Make your Regency Dress Look More Authentic w/ one Accessory | sewing chemisettes

In this video, I'm making not one, but two Regency-era chemisettes (or tuckers) to fill out my late 18th/early 19th-century costume wardrobe -- because accessories are just as important as the dress! Chemisettes are the perfect accessory to level up your look. They're easy to sew and fit and you can get creative with collar options while using up scrap white fabric. This is more of a patterning experiment rather than a pure tutorial so to make it easy on you I'm including some resources below for you to sew your own.
** MAKE YOUR OWN CHEMISETTE **
Tutorial: aimeevictorian...
Pattern: www.etsy.com/l...
American Duchess Guide: amzn.to/36twprc​ (affiliate link)
** REFERENCES **
My previous Regency costumes: dixiediy.com/2...
dixiediy.com/2...
** SUPPLIES **
Cotton organdy: www.renaissanc...
** IMAGE CREDITS **
Extants
www.metmuseum....
www.metmuseum....
www.metmuseum....
www.metmuseum....
www.metmuseum....
www.metmuseum....
Fichu: www.metmuseum....
Portraits
Lady with gloves: www.rijksmuseu...
White dress: en.wikipedia.o...
Ruffles chemisette over blue dress: commons.wikime...
Shirt Collar Portrait: davidsartofthed...
Shirt collar under brown dress: [lachatelainecho...](lachatelainecho...)
Fashion Plates and Engravings:
gallica.bnf.fr...
gallica.bnf.fr...
gallica.bnf.fr...
babel.hathitru...
babel.hathitru...
babel.hathitru...
babel.hathitru...
babel.hathitru...
www.europeana....
www.europeana....
www.europeana....
www.europeana....
www.europeana....
www.npg.org.uk...
www.europeana....
archive.org/st...
sparcdigital.f...
sparcdigital.f...
** MUSIC **
Courtesy of EpidemicSound.com
** CONNECT **
Follow me on Instagram @dixiediy: / dixiediy​
I blog at dixiediy.com​
I may not always have time to respond to all comments but know that I do appreciate them!

[@TealCheetah]

"I can't wait for the project to be finished.... once it's finished, I want to do it again." Too relatable!

[@CamthalionSpirit]

Okkaaayyyyy but we could definitely utilize this in modern professional history bounding possibilities 😱😱😱😱😱

[@DixieDIY]

absolutely!

[@benjaminmarley7441]

You prolly dont care at all but does any of you know of a method to get back into an Instagram account? I stupidly forgot the account password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me.

[@hamzapaxton7673]

@Benjamin Marley Instablaster :)

[@benjaminmarley7441]

@Hamza Paxton i really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and im in the hacking process now. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@benjaminmarley7441]

@Hamza Paxton It worked and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thank you so much, you really help me out :D

[@cincocats320]

I'm all for chemisettes making a comeback. They're a perfect alternative to fill in the way too low v necks that seem to dominate RTW dresses these days, without adding the bulk that a tank top does. And since you don't need much yardage it is a perfect stash buster project or project for a lovely fabric that is too pricey to buy much of.

[@melissashiels7838]

I love watching the closed captioning trying to deal with historical clothing terms: fichus = fish shoes; chemisette = chummy set. 🤣

[@DixieDIY]

Hahaha my favorite in the past has been velvet=vomit. yt auto captions dont understand historical or sewing terms very well lol

[@theoffkeydiva]

I prefer the look of fichus but I’ll admit that the chemisette is quintessentially Regency! 🤩

[@DixieDIY]

I need more fichus in my wardrobe, too, especially frilly lacy ones

[@rcamels3042]

Dixie DIY there is NOTHING like the ridiculously frilly kerchiefs of the 1780s!

[@Oldstudent42]

I'm a Regency historical interpreter. I've been a "camp wife" for years, so a fichu was appropriate for me. About a year ago, my husband was promoted to a low ranking officer. I was then able to make a chemisette since I was now an "upper class" lady.

[@nicnaknoc]

Tiny toddler fingers near the machine had me hold my breath.... Mammas are supernatural creatures of multitasking

[@EyesRPrettyDarnAweso]

So cool! The pleated chemissette is stunning! Especially with that spencer * chefs kiss *

[@DixieDIY]

thank you!

[@dee-annegordon5959]

I don't actually currently own a regency dress of any description, but never the less find myself in urgent need of a chemisette regardless of that fact after having watched this. I shall have to add it to my endless list of garments I simply must have.

[@DixieDIY]

I've long abandoned my own "must have" list, it would have been longer than my lifetime lol! Luckily chemisettes are pretty quick to sew. Thanks for watching!

[@darklymoonlit]

They're both so beautiful and delicate!

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks!

[@sequinsociety3703]

When i costumed pride and prejudice last year at my local theatre i become OBSESSED with chemisettes. We didn't use many but the characters who did wear them looked wonderful and we mostly used them to show the passing of time; such as our Charlotte wore one when she got married to Collins.

[@thinkuthink]

Fantastic ❤️✨ And those little hands begging for a book break 😭 Amazing. Thank you so much for this!

[@sadiemcc9363]

It was providential for me that I stared a regency project a week before Bridgerton blew up. Everyone on the internet is talking regency while I just sit back and hand-stitch.

[@DixieDIY]

Yeah, regency is definitely having a "moment" right now with bridgerton (which is fine by me because i really like the era). Good luck on your project!

[@stevezytveld6585]

Book breaks are awesome. I'm going to have to find myself some organdy, because I didn't realize pleating could be that painless. The chemisettes are wonderful. And the Spencer is marvelous. Well done. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown Have I mentioned that I just got a 1915 hand-crank Singer? Thing is magical - sews better than my Kenmore 22 with 1 mm stiches. Also? I picked up a buttonholer (complete set - thank you Kijiji & other people's grandmothers). So something that was invented in 1960 works with something that was born in 1915. Still trying to figure that math out... Anywho. Got to use it on my FR entry And considering that this time last year I didn't know how a dart works I guess I'm doing OK.

[@DixieDIY]

i've been sewing for over a decade and I still don't know how darts work, or maybe I just don't like sewing them lol! that antique machine sounds amazing. don't think i've ever seen a buttonholer before tho? thanks!

[@stevezytveld6585]

Singer has two types of buttonholers. Green box is for short shanks, like the 99K presently adorning my living room. The red box is for slant shanks. And they seem to work with other machines because everybody wanted some of that pie. The upside of a limited market in the 20th century. Yuze Tubes has a bunch of tutorials for how buttonholers work and even a silent film about the Singer Scottish factory my machine came from. As for buying - I got mine from Kijiji (Canadian Craigs List) for 35$. Which is _significantly_ better than what they go for on etsy. Especially if, like me, you got one with all 9 button cams (EEEEEE!!!). The Featherweight Shop sells a 3D printed cam for Eyelet Holes... yeah, seriously. My life is about to improve when that particular envelope arrives. I'm working next on making the Red Threaded half stays to be a version of an everyday bra. And that's gonna take a bunch more mock-ups because I'm just outside of the outer measurements. Ah well. The mockups are going to be allot less annoying? Do darts require sacrifice in order to placate them? Because I need them to be friends (who don't pucker at the point...) because I'm dealing with 38FF. And I'd like to wear something other than a potato sack...

[@rachelfloyd5865]

Like the pleated collier . . . a lot!!

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks! 😊

[@lkmcclellan1246]

I commiserate with your toddler and sewing problems 🤣 and your sewing projects always look beautifully done to us so if it is "poorly" done no-one can tell

[@DixieDIY]

Thank you so much 😊

[@LinniuesLinens]

Both are gorgeous! Thanks for the video! As the mom of an active 4-year-old, I feel you. My son now has his own "crafty stuff" in my sewing room, so he can keep busy drawing, playing with feathers, or stringing beads and buttons while I sew.

[@mandywredhair]

I was looking for a ruff collar chemisette tutorial all over the place - thank you! You make it super easy to follow!

[@sandradearing604]

i thought i wouldn't like the pleated collar as much as the shirt and now I LOVE THEM BOTH!

[@pippaseaspirit4415]

That pleated ruffle looks so good! Both chemisettes are great.

[@DOSBoxMom]

I found a Disney/Mickey Mouse adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice that a toddler or preschooler would love, at Ollie's, while Christmas shopping last month. It's one of those "sound stories", with buttons the child can press along the side of the book, matched to thumbnail images on the pages of the book, which "read" the story to the child. If your child is nearly ready for chapter books now, Ollie's also had a boxed set of chapter book adaptations of Jane Austen's novels (which probably stuck a little closer to the original text than a preschool "Mickey Mouse" version could).

[@hannamadsen]

I was making a chemisette while this uploaded!

[@DixieDIY]

oooh what type of collar did you make?

[@hannamadsen]

@@DixieDIY I followed the one that Eloise wears in Bridgerton. Drafted the pattern myself and it is turning out quite nicely!

[@LauraIngallsGunn]

I now am in desperate need of a pleated chemisette. Bravo!

[@DixieDIY]

Thank you Laura!

[@YanickaQuilt]

the shirt collar would be great to just wear with any nice modern sweater! awesome. I do half size historical clothing and I thing Regency is next! I am now working on a 1870's polonaire

[@DixieDIY]

Ooooh half size? That sounds so cool!

[@YanickaQuilt]

@@DixieDIY thank you. if you are curious you can see pictures on instagram at @yanickaquilt ;)

[@ello_verity7667]

And I suddenly understood where the designer for P&P 20(?)05 got their inspiration for Lizzies pinafore dress with the shirt underneath when I saw your final result..! Total duh?! moment over here 😆

[@anaisabelsantos4661]

My regency wardrobe need a chemisette too, and a lot more things I'll get to when I finish some medieval projects.

[@DixieDIY]

My medieval wardrobe needs some accessories, too, maybe I'll get around to all that after more regency projects lol

[@RetroMinnie87]

I LOVE the pleated standing collar! I gotta make me one of those!

[@eleanorbirchellhughes]

"Oh the Thinks you can Think" was one of my son's favourite books when he was about 2 🙂 he's 15 now and helps me with my KZbin channel. Also here in the UK we have an old expression "put on your best bib and tucker" which now makes perfect sense. Both your collar choices worked so well, I'm edging towards the pleated one as my favourite. Well done you toddler wrangling and sewing!

[@DixieDIY]

aww, maybe my kiddo will help me when she's older. Mostly these days she just gets into places she doesn't belong. thanks for watching!

[@heathers341]

Those are both so cute! I love them! I am at the beginning of a year-long project to read all of Jane Austen's published novels, so I am in love with all things Regency right now. This is perfect!

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks! I admit I've only ever fully read P&P. I started some of the others multiple times but never got very far so I admire your commitment to reading them all!

[@socpancake]

these look gorgeous! now you’ve inspired me to go sew all the chemisettes out there 😍

[@AJaneiteSews]

I just put up a video about a chemisette experiment, too! I hope more people make and wear these, they are so awesome for giving that finished look to Regency fashions!

[@DixieDIY]

Yay! I'll check it out

[@aperfecttouch]

These are both beautiful! Definitely adding to my to-do list. Thank you for this video!

[@girlofdifferentera2922]

Yes, I totally understand that feeling of needing to be done and then wanting to make more when you finally finish!! Great video!!

[@rtboothby3053]

I had always assumed that I would never be able to wear a Regency gown because the wide-open and low-cut necklines were too revealing for my tastes. Don’t know why, but it never occurred to me to fill in the neckline with a fichu or a chemisette. D’oh! Thank you so much for this video and for the information on working with organdy. Never used organdy before, but I am definitely going to give it a go now. All around, an informative and useful video. Edit: by the way, do you have a ko-fi account? Don’t see any information like that in the description box.

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks so much for watching! I don't have a Ko-fi or a patreon or anything right now. Maybe in the future...

[@elizabethclaiborne6461]

Fabulous! That ruffled one has me heading out for organdy.

[@pennyhenschke7883]

That’s brilliant; I just made my first chemisette using American Duchess where I hemmed each edge on the collar and then whip stitched- the bias method is much neater thank you!

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks! I originally thought I'd do that whipped edge but I realized the organdy just wouldn't want to roll like that

[@stbananastein]

Wow, this was exactly what I was looking for! Thank you very much!

[@medicalherbalist2216]

I love your videos, thank you for always making such an honest video, being encouraging and giving that sense that anything is doable. Very much appreciated.

[@DixieDIY]

Aww thanks so much! Glad you're here

[@Hannah-rx8fk]

I love them both but the pleated standing collar sings directly to my soul. I NEEEEEED to make that!

[@DixieDIY]

Yes do it!!

[@skatfan]

They both turned out so well! Each a distinctive look.

[@cynthiadugan858]

Brilliant additions to your regency wardrobe! I remember my mom and grandma picking up shirts at yard sales and turning them into dickies. At the time I thought dickies were horrible stupid things 🤣. Might have liked them better if they tied on like a chemistte! Now they seem like brilliant wardrobe extenders that require ver little storage space 🤔

[@DixieDIY]

Thank you! I've never actually worn a dickey before so this chemisette idea is new for me

[@KimHazer]

I have had a chemisette cut out & waiting so this was a great kick in the pants to get busy!! Really liked them both! (I adored the help at the machine as well!)

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks! And good luck on your project!

[@BelindaTOV]

Very interesting videos. 🇨🇦👩🏽👍🏽

[@polkadot8788]

Your chemisette looks so neat. Mine are usually a hot mess as I make it up as I go along. Starched cotton lawn is sooo nice to work with for these type of small items BTW. It you want and organdy alt

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks! and thanks for the fabric tip

[@PocketFullofPoseys]

Oooh! I need to make some of these too! I love yours!

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks! I bet your versions would be lovely

[@lcarrera3142]

Loooooooooove them!!!

[@Ella-iv1fk]

Did you make that black spencer as well? I really want to make one but have 20 or so other things already on my sewing to do list that I'm not working on! The ruffle collar looks really good with it :)

[@DixieDIY]

I did, it is a laughing moon pattern in velveteen with taffeta lining. Thanks!

[@davriecaro3036]

I might not be an expert, but maybe for historical sewing maybe use a Mantua Maker seam, to replace the Frenc seams because I hear that French seams are more for the late 19th century and that Mantua Maker seams do the same thing as french seams and are used in sheer dress (Correct me if I am wrong)

[@DixieDIY]

Good idea, I imagine they would have used a flat fell or a mantua makers seam as both made a clean finish

[@rebekkawacherhausenwichman236]

Fantastic!!! 🤩😍

[@DixieDIY]

Thank you! 😄

[@michellecornum5856]

I am loving that Spencer. Bought or made?

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks, I made it from a Laughing moon pattern

[@michellecornum5856]

@@DixieDIY Really pretty, I love the shape of it.

[@jc8847kvkc]

Bridgerton never happened! Autumn de Wilde's Emma gives a few examples of very lovely chemisettes

[@hazeluzzell]

Bib and tucker? If we were getting dressed up to go out my mum used to say ‘get your bib and tucker on’ I.e...get a move on. She would now have been 115 years old!

[@meacadwell]

I took your advice and made a chemisette for my Regency outfit. It's handsewn out of a white embroidered lawn fabric with a standup ruffled collar. There are 2 self-stuffing buttons on the front which allows me to button it closed if I wish to do so. It doesn't look as good as your pleated collar - that is outstanding!

[@marthabeck3981]

It is hard to see the finishef product because it is shown as white on white. I'm left with questions, unfortunately. Others good video.

[@TheVintageGuidebook]

Why is this video so loud??? I woke up today, looked at my Regency dress and thought "I really need to add a chemisette but to do that I'd have to make one." LOL

[@DixieDIY]

huh, was it really too loud? sorry about that. I used the same settings as I do for my other videos. maybe something was off this time?

[@sannabengtsson3044]

Genom fantage