How to: 18th C. Bed Gown, skirt & apron + materials & sources.

Learn how to sew an 18th century bed gown, skirt and apron with this simple method. Also, what kind of fabrics to use and some resources and tips on 18th century portrayal.

[@FarmhouseWorthy]

Love the clock chime it’s real life. Thank you for the tutorial and visual in mini.

[@cabincrafts2239]

You’re welcome 😊 Thanks for watching!

[@lindareinking5326]

Oh, Kandye, This is great! I really enjoyed the video! ❤❤ Prayers

[@cabincrafts2239]

Thank you so much! Glad you liked it!

[@aimee2234]

Hey, Kandye! I missed you. Catching up from my hospital vacation. :( Those are so neat. Thank you and have a blessed Friday, sweet one!

[@cabincrafts2239]

Thanks! You too!

[@susanbadger3675]

Wow! Pretty easy! Going to try this. Thanks Kandye for the great video!

[@cabincrafts2239]

You are so welcome!

[@conniereed588]

Thanks Kandye, your the best!!

[@cabincrafts2239]

You're so welcome! I hope this helped!

[@barbann5057]

Thanks Kandye, oh I am so going to make these garments. My Rufus Potter painting went so well and had fun with my sister Beverly painting. Now we will have something new to add to our " Kandye projects". We both have colonial home decor. Looking forward to what you have for us next. God bless, have a wonderful week 🌹🤗

[@cabincrafts2239]

You're welcome! You two sound like a hoot! I wish I could craft with y'all!

[@DDeeS-jx2mq]

I say worsh too... love it. Our home folk must of come from the same region. :) So cute and smart with the miniature...you're a great teacher!! As always, thanks for sharing, these historical crafts and the way things were done in this timeframe! Blessings❣

[@cabincrafts2239]

I'm from Southeast Missouri, down close to the bootheel. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@beverlynye8239]

Kandye, so nice to see your new video. I will be making the skirt and bed coat. My sister and I live just out side of Gettysburg. It makes it easier for us to get historical fabric. So looking forward to this new project. Thank you so much for this new project. Barb and I really look forward to all you share. God Bless❤

[@cabincrafts2239]

You're so welcome! I can't wait to hear how they turn out!

[@elainepeters8771]

That floral fabric is the one I used to make my top based on your original video with Justine! As a historian along the Erie Canal in New York, I have used it at least once a month for historical demos for over a year now. Thanks so much for the inspiration!

[@cabincrafts2239]

You're very welcome! Thank you!

[@kathymcconnell8912]

Thank you Kandye! I really want to try this and the pocket too! God’s blessings!

[@cabincrafts2239]

Thank you Kathy! Let me know how it turns out!

[@susanfrederick33]

Most informative video ❤❤❤🇦🇺

[@cabincrafts2239]

Thank you Susan!

[@LindaStein-ze8bk]

Super interesting Kandye. Thank you so much.

[@cabincrafts2239]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@susangannon2972]

Thanks so much for sharing how to make these! I’m definitely going to try the skirt and top. I’d love to wear them when visiting a reenactment. And now off to see your Pinterest page!

[@cabincrafts2239]

You are so welcome! Thank you!

[@sandracrowe47]

Thank you for going into more details about the types of fabrics (pattern) to use for the bedgown and skirt. I already found your Pintrest page and following it. Thank you.

[@cabincrafts2239]

You are so welcome! Thanks for following my page!

[@qiajenaehamilton6397]

You are always a tremendous help! Gonna look up those fabric websites! Thank you!

[@cabincrafts2239]

Awesome, you won't be disappointed! Also, if you sign up for email notifications with the shops at Colonial Williamsburg, you'll see when they put their historic fabric on sale!

[@qiajenaehamilton6397]

@@cabincrafts2239 Good idea!!! Thank you!

[@pbrn1729]

I cannot sew worth a darn, but I think I could maybe make the skirt 🙏🏻

[@cabincrafts2239]

You can, it's just straight stitches!

[@genevievefosa6815]

I have cut and worn a number of gowns patterned the way you cut the bed jacket. I did find that the underarm seam was the first to wear out. I found that the fabric would last a lot longer if I added a 3-inch wide gusset under the arms. That way the sleeve can move with you and be less likely to tear.

[@cabincrafts2239]

Thank you, you are correct, but inserting a gusset for new sewers might present a challenge. Maybe in the future, I can do a video on that.

[@memorykeepersarchive3953]

Super fun and informative..!! ❤❤

[@cabincrafts2239]

Thanks so much!

[@user-lf9rh8tb9c]

Interesting,

[@cabincrafts2239]

Thanks!

[@GrandmaGingersFarm]

I really like the info you have provided in your videos, however I have to say, when it comes to the added material on the bed gown, that would and is very uncomfortable, because most of larger gals have the NEED for more space/room in front. Iam trying your pattrrn with a 55" wide fabric to see if that helps in the correct places. Blessings

[@cabincrafts2239]

Thank you! The extra panel in the back does give room across the front. I had to make one for a woman that was a size 22W!

[@s.dalton6978]

I am not a seamstress, at all, but I feel like I could make a skirt and apron. Now, I usually just use a scarf I have, but I’d like to make a fichu. Could you do a video on how to make that and what kind of material would I use? Linen or cotton or lace? Thank you again.

[@cabincrafts2239]

A fichu is just a huge square. It can be lace for a more dressy look or a soft cotton or linen for every day. You just fold it in half like a large triangle. I have used scarves too. I think a 36" x 36" square after seams are sewn would be plenty.

[@brightpurpleviking]

Does the slit ever open while wearing it and accidentally show your unders? I’d love to try making these! Thanks for showing us how 😊

[@cabincrafts2239]

No because you should be wearing a shift under your skirt, plus there are so many gathers it stays closed. You can also wear your pocket on the outside if you prefer.

[@Nannaof10]

​@@cabincrafts2239and you should be wearing a petticoat or 3 😁

[@cabincrafts2239]

Yes, lol!

[@brightpurpleviking]

@@cabincrafts2239 oh okay! Good. Nobody needs to see m’ pantaloons 😂😂🎉

[@cabincrafts2239]

Actually, women didn't wear anything under their skirts in the 18th century, lol!

[@shalinisharma4713]

👍

[@JMadelineRose]

I was interested in the colonial hat you are wearing. Do you have a tutorial on how to make one? Thanks!

[@cabincrafts2239]

Sorry no, I never make my own. I order them from Samson historical or townsends. They're too fiddle for me and fairly inexpensive to buy, but I've had mine a long time.

[@JMadelineRose]

@@cabincrafts2239 thank you. I'll check them out

[@cabincrafts2239]

You're welcome!

[@cherylatkinson7479]

Kandye It's sorta confusing why they're called bed gowns when ladies wore them during the day 🤔

[@cabincrafts2239]

I copied this because it was easier than typing it all out: Wikipedia Bedgown A bedgown (sometimes bed gown, bedjacket or shortgown) is an article of women's clothing for the upper body, usually thigh-length and wrapping or tying in front. Bedgowns of lightweight printed cotton fabric were fashionable at-home morning wear in the 18th century. Over time, bedgowns (also called in this context shortgowns) became the staple upper garment of British and American female working-class street wear from the 18th to early 19th centuries, worn over petticoats and often topped with an apron. Made of sturdy cotton, linen, wool or linsey-woolsey, these bedgowns were simply cut to a T-shaped pattern, and were worn overlapped in front or with the front skirts cutaway.[1] The term "bed gown" to describe this item of clothing was used as late as 1876.[2] Bedgowns lingered as fashion garments into the mid-20th century, usually under the newer name bedjackets, in the form of short robes or wrappers worn over a nightgown or negligee for warmth and modesty while sitting up in bed for breakfast, reading, or similar pursuits. They had mostly fallen out of fashion by the 1960s.

[@cherylatkinson7479]

@@cabincrafts2239Thanks Kandye for the info and quick response. I remember bed jacket from a 60-70's TV show where the lady was admiring a fancy light blue one in the store window. She was hinting and hoping that her family would buy it for her birthday or Christmas.🎁 Have a blessed night,😴🌛

[@cabincrafts2239]

My Mom had them too!

[@Nannaof10]

Thats a saq-back

[@cabincrafts2239]

The short gown on my Pinterest page is one of those! You know your stuff!