Side Saddle Hints and Tips

To contact me:

Cindy

Phone: 801.458.6488                                                     E-mail: Wildhorsefashion@aol.com

The Gown

1.  I  recommend the gowns be washed in cool water, on a gentle cycle. I line dry mine or put them in the dryer on a low or no heat setting.

2.  It may be ironed on an appropriate setting for the type of fabric it is made from. Be careful you do not melt your trims.

3.  Typically these bodices and jackets (except for the Zouave Jacket) were made to fit snug to a lady's body.  If the bodice is too big pleats can be sewn into the sides or the back where needed. If your bodice has buttons down the front they can be moved over to take up some of the "slack" for a tighter fit. Whether too big or too small, if you bodice has pleats ate the back they may either be taken in or let out as needed for a better fit.

4.  Ideally, to be period correct, the dress should hang half way to the ground.  The gown you have purchased has either a simple, traditional hem or a bias tape hem.  Traditional hems can be taken up easily and adjusted as needed. Bias hems are a little different.  You will need to cut off the excess fabric and then re-apply the bias tape tot he hem.  It try to use commercial tapes where ever possible verses making my own so that it will be easy for you to shorten the gown if needed.

5.  Occasionally I have found that my skirt slips down a little.  To fix this problem (this was also a problem back in the day and how they dealt with it as well....) you can sew hook and eye closures onto the waist band and corresponding positions at the side and back seams on the bodice.  This holds the two together and in alignment. Be sure they are sewn on securely.

6.  The button on the skirt may be taken in or let out as needed to adjust for waist size.

7.  Although your gown is constructed to the very best of my ability and with the best supplies I have access to, occasionally the buttons will come apart or repairs to the dress will be needed. I have included extra fabric from the construction of your gown for this purpose whenever possible.  Cloth covered buttons were period correct for the era of you gown and I use them in almost all my gowns. If you do have a problem and need to replace one you can find the basic buttons at any fabric store.  They are very easy to put together following manufacturer's instructions.

8.  You may like the look of your skirt or the skirt of your gown may hang better if it is "weighted". It is very easy to accomplish this. It can be done several ways. First, you can purchase a sufficient amount of curtain weight tape at your local fabric or craft store. It is simply sewn into the hem of the gown. Tack it down periodically so that it does not bunch up within the hem. Another way would be to use individual "penny weights". They were also designed for curtains. You can either sew these into or near the hem. Especially at the side seams. The last method is to actually sew real pennies into tiny pockets in the hem. I do not recommend this method. The color of the penny can discolor your fabric. Can't find curtain weights?  You can also use washers found in your local hardware store.