Dear Jennie,

For my new gown I have used your new 1780′s pattern and I was very pleased with it. It was a joy to work with as all your patterns! I have adopted it a bit as I wanted a round gown, so I have changed the front into an apron front. I used silk taffetta and lined it with cotton. I added a kind of fichu/chemisette as seen on the fashionplate from 1786 I have also uploaded and a belt worn under the bust called “à la Dido.”

Yours,
Cecilia

Utterly, utterly astonishing, Cecilia! This is fabulous work. You really got the look of the fashion plate!

I loved using the tea gown pattern, and after years of admiring the design, I finally decided to cut it out (using some of my favorite fabrics) when my mother and I were watching “Pride & Prejudice” one afternoon.  The ivory silk shantung had a lovely satin finish on the back which I used on the outside of the dress, and the embroidered tulle has been in my “stash” for some time.  I always knew I wanted to make a gown out of it, and I’m so glad I finally did!

The pattern came together wonderfully, and was very easy to fit with the one-piece bodice.  I am not usually a fan of v-back necklines, but this one was gorgeous!  After inserting tear drop shaped lace appliques into the sleeves, I finished them with scalloped lace trim which was also used to finish the skirt hem.  The center panel of the bodice was decorated with rows of lace puffing and narrow satin ribbon.  As you can see in the photos, I used some of the net overlay to cover the lower portion of the bodice, with the scalloped edge of the netting making an almost sweetheart shaped neckline.

I chose to cut the skirt overlay in one piece (rather than have it split down the center), and for this version I added the polonaise effect in the front rather than the back.  And I really surprised myself by ommitting the rosette (which I am always so fond of!) in favor of a big silk dupioni bow in back.  One of the last additions was the lavender ribbon which I hand pleated around the neckline.  To finish it off, I also added a matching lavender bow at the bottom of the overlay in front.

All in all, it was one of my favorite dresses I’ve ever sewn, and the tea gown pattern is definitely on my “top two favorite” list for Sense & Sensibility patterns!  I have to say that while I just love the Regency pattern, I might even like this one a little bit more with less width in the back, and both the empire waistline and natural waistline defined by the sash.

I was so pleased to wear the dress, (especially in a 1914 Edwardian mansion!), and I think I haven’t had so much fun costume-wise since I was in England!  I’ve written more about my results here.

Have a blessed day!

Katrina

I’ve recently made a Regency reticule for a friend, and used your suggestions for period embroidery from the Elegant Lady’s Closet to put her monogram on it. My 5yo boy has rated my handiwork as “that’s fantastic mummy” (who could ask for higher praise).

A publication of embroidery patterns from the era would be very helpful to those of us with no fear of needles.

Thank you so much for your products, why did we stop dressing like this?

Kind regards,
Beth

This is so beautiful, Beth! And I do have a Regency embroidery pattern coming. Hoped to have it done by Christmas, but it got pushed to the back burner with more pressing projects getting ahead of it. It will be on the front burner again at the end of this month, so keep an eye out for it!

Hello!

My name is Morgan. I have submitted show and tell pictures before of my “Molly Gibson” dress, and this time my friend Anna and I would like to share pictures of our latest Regency ballgowns. This past March, we went to the annual Regency Ball in South Bend, Indiana. We signed up a month before the event, so we quickly starting planning our dresses and purchasing materials. We had such fun! We both used the Simplicity Regency pattern, but both made modifications to create our own dream dresses. The ball was such an unforgettable experience, and we both hope to go again next year. I am in the deep teal dress and Anna is in the burgundy. Thank you for letting us share our pictures and for making such great patterns!

Sincerely,
Morgan D. and Anna K.

Here are some pictures of my Pelisse, made for me to wear to a LARP event, using your lovely Regency Spencer pattern. It is made from an unusual taffeta with a pattern of tiny squares, found in the end-of line soft furnishings section of a local fabric shop. I cut two straight front panels, and a long rectangle for the back. I carefully pinned and pleated the back so it sticks out a little, ironing the pleats into place, although it was rather windy when the pictures were taken! I added some upholstery braiding for a simple trim.

I made a beret out of the scraps by stitching two circles together, one with a hole in the middle, turning them inside out, and slip-stitching the hole to band to sit on my head. I lined the bodice, but left the Pelisse unlined as it is warm enough to add an extra layer at night without being too heavy. I’m already working on my next gown!

Jessica N.

I love this, Jessica! Wonderful work. You really look like you stepped out of a Regency fashion plate. The beret is brilliant!

Dear Jennie,

Here is the picture of the latest gown I made. I simply love your patterns! This time I used “The Elegant Lady’s Closet” to make a sheer simple cottondress for around 1800. It was so easy and fast to sew (ok, I omitted the lining for being faster and it fits so well (I only had to rise the waistline about half an inch) I made it in one single day!

I already have quite some Regency dresses, but we were invited to a picknick, and I discovered that I have no simple white dress (only one appropriate for eveningwear) and so two days before the picknick I decided that I needed a new dress…

Yours,
Cecilia

Another beautiful gown, Cecilia! I always love to see your work. You look picture-perfect for a Regency outing!

Hello! I made this dress for a party my family and I are hosting. One of my sisters and I each got a pattern from you for Christmas. When I saw how beautiful the dresses were I hoped I could someday make one of them. I did not sew very much, so I knew I would not be able to make one for a while. I didn’t even know how to read a pattern. A few months ago my mother bought me a sewing DVD, which really encouraged me to start sewing more. I made a few skirts, aprons, and quilted pillows. Then, my darling little sister (who is two) loves to play dress up and look pretty, so I thought I would use some of my cheap fabric and make her a dress without a pattern. It came out fine; it was a little small in one area and a little big in another, but she didn’t care.

When my parents asked us if we would like to host a Harvest Party (it’s where we choose a historical character, dress up and give a speech about them), I wondered if I might be able to try to make one of the dresses. I looked at my instruction book for my pattern but thought I needed to start with an easier one, so I asked my sister if I could use hers, which she said was fine. My nana called a friend of hers to see if she could help me cut it out, and she did. I started sewing the bodice together, and was so happy that everything was going well! I pinned it together with safety pins after I had finished the skirt to see how everything fit and looked. It was too short, and the sleeves were too tight. After fixing this problem, I used solid fabric and I sewed that onto the front and made the back with a train. I used different kinds of ribbon. One looked good but was too red, so when I saw your sash idea I thought I would try it. My mother and I both liked it with the sash. I enjoyed making this dress. Two of my sisters also picked out fabric and they want me to make them dresses too.

Thank you so much, Mrs. Chancey!

~Gracelyn S.

Another beginner triumphs grandly! This just tickles me pink, Gracelyn! I loved seeing your work, and keep up the sewing!

I recently made a 1914 tea gown using your pattern. I made this to attend a “Picnic at Hanging Rock” event and people wore 1900s costumes to attend. I also used your pattern to make an Edwardian apron to wear to protect the tea gown while helping out the BBQ. I also include pictures of the underdress I made using your pattern.

Antonia L.

This is a fantastic outfit, Antonia! You look like you’re having a great time, too. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely work. Fantastic!

This dress was made from Sense and Sensibility’s 1780′s portrait dress pattern with some fitting alterations.  I added buttonholes and daisy buttons to close the back.  When it came time to mark the tucks and hem, my daughter was so excited about the length and about it being a “Princess” dress!  In the end, instead of adding tucks, I made a very small hem in the back to create a bit of a train, and hemmed it to just ankle length in the front, then added ribbon along the bottom of the skirt and ribbon bows to the sleeves.  I have a wide white satin ribbon sash for this dress as well, but she wasn’t wearing it in these photos.

Thanks so much, Jennie!

Blessings,

Jennifer

I love the flow and romantic idea behind the Regency. I’m also interested in the Social History of the time. I’ve been doing my homework and I really wanted to make some dresses for church or reenactment if I can get involved with it somehow.  Anyway, I had found these cotton fabrics and just loved them, so while I was house-sitting for a friend and her family I decided I’d FINALLY get the Regency Era dresses done. Here they are… Let me know what you think. I like feedback.

Katie H.

You did a beautiful job on both dresses, Katie! I love the small prints, which work well for this time period. If you want to get involved in reenacting and living history events, definitely invest the time to make all the correct underpinnings (chemise, stays, and petticoat). They will “finish” the look of the period by giving you the proper Regency/empire silhouette. Have fun!