On August 6 2005, I went to Quebec City with my mom, to spend the day at the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France. Of course, how could I go to a historical event without the right kind of clothes? And why make a simple peasant’s dress when you can be a Bourgeoise? Materials        I found this cool jacquard fabric for only 1$ a meter, so I got 21 m. 13 m went in this dress alone. The only major problem with this fabric was the original colour – pinkish-peach. I hated it. So I used 4 doses of Dylon Multi-Purpose Dye in Cherry Flame to make it a more acceptable colour.        For the cuffs and neckline, I bought a nice floral lace that I thought would match the fabric (if anyone was to look that close). Pattern        After quite a lot of hesitation, I decided to make view B of Butterick 3640. To make it more historically accurate (remember I was going for a 17th century New France look), I did not gather up the over skirt (which would have made it look more like a polonaise). Advice        When dying fabric in many batches, try to put the same amount of fabric in each batch and leave them in for the same amount of time, or your fabric will not be dyed equally.

The original fabric

The dying process

My lace parasol, with wooden handle, found for 30$

A matching lace fan, found for 14$

The dress in progress... Ok the night before, the ruffle is missing and I've not yet done the edges of the over skirt.

The finished dress, worn in Quebec City. Now that I look at it, I think I should add some paniers to give it structure, and probably a corset to tie the skirt to.

My mom and me in our New France costumes

A noble woman with some Natives. (Honestly, these guys were really cool, the best of all the attractions in my book!)