Long Covid and Costuming

 Ha, friends! Definitely much later than I planned, but still keeping the blog sort-of up to date…

Momentarily distracted while I was ironing black cotton drill, might be twill, yesterday, my eyes fell on the box of Regency costume goodies I had packed up for my sister, who, along with a friend attended the Season 2 Premiere of Bridgerton. Needless to say, I’d expressed my concerns nothing I own would fit (she’s several sizes smaller than me) so she took my advice and sorted costume hire. They looked MARVELLOUS. 

Anyhoo, it’s been a LONG time plan of mine to really sort out that wardrobe; reusing petticoats that don’t really work, dresses that don’t fit or are kind of old and getting to grips with the Chemise A La Reine that I never even finished….which I started back in 2009? 2010? 

Yesterday I successfully pulled apart the chemise a la reine, memories of hand sewing in metres of bias binding apparently something that’s scarred to my memory: Ripping it out took much less time. That’s all now ready to be washed, ready to be stitched up into a drawstring, front fastening Regency Gown. Then I tackled the other, favourite regency gown, which has done me well over the years, but was never QUITE right; the sleeves and neck binding are removed and I am pondering on how to successfully remove the front bodice. I need to locate my white thread, as this will involve reinforcing hems so I don’t have the whole thing fall apart. There’s an underbodice lining that’s pinned to secure it, with the drawstring front over the top; I’m keeping this and using it as the bodice, with a separate skirt. It’s going to be my new petticoat.

All of this, while extremely thrifty, obvs, is actually period correct; old dresses were often altered to become petticoats and others cut down to become the new fashions. It is really, really common. I am particularly pleased at the lengths of bias binding and ribbon I have managed to save in this endeavour as well. 

My favoured type of regency gown is the kind that’s apron or drawstring front, as opposed to the slightly later fixed bodice. This is mainly because of weight fluctuating and those dresses I have found can often be worn to suit a range of sizes. My Lizzie Bennet (a macgyvered creation) is one I made to fit me when larger, but fits well when I am smaller. This would be common as well, particularly amongst those who could not afford a whole new wardrobe for size changes, as well as maternity. I am erring on the side of drawstring front gown, but I don’t have a pattern for it. I *think* I can use existing patterns for most of it and I AM keen to give the Laughing Moon drop front gown dress pattern a chance as I a) have that and b) I hear good things about it. I am lucky in that I have good friends who do a LOT of regency and period costume dress making who can advise on how much to add to the front dress/bodice panels.

My bigger issue is the sleeves; long is period correct, but I prefer the 3/4 length. Sigh.

In recent weeks, I have heard of and been investigating a company called Black Snail and they have a couple of period patterns I am really keen on investigating; one is a regency/transition drawstring front and the other, I think, a drop front, with bonus waistcoat/Weskit/sleeveless spencer thing (which has distinct possibilities to create overgowns from).

The third item I am chopping to pieces is the first petticoat I ever made and, I think, the first pattern I ever, using instructions, was an adaptation - the skirt is coming off, to be reused as a petticoat (but with straps), while the bodice will be used for lining, if I can get enough out of it. It’s been too small over the bust for a long time, plus never accommodated weight fluctuations. 

I also have a striped, very fitted regency dress that I’ve always had reservations about. That’s going to be pulled apart and the fabric reused for something modern. There’s probably enough to get a decent garment out of, either for me or for my nerfling. Actually, there almost certainly is. I’ve got a great kid’s pattern for dungarees or pinafore it might work for. Maybe. If not, definitely longer shorts or summer trousers, deffo another summer skirt for her. Poor kid is now up to two skirts from me, one a cut down from another period garment, another from fabric I had had kicking around for at least a decade. 

Anyway, Long Covid continues to leave its mark and daily reminders of how it’s firmly got me under control. I am about to start the rapid diet phase of a study aimed at seeing if weight loss improves Long Covid symptoms. My suspicion is that it won’t, but I am willing to try anything to see if it helps. Plus side: I am saving on food for 12 weeks. Down side: It is highly likely this won’t work, I won’t lose weight (bs of what LC does), the ingredients are going to set off histamine etc symptoms and so on. I have said I will try. I also suspect I will cheat a bit. Bigger sigh. To be honest, if I DO lose 15% of my weight, I will have to get all the smaller clothes back out of vacuum storage and I’m not thrilled about that idea, I can tell you, but at least I do have them. 

That’s all for now. I hope you’re all well. En marche!