Date: Thu, 17 Feb 1994 12:22:23 -0400 (EDT)
From: DCROSS@bentley.edu
Subject: Lady of the month club
Sender: DCROSS@bentley.edu
To: carolingia@bloom-beacon.mit.edu
Message-Id: <01H8ZPDXMUG2003JJU@bentley.edu>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT

Here are a few notes to "catch up" those who couldn't make the first session. 
Please feel free to join us on March 2, when we will finalize the research and
(gasp!) start cutting brocade!  For the timid, cutting test muslin.  

Materials:
The fabric is usually brocade, velvet or other heavy, rich fabric.  
Colors are usually black, red, green, brown, blue solids or a red/gold,
blue/gold brocade.  
Call Elayne if you'd like more advice on choosing fabric or bring muslin to the
next meeting and look at pictures before buying final fabric.  
The contrasting wide belt is in similar colors, sometimes of leather with metal
findings.  
Fur or velvet (more commonly while, brown or black fur) bands on the hem, cuffs
and collar round out the yard goods needed.

Suggested yardage: gown fabric or muslin: 6-8 yards depending on height and
train.  Plastron and underskirt may match: approx. 4 yds. (we are still not
sure if the under layer is two pieces or one, we may need 5-6 if it's a full
kirtle.  Fur trim approx. 2 yds. of the fake stuff (real stuff your milage will
vary).  This will be cut into bands.
Don't forget thread, scissors, yard tape, chalk or marking pen, pins, etc.
All you will absolutely need for 3/2 is the gown fabric or muslin, since we
will be patterning the main part of the gown.

If this is a bit cryptic, please call.  It's so hard to fully explain this
stuff in keystrokes!  Also, don't be intimidated if you don't know how to
pattern, I won't let you cut your fabric without double checking.  

-Elayne