This in-person workshop teaches how to make your own 18th century Sackback Gown — either the long robe a la Française or the short pet en l’air — using cutting, fitting and construction techniques as seen in surviving gowns.
This 3-day workshop is suitable for those new to 18th century gownmaking. We will focus on how to create the iconic pleat structures on the back of the gown. We will accordingly make the gown bodice fronts in the straightforward close-breasted (centre-front closing) style of the late 1770s and 1780s.
Students who have previous experience with pleating the back of a sackback gown in a period configuration will benefit from this opportunity for more hands-on practice supported by Rebecca’s instruction and may wish to explore stomacher-front styles, with or without folded robings.
Instructor: Rebecca Olds
Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, United Kingdom.
Cost: £300 per person.
Class size: 8 people maximum.
Experience level: No previous gownmaking experience required but students should be confident with basic hand-stitching especially running stitch, backstitch and spaced back-stitch.