A Pink Gamurra

McCalls Pattern M4696

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McCalls 4696 was used to make the bodice. I already had the sleeves made from a custom pattern, and the skirt was just trapezoidal panels gathered to the bodice waist. Materials used for the bodice: about 1 yard of 60" pink stretch denim (sort of dusty-rose-colored twill), 14-20 1/2" brass lacing rings of the sort used for upholstery, sueded leather cord for lacings. Cotton broadcloth for lining, and inside it, a corded lining of hemp cord sandwiched with white handkerchief-weight linen. The skirt has about 6 yards of the same twill pleated into the waist. The sleeves are about a yard of blue jacquard fabric. Thread, both embroidery needlepoint for the decoration and regular sewing thread for seams. Underneath I wear a white handkerchief-weight linen camicia whose neckline is exactly the same as the neckline of the dress, just a little higher. Its sleeves are taken from M4696's sleeve pattern, cut a little fuller but not much, since early-period Florentine doesn't use the ultra-poofy chemise sleeves of later years. Click to enlarge picture. This was made with just some blue jacquard from the dollar store (I suspect strongly it's supposed to be a tablecloth), with the back seam cut open from above the elbow down. It closes with two silk ribbon loops around rose buttons, nothing to tie or actually button. It is lined in fuschia cotton twill for body, and it definitely does have lots of body. It fastens to the dress with three sets of cording (the armhole has lacing rings hidden underneath the fabric). You can just barely tell the rose buttons on the blue fabric at the joins. Click to enlarge picture. This is a closeup of the shoulder. Obviously the camicia beneath this is far too fluffy for the period -- a less full camicia looks much better on a simple gown like this.

This page last updated: July 10, 2009

All text copyright Vangelista di Antonio Dellaluna, except where otherwise noted. All portraits are understood to be copyright- free and are presented as research aids only.