress put together (minus the sleeves).  Once at home, I draped and made a dress for Gretel (which is now sadly outgrown!) so that I could cement the knowledge and Mom draped and set the sleeves of my dress for me.  I wanted a challenge for myself, so I decided to hand-sew every single part of my dress.  A LOT of hemming later, I had the satisfaction of crossing a new threshold in my sewing journey. :-)  After doing this dress, I am so much more likely to completely hand-sew my 18th cen clothing.  It really stretched me and pushed me to the next level!  After making the dress though, I was rather paralyzed by accessorizing it for the next 2 years.  I tend to hang out in the "everyday middling class" of the 18th century, so a silk dress was way out of my league!

After doing this dress, I am so much more likely to completely hand-sew my 18th cen clothing.  It really stretched me and pushed me to the next level!  After making the dress though, I was rather paralyzed by accessorizing it for the next 2 years.  I tend to hang out in the "everyday middling class" of the 18th century, so a silk dress was way out of my league!

We got silk organza to make caps and kerchiefs, but sadly my first attempt at a cap was very dis-satisfactory.  Waaaayyyy too 1760s, not enough 1780s.  I made this cap in Sept 2012, while we were driving through England.  By the time I got to the puffy trim, I found out that I could make amazingly minuscule hems- now I just wish I learned that at the beginning! ;-)

 I'm fairly happy with how the whole outfit has come together, but I'm still on the look-out for some new ideas to do with it.  And, since there are a couple yards of the silk left, I just might have to make a jacket at some point.... ;-)

Photos taken in Colonial Williamsburg by my fabulous personal photographer, Kathryn.