Making a Late 18th Century Wardrobe:
Pet-en-l'air or Robe à la Française

CLASS SYLLABUS PREREQUISITE: Students taking this class must own 18th century stays or have taken Janice's 18th Century Stays class.

 LESSON 1:

  • About the Pet-en-l'air or Robe à la Française - choosing the length of your garment - as a jacket or a gown

  • Figuring your petticoat dimensions - with or without hoops

  • Determining your fabric needs, including petticoat

  • Personal measurements vs. pattern sizes

  • Adjusting your pattern to known variations

  • Cutting and assembling your fitting muslin using 3 lining pieces only

     LESSON 2:

  • Fitting your lining muslin - and transferring any adjustments to other pattern pieces.

  • Cutting bodice lining

  • Basic assembly of lining and under-stomacher

  • Cutting fabric

  • Preparing sleeve flounces

     LESSON 3:

  • Folding robings on front of gown

  • Pleating back of gown

  • Adding flounces and inserting sleeves

  • Side extensions and pleats

    • Janice P. Ryan
    Historic Clothing Patternmaker

     

     Janice's Bio

    Email: Janice

     Class Description

     Cost for Class: $75 Cost for Class only: $75

    The pattern must be ordered from the instructor at The Recollections of JP Ryan The cost of the pattern is $18.00.

     See Class Schedule for semester dates.

     Duration of class: 5 lessons

     LESSON 4:

  • Setting in the lining

  • Making stomacher

  • Finishing and hemming

  • Assembling petticoat, with optional flounce

     LESSON 5:

  • Trimming your stomacher, gown and petticoat - various types and styles of trimmings

  • Adding a quilted under-petticoat

  • Adding a tucker (gown) or a handkerchief (jacket)

  • Triangular Handkerchief with rolled hem

  • Wearing your pet-en-l'air or robe à la Française ensemble, with suitable accessories

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