April 30

Well, I got it finished except for the buttons and button holes.  It turned out wonderful and when I tried it on, it really fit....well, its a tad big around the chest, but I can take that in.  Now on to the description.

I originally was going to use the cotton/rayon fabric I had.  But when I was cutting out the body, I realized it was too slippery for what I was looking for.  A trip to Wally World solved that and I bought some nice white cotton.  I prewashed it, as I knew it would shrink quite a bit.  After drying it, I had to take the iron to it.  Those types of wrinkles are hard to get out, but after a bunch of steam and elbow grease, they seemed to disappear.

I went ahead and used the outline on the site I listed before.  When I cut the body, it got cut a bit short.  Not too bad, but a little shorter than I really wanted it.  It comes to above the knee and I wanted it below the knee.  Oh, well, it will work.  The sleeves are the right size.  Not too big around the upper arm area and there shouldn't be any bulk in the gowns sleeves, just what I wanted.  The neck line was a little tricky, but after some finaggling (yes, that is a word, at least in my dictionary) I got the style that I wanted.  It's a square neckline and wide enough not to show when the gown is on. 

As stated, I put cuffs on it.  I then put blackwork on the neckline and the cuffs, the same machine design I used on the other chemise.  With the neckline, I had to fiind a way to make the leaves go the same direction on both of the sides.  This was solved by embroidering the wrong side on one side, as the design comes out the same on the front as it does on the back.  The bottom of the neckline is low enough to not show with the gown on, but high enough to cover under the corset.  This will protect the corset from any body oils and thus it won't need washing, just airing out. 

The bottom hem is turned 3/4" and that is then turned under and stitched.  All in all, I'm overly pleased with the final results and would do this one again.  Once I get the chest area taken in a bit, it will fit like it should.  Pictures are coming soon, so be sure to keep looking in the Tudor Gown collection for them. 

Now, on to the bodice.