Renaissance Chemise from a Recycled Bedsheet

Several of my chemises and smocks need replacing, so earlier this year I made a new gathered chemise. It was made from a nice, soft recycled cotton bed sheet. The body panels and sleeves were rectangles, with triangular gores at the bottom for extra width and gussets under the arms for extra comfort. The fabric is wonderfully soft and comforting to wear.

A rough guide to how the pattern pieces looked. I didn't measure; just held pieces against my body and estimated sizes.

The interior seams were done by machine and then hand felled. The neckline and shoulder area was hand gathered down into a bias band and hand stitched down. The sleeve and bottom edges were hand hemmed.

Hand sewing the bias band around the neckline.

I plan to put some embroidery on it at a later stage.

The finished chemise. It doesn't look like much, but is lovely to wear.

Camicia Embroidered with Bird Designs

One of the projects I chose to undertake as part of my local A&S Pentathlon challenge is a linen camicia embroidered with birds and flowers. I have worked out a design taken from period sources and cut out my pieces. I am using DMC cotton floss in (predominantly) split stitch for the designs.

Although I am keen to get this project done as I really need a heavier camicia for cooler weather, it is a very large undertaking. I will be disappointed but not surprised if I don't get it finished by early 2019. Hopefully as the weather warms up I will get mobility in my fingers and be able to sew faster!

A&S Century Challenge - Budget Sixteenth Century Undergarments

I'm still sick, so everything lately has been extra challenging.

On Saturday I went to a scribes meeting and learnt about gilding manuscripts and made a start on a new scroll.

I had an inspiring & productive A&S/training on Sunday, and came home feeling exhausted (but motivated). Lots of follow up stuff to do after that one, including paperwork.

Yesterday I faffed around adapting patterns for a little while; a task I always find challenging.

Today I grabbed a couple of minutes to cut out a test run fitted smock from an old cotton quilt cover. I have always made Italian style camicias, but sometimes they can be a little bulky for more fitted styles of late period clothing. I'm always nervous when cutting fabric, but I'm not worried today because I got this quilt cover at the op shop for $3. I should get 2 undergarments from it.

I'm looking at making a modified version of (g) - smock with simple hemmed neck and sleeve.
Image from The Tudor Tailor, reproduced at https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/a6/9f/58/a69f582207ca2d77815540ae11de6988.jpg