Brenda Bell

I just love it when people use their skills and creativity to convert a commercial pattern into something authentic and beautiful, and Brenda did an absolutely fantastic job of making a lovely middle-class Tudor gown from the Simplicity 9929 pattern! You can also check out the side and back views, and below the picture, you can read a little description of the alterations she made to the original pattern.

I took the sleeves directly from 9929/C based on Dawn Duperault's review of the pattern. (From http://www.reddawn.net/costume/simplic.htm: "Ladies collection. Goodness, did they get the Tudor sleeves right this time?...")

I kept the back outline of the bodice, drafted out the darts and front openings, added/increased the front arch, and reworked the boning (I used 1/2" springsteel instead of the useless nylon stuff the pattern called for and used steel placement similar to that of the AlterYears Side-Laced Elizabethan Bodice).

Instead of Simplicity's undergown, I made a "standard" front-opening skirt and forepart-underskirt.

I wore one of my existing cotton chemises with it; it was adapted from Folkwear's Roumanian Blouse pattern. A proper Tudor-styled chemise is on the list of "things to do".

The main dress is in a heavy, I think 7+-oz. linen, and the trim fabric is a cotton blend home-dec fabric.