I had to be some adjustments because I chose fabric with a border print. This necessitated gathering the over skirt, rather than having it the same as the underskirt. The underskirt is finished off with horsehair stiffening on bottom of skirt. The overskirt is braided on the bottom. Sewing ability requires at least an intermediate level sewer with some experience working with lining, interlining, and boning. All in all not to bad a project.
Rated 4 out of 5
Shari Jurnecka –
It turned out well, but if you are making View A, allow a lot of time for the sleeves. They took me 2-1/2 hours. They are elaborate and complicated. Fortunately, the instructions are accurate, well-written, and illustrated. Follow the instructions carefully. This gown takes a lot of fabric (look for fabric on sale).
Rated 3 out of 5
Kimberly Villian –
It runs quite large, especially in the bust. I cut a size 10 down to a size 6 and then it fit properly. If you are not a generous B-cup or larger, I wouldn’t suggest this pattern, as it minimizes the bust and makes even a generous B look like an A cup. The best cup size would be a larger C or even a D cup (or a B with a little help in the bra). Unless you are using a very thin, soft fabric or have no hips, the gathered skirt only is flattering if you move all the gathers to the back near the zipper and leave the rest of the waist flat. The suggested length for the finished skirt and train is only acceptable if you are over 5’10”; otherwise, you have to cut masses of fabric from the hem (especially from the train section). The arm holes are quite small for the rest of the garment, but this can be adjusted. Make sure the upper gauntlet isn’t too tight. The full under-sleeve is a bit excessive, since you make a false elbow pouf. I just made a false under-sleeve at the shoulder and from the forearm downward when using the double gauntlet sleeves. The instructions for the neckline inset are a bit vague and can be confusing, but with a little work and a few tries you can make the neckline work. The shoulder cape/swag is very simple to make and elegant.
Rated 5 out of 5
Teresa Liao –
This is a pretty simple pattern and seems to be one of the few commercial patterns for an Italian Renaissance dress that is actually two separate layers. Unfortunately, it still has bust darts to draft out. It is a simple pattern to put together and is a lot of fun to wear. I made one significant change to my own dress; I wanted the skirts to be very full so I cartridge pleated the skirts to the bodices. I didn’t think about leaving the center front flat, so the dress may have tendency to make me look pregnant at certain angles, but I’m still very pleased with the overall effect.
Patricia Cannata –
I had to be some adjustments because I chose fabric with a border print. This necessitated gathering the over skirt, rather than having it the same as the underskirt. The underskirt is finished off with horsehair stiffening on bottom of skirt. The overskirt is braided on the bottom. Sewing ability requires at least an intermediate level sewer with some experience working with lining, interlining, and boning. All in all not to bad a project.
Shari Jurnecka –
It turned out well, but if you are making View A, allow a lot of time for the sleeves. They took me 2-1/2 hours. They are elaborate and complicated. Fortunately, the instructions are accurate, well-written, and illustrated. Follow the instructions carefully. This gown takes a lot of fabric (look for fabric on sale).
Kimberly Villian –
It runs quite large, especially in the bust. I cut a size 10 down to a size 6 and then it fit properly. If you are not a generous B-cup or larger, I wouldn’t suggest this pattern, as it minimizes the bust and makes even a generous B look like an A cup. The best cup size would be a larger C or even a D cup (or a B with a little help in the bra). Unless you are using a very thin, soft fabric or have no hips, the gathered skirt only is flattering if you move all the gathers to the back near the zipper and leave the rest of the waist flat. The suggested length for the finished skirt and train is only acceptable if you are over 5’10”; otherwise, you have to cut masses of fabric from the hem (especially from the train section). The arm holes are quite small for the rest of the garment, but this can be adjusted. Make sure the upper gauntlet isn’t too tight. The full under-sleeve is a bit excessive, since you make a false elbow pouf. I just made a false under-sleeve at the shoulder and from the forearm downward when using the double gauntlet sleeves. The instructions for the neckline inset are a bit vague and can be confusing, but with a little work and a few tries you can make the neckline work. The shoulder cape/swag is very simple to make and elegant.
Teresa Liao –
This is a pretty simple pattern and seems to be one of the few commercial patterns for an Italian Renaissance dress that is actually two separate layers. Unfortunately, it still has bust darts to draft out. It is a simple pattern to put together and is a lot of fun to wear. I made one significant change to my own dress; I wanted the skirts to be very full so I cartridge pleated the skirts to the bodices. I didn’t think about leaving the center front flat, so the dress may have tendency to make me look pregnant at certain angles, but I’m still very pleased with the overall effect.