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In Search of Pre-Made Body Linens

Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 3:34 pm
by Greg
I'm working on a kit for my wife, and am admittedly (and unashamedly) looking for a shortcut. I need a smock/chemise/whatever in linen with a non-gathered neckline. Preferably a natural linen, not bleached. Don't really care if it's scooped or a keyhole, and I don't care if it's tastefully machine-sewn since she'll only wear it a few times a year. If I try to hand sew this thing it'll never be done...I already have to do that with the outer layers.

Burgschneider refuses to work in linen, and etsy's prices that I'm finding are prohibitively high.

Suggestions/sources? Thanks!

Re: In Search of Pre-Made Body Linens

Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:43 pm
by Taurinor
Oof, any time you want 100% linen, the price shoots way up. I did a little poking around, and everything I could find was at least $90 or $100.

The best ones I was able to find were:

Historic Enterprise’s 14th-15th century smock - about $100 and I can’t tell if it’s bleached or unbleached, but it has no visible machine stitching

Linen Garb’s linen dress - $90, and they’re a bit low on stock and don’t seem to have an unbleached option, but I’ve seen some of their stuff in person. It’s good quality, and they’ll at least get back to you if you ask about custom work.

Sorry that I couldn’t find much!

Re: In Search of Pre-Made Body Linens

Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:20 pm
by Elleth
I just got some from Slav Medieval Shop on etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SlavMedievalShop

She sews modern tags into the collar, so you might have to remove and restitch if you care - but the work is quite nice and the price quite fair I thought. Very good for "I just don't have the time to do this myself" work.

Re: In Search of Pre-Made Body Linens

Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 10:20 pm
by theowl
Don't know if this fits the era you're going for but have a linen shirt and a wool waistcoat from these guys and they're both awesome. https://www.samsonhistorical.com/collec ... inen-shift The 100% linen one isn't available yet, but it should be $80 - $100 when it is. They cotton/linen one they offer is only $50 https://www.samsonhistorical.com/collec ... 2324077671

Re: In Search of Pre-Made Body Linens

Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 10:23 pm
by theowl
Also, not sure about the bleaching on Sampson's linen. My shirt is a bit off-white, but not as dark as other linen I've used.

Re: In Search of Pre-Made Body Linens

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2019 8:59 pm
by Greg
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I settled on a solution, and it'll be on its way in another day or two. Taurinor, you hit the nail on the head.

Re: In Search of Pre-Made Body Linens

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 6:00 am
by Ruinar Hrafnakveðja
I know you’ve already decided on a place Greg but I just thought I’d throw Revival Clothing on the list.
https://revivalclothing.com/product/womens-chemise/

They have all kinds of reproduction clothing and the prices are in Canadian Dollars. So you Southerners can knock off about 30% (just an estimate) ;)