This pattern was so easy to work with and to fit. The directions were clear. It only took four or five evenings to put together. The finished dress is very lovely. The only problem I ran into was that the directions said the gigot sleeve could be gathered into the armscye if the fabric was lightweight. While I used a lightweight fabric and a lightweight lining, there was no way all the fabric at the head of the sleeve could be gathered tightly enough to fit the armscye. It was a fairly simple adjustment to pleat the fabric instead, but it took a bit more time, especially since I had already spent quite a bit of time figuring out that the gathering method would not work.
Rated 4 out of 5
Lauren –
I used this pattern along with other sources to make a cotton day dress. I shortened the bodice like 3″ because the 1830’s had very high waists, so it sat slightly above my natural waist. I’m 5’6″ so it was a lot to shorten. In the end the whole shape of the dress is more aligned with the period fashion plates and the proportions look correct. The higher waist balances all the floof. I used the American Duchess sleeve plumper pattern, and my own pattern for the corded skirt. The pattern for the bodice came together very quickly and didn’t adjust much else, I piped the seams which brought attention to the details. I added a bit to the bodice and tacked the pleating to keep it clean looking.
Teresa –
This pattern was so easy to work with and to fit. The directions were clear. It only took four or five evenings to put together. The finished dress is very lovely. The only problem I ran into was that the directions said the gigot sleeve could be gathered into the armscye if the fabric was lightweight. While I used a lightweight fabric and a lightweight lining, there was no way all the fabric at the head of the sleeve could be gathered tightly enough to fit the armscye. It was a fairly simple adjustment to pleat the fabric instead, but it took a bit more time, especially since I had already spent quite a bit of time figuring out that the gathering method would not work.
Lauren –
I used this pattern along with other sources to make a cotton day dress. I shortened the bodice like 3″ because the 1830’s had very high waists, so it sat slightly above my natural waist. I’m 5’6″ so it was a lot to shorten. In the end the whole shape of the dress is more aligned with the period fashion plates and the proportions look correct. The higher waist balances all the floof. I used the American Duchess sleeve plumper pattern, and my own pattern for the corded skirt. The pattern for the bodice came together very quickly and didn’t adjust much else, I piped the seams which brought attention to the details. I added a bit to the bodice and tacked the pleating to keep it clean looking.