How to Make an 18th Century Bedgown- Part 1

[@kozykitty]

Wonderful! I've had linen designated for a bedgown sitting around for 3 years. Thanks for giving me the push to finally make it!

[@persiswynter6357]

Only 3 pieces! Yay! I can do this! ...after I finish my pocket, and my petticoat, and ...

[@MaryMangan]

Thanks so much for this series. I'm a local volunteer for a small city museum, and we don't have a dedicated team for anything of this sort. And as much reading and image searching as I did, as someone outside of the field I was not confident in my choices of patterns or fabrics. I really appreciate your guidance and the details on these pieces. Keep goin'. Mamma needs a new cloak....

[@peggyr9623]

Loved this! Welcome to movie making Brooke!!! You did a great job! I am watching the whole sew along before I try this so I can tell how it fits. I would like to wear mine around the house and as a nightgown, so I will be making a few of them. Thanks for doing all of these videos. They are educational and fun!

[@MaryMangan]

Ha! I made a muslin of my shift pattern first, and now have decided it's a fine nightgown. I use the real shift for re-enactment activities.

[@ej075]

Was anyone else completely charmed by the string rendition of "The Entertainer"? Another amazing video! Thank you guys for the wonderful work!

[@River2500]

These sew-alongs have been wonderful! A bedgown has been on my list for a while. What I'd like to see though is a finished example of what we're making - I'm a "big picture" person!

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Heidi Smith we need to finish Brooke’s and we’ll have one for you!

[@b.welborndressmaker5420]

Hopefully by Wednesday i'll be done!

[@Arnirien]

@@BurnleyandTrowbridge I'm seconding Heidi's request! Please have a finished example to show at the start of the series for any project, so followers can conceptualize the process. Photos of extant historical pieces or art help some too, but we especially need to see the specific version we're sewing together. I can't start until I understand the steps, so I've been having to wait until all videos for a particular project are released anyhow. Thank you for these sew-alongs! I've finished my first petticoat already, and I've got an apron in progress. :)

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Jessi- Check out the live from last week for tons of images of originals and art references. You can also see Angela in her bedgown ❤️

[@victoriarosesimons6449]

The named divisions in this one are LIFE! Thank you for ALL the hard work and for creating such fabulous sew alongs!

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Victoria Rose Simons a recent discovery by Christina! These will be in our future!

[@HoneyBear36]

Might have to wait to get the pattern till next paycheck. But I think I can make a flat bed sheet work for this 🤞 just something nice and light to put in around the house.

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

That sounds super comfy ❤️

[@MioHasMoe]

These videos are so helpful thank you! I recently lost over 80lbs and my old reenacting kit no longer fits me. I want to save some money this time around and finally teach myself to sew a new kit during quarantine. 💜

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

You can do it! And congratulations!!!

[@MioHasMoe]

Burnley and Trowbridge Co. Thankyou! Love your shop! 💕

[@ceva4465]

Absolutely fabulous! I love your sew along series. Lovely handkerchief style :)

[@fbt328]

Would you be able to make this for your mini mannequins by printing the pattern at 50% and then cutting the "full size equivalent" size? Which I believe would be M or L depending on how large the bust is made.

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Yes printing at 50% for M or L would work for your mannequin!

[@holly1581]

Woohoo!! Ive just bought the pattern and Im super excited!

[@emm612]

Yay!!! I am so excited.

[@petronellasblauerzwirn2351]

Hello EmM, by reading your comments at the last Q&A on bedgowns, I assume you studied L' art du Tailleur by Garsault. Right? Are you familiar with the concept of ' Remonture ' and 'Entournure'? He mentions it for the construction not only for the Gown(Sack-Back), but also for drafting and assembling the Manteau de lit . And that's where I got lost.....🤔🤷‍♀️. Can you help me?

[@tinyprepper8670]

A larger size would be great. For us plus size ladies bigger than 50in bust

[@patriciarudolph2178]

Great sew along. Maybe i can get one cut out this weekend and be ready for the next step. I love having this for a backup that i can reference as i need it. Thank you so much

[@cocob8906]

Awesome. Now I can start cutting out :-) Will you be addressing how to add a lining in future videos and maybe even how to make the bedgown reversible? Or can you recommend a resource that helps me put in a lining? Thx.

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

We will do a short demo on our Live regarding making the bedgown with a lining. Although we cannot document reversible bedgowns we will talk about how you might do that!

[@tinagriffith841]

This pattern iooks much simpler than I one I just finished! The pattern I used had inverted pleats at the back of the neck and over the pocket holes. And there were the underarm gusset, what a pain! And I may have made the mistake of using 100% quilt cotton and cotton muslin as a underlining instead of buying linen ( which at the time I couldn't afford). I posted a picture of it on your fb page.

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

It’s fine! This is one pattern choice. And now you’ve had some practice!

[@meganm.1627]

Hey Angela & Brooke, any tips on making the sleeves slightly tapered? Can we chat on that in the LIVE on Wednesday?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Megan Meharg absolutely! Be sure to ask during live so we don’t forget!

[@LauraIngallsGunn]

So excited about this process. Thank you for this. I know it takes so much work to produce this amazing content. I'm currently lining up, cutting, and taping the pieces. For some reason snaping my fingers did not work. LOL ;)

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

😂 😂

[@RychaardRyder]

Hello, would this same pattern (but much longer) be used for making an 18th century mens banyan?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Not really the banyan is a garment with set in sleeves, however we are working on a new pattern for a banyan!

[@Libbyslair]

Is the pattern no longer available? When I tried to open it, it said page unavailable…

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

The pattern is still available on our website here: burnleyandtrowbridge.com/collections/digital-patterns/products/burnley-trowbridge-bedgown-pattern?variant=31969063043159 But if you are trying to purchase it from outside the US you will need to do so on our Etsy site: www.etsy.com/shop/BurnleyandTrowbridge

[@emilywong4601]

Is a bedgown like a modern-day cardigan, sweater, or jacket?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

It actually was worn as a garment, although you do see some contemporary art where it looks like it is being worn as an additional layer

[@rebeccagose]

Would this be easy to adjust for larger bust size?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

If you are comfortable making adjustments it's a fairly simple shape to work with.

[@rebeccagose]

If all your pattern instruction are explained this way, I just might get into 18th century.

[@HaveFunALittle]

I'm loving this series and following along accordingly. I just had a short question. Are you going to be covering stays in this series or should I make them before starting the bedgown?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Stays are something we are thinking about for the future, but bedgowns can be worn with or without stays. Because they are less fitted than gowns you can make one now, and still wear it with your stays when you make them later. Hope this helps! ❤️

[@MaryMangan]

I made a pair of stays with the Sign of the Golden Scissors kit. I'm so sorry to see they've stopped selling that. I don't know if someone could buy their pattern and assemble a kit still, but my stays are still happily serving me now. Their directions were quite good, I thought.

[@christacorvidae615]

I don't have access to a printer but I have made other things by geometry so I was wondering if you have a good description on how to do it that way?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Hi Christa, please contact us by email and we will get you sorted

[@lauraevans9945]

What are stays?

[@eh1702]

Stays = basically the earlier forms of what we would now call a corset. That’s about the limit of what I know!

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Hi Laura! Check out our video on stays here for a bit more information about the garment. They are essentially the bra/back support for the core in the 18th century. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4aUgWp4o7qJfLc

[@AuroraCeleste]

I assume that if you want to wear the bedgown over stays the bust measure should be over your stays too? And when you talk about fit and how it's more closely fit later on, when approx is the pattern fit for?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Typically your stayed bust measure does not vary much from your regular bust measure and this being a loose garment your modern bust measure is ok. If you want it to be close fitting, then yes measure over your stays to be sure, however the bedgown should have an overlap of several inches minimum. We are going to work to have our demo bedgown done for you on Wednesday so you can see fit.

[@christinehodgson7948]

What is the difference between a bedgown and a nightgown?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

christine hodgson in the 18thc a nightgown is actually a gown. (Not worn to sleep in) confusing right!? The bedgown is an unstructured upper garment easy to work in and comfortable. Because it is not form fitting you have the option to wear it with a less structured undergarment as an example a waistcoat instead of fully boned stays or perhaps lightly boned stays

[@petronellasblauerzwirn2351]

Even earlier , in the 17th century, people didn't only sleep in their BEDroom/ Bed - chamber. They recieved visitors, wrote letters, etcetera.. For this informal day activities they put on a" Robe de chambre" aka Bed (room) gown. It wasn't meant to be worn in BED at NIGHT. They used to wear it in their BEDCHAMBER ( and out of doors) by DAY.

[@emmabresnan7633]

What is the diagonal line on the pattern near the neckline?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

It's where the bedgown neckline will get folded (you'll see how that works in part three coming next week!)

[@missclarksartclass8929]

Great video! I feel like this would be cute with jeans! Also....why the baby scissors when real scissors are on the wall behind you.....🤔

[@b.welborndressmaker5420]

I didn't even notice those (as they are Christina's) and I have only brought my snips & dressmaking ones along. Next time I'll definitely go for the real ones!

[@rslocum17]

So the pattern bust size 50.... I’m assuming this is a corseted measurement?? Say I wanted to make it a bit larger in the chest what’s the best way to alter the pattern?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

You should be able to alter without to much trouble however be warned these patterns are very generous

[@sarahelizabethhotrum9150]

I don’t have enough of one fabric for the whole length of the bed gown (6” short), would it be weird to piece the bottom with a different fabric or should I just leave it short? Thanks!

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

You could do either! You see both in the 18thc

[@HosCreates]

Piecing is period accurate since the dawn of time

[@cheerful_something_something]

Time to raid my stash : )

[@christinehodgson7948]

What did they sleep in and what did they call this garment?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Most English women slept in shifts or sleeping shifts.

[@HosCreates]

So this is like a short robe or house coat like the old biddies would wear that look like buttoned up choir robes?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Actually no. This is a specific garment worn by all ages of women and all socioeconmic levels as a from of "undress" in the 18th century.

[@HoneyBear36]

I wish I had red watched this before cutting ha ha. 🤦🏼‍♀️ I just have a shoulder seam now but it’s ok I will make it work.

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Mrs.K Necro you’ll be putting a shoulder reinforcement in. This can hide your shoulder seam 😉