Material choices

Here is the material I am considering for a back panel (one of the four back panels I expect the gown to have. Then for the body I would love to use an enzyme washed linen, but can't find one in the right colour, some other plain linen here and here are possible choices, but I might have to downgrade to cotton, just not looking forward to driving around from shop to shop in search of just the right colour. And I guess I have to make a firm decision on the interloper panel material before choosing the major body material.

If I get time I would dearly love to print some of the lining cotton with line drawings by her prolific daughters so that every time she looks at her dressing gown before putting it on she sees them inside, but as a private thing just for her as no-one else would see the lining. Also I think it would be lovely to be reminded each morning just how wonderful your kids are (just before one starts the daily noise and argument).

At the bum I have decided to go for more of a bustle than a traditional kimono knot. Like this because I have always had a soft spot for bustles.

My imagination runs wild when I think of the possibilities, but I know in the end this will be a fairly simple gown without many of the flourishes that I would love it to have.. and even now I am not sure that the painted bits described in my previous blog will be included, but then I wonder if that is just because I'm a bit scared of doing it wrong, so I probably need to sit down and experiment a little.
The other thing I wonder about is if I should use a lightly patterned material for the bulk of the gown instead of a block colour.

And then after all that I catch a glimpse of the beautiful untailored draping kimono type dressing gowns of the 1800's and think "Stuff it all, I'll just sew four seams and be done with it". AAAARRRGGHHH!! It would probably look more classically classy and be a lot less work.... Maybe I'll do one of those too so she can say thanks for the crazy construction but secretly put it somewhere "safe" while she wears the simpler one.

There are some basic shots of the trial version Here and in the end I used pattern pieces from a "Kittelschurze" (directly translated "smock apron" I think it is a house jacket) in Beyer Mode 1955.

Lots of work still to do!

Cheers,
Softly Slowly