Long over-due Update

It's been a long time since I've updated you on the progress of my friend Laura's Round Gown.  So sorry that I've neglected this.  There have been so many things going on since I last posted about it.  It is finished, and you might have even noticed her gown in the post about the Arts and Crafts fair (though I don't think I mentioned anything about it being hers).  I am sort of waiting until after the Jane Austen Festival to give you a really good look at the total outcome.  Not because I love watching you suffer in suspense...no,no,no... it's because I think the gown will look best in a period setting (and on my friend...who, at this moment is hiking the beautiful Cairngorm mountains in Scotland...lucky girl!)  The JA Festival is being held at Locust Grove, in Louisville, KY.  It's a beautiful estate and will make for some lovely photographs of us in our gowns. 

However, I will give you a sneak peek of the finished gown.

It's not actually a Round Gown.  We ran a little short on the reproduction fabric, and so, decided to make it into a Round Robe.  You have already seen the petticoat that is worn under the gown.  There are very few seams done by machine.  It's about 90% hand sewn, and the construction of the gown is entirely period correct.  I had a lot of help with extensive research from my friend Natalie and from Suzi-Clarke  and Dawn Luckham, two expert seamstresses, and period costumiers I met on the Sense and Sensibility Forum.

And here is a sneak peek of the Crossover Gown I will be wearing. 

I made my gown last fall using the Elegant Ladies Closet Pattern from Sense and Sensibility Patterns, but I haven't really had a good opportunity to wear it yet.  My fabric is also a reproduction fabric.

In my next post, I will give you an update on my husband's outfit, and on what Laura's husband will be wearing.  The festival is two weeks from today.  I'm looking forward to it, like a child looks forward to Christmas!