[Ponte Alto] Fitted dress workshop, Sunday, March 26th - Southern MD

[Charlotte Johnson]

Greetings and salutations!

I will be hosting a fitted dress workshop on Sunday, March 26th, near La Plata,
MD. We will be constructing a mockup for a self-supporting, gothic fitted gown
(GFD), worn in the 14th and 15th centuries. The workshop is limited to eight
people, for space and sanity concerns. This session is aimed at mid- to
advanced-level seamstresses, who need help fitting themselves, don't know where
to start, or just want to up their authenticity level a notch. It is possible
for an enthusiastic beginner to succeed and come away with a lot of knowledge
and create a beautiful gown, so please contact me to discuss your skills if
you're interested. 

I would especially like to invite potential teachers to the workshop, especially
people outside of the DC area. If one or two people from a far off group would
like to make the trip, after attending the workshop, you should have the
know-how to teach one yourself. Limited crash space is available for
out-of-towners.

I have a few prerequisites that I ask, as we only have room for eight in the
fitting, and I want to make sure this isn't just a social occasion, but a
session full of people who intend to make a gown. Since I've implemented
pre-reqs, the completion rate is much higher.

1. Please be willing to bring a couple of yards of linen fabric to create the
mockup from. This mockup may also be usable as a lining. Cotton and synthetic
fabrics have very different properties than wool, linen, and silk. The rest of
the (short) materials list will be provided to participants later.

2. In the interest of authenticity, please be willing to make your final gown
from wool or silk (or linen if you are allergic to wool). We will discuss
materials at length during the session, but wool makes the absolute most dreamy
gowns. :-) You will need 5-6 yards (bring an extra yard if it's 45") of fabric
for this gown, plus the lining. I'd prefer that you bring the fabric with you
for show and tell.

3. Although this is for people serious about making a dress, you MUST be willing
to have FUN. I will not bend on this one ;-) (and if you don't behave, I'll draw
funny pictures on your pattern - while it's on you - with my sharpie of doom).

During the fitting sessions, you will each learn how to execute this on another
participant. In fact, you could even teach your own workshop after we're done.
Participants will be disrobing to the waist because this gown fits and supports
*without* modern undergarments. For those who are shy, the actual time that you
are uncovered is very brief. For obvious reasons, this is a women's only day
(break out the bon bons and Colin Firth movies!) My husband may be around, but
he will likely hole up in the basement during the entire day, and he's very
polite about checking to make sure that everybody is decent before walking
through. 

This is first come, first served, so please email me at mathilde at
mathildegirlgenius dot com, asap, if you're interested. Please send me your
email address and a contact phone number, just in case. In the past, I have had
long waiting lists. I will send directions and supplies lists to participants
soon.

We start at 11:00 am sharp, please show up between 10:30 and 11. I'll have
something for lunch, if people could please bring a snack or side, I'd
appreciate it. It's likely that we will continue into the evening hours, so
we'll throw in a few pizzas or something else simple. This does take all day,
especially as I'll probably be taking some Henry time, and a lot of energy.

Cheers!
Mathilde

PS. For those who have asked me, I have uploaded my KASF documentation to my
meager-looking website at www.mathildegirlgenius.com