The Grand Duchess Riding Habit

I have been planning to make this pattern for a couple of years. My summer holidays plans this year made me finally get on with it! My Sophie Auguste Friederike couldn’t be happier and can’t wait to embark on a trip of her life. It’s 1744 and she is travelling to Saint Petersburg where she will marry the future Tsar Peter III and will eventually become the amazing Catherine the Great! 

The Grand Duchess 1740s Riding Habit pattern is currently released only for 16-inch A Girl for All Time dolls but I will definitely make it for the standard 18-inch dolls straight after this one.

The inspiration for the 1740s riding habit came from the paintings and the fashions of the 1730-1760s, as well as from some historical films, like Outlander. It is the most common type of the riding habit from the era.

The pattern comes with pattern pieces and instructions for all of the elements of the outfit: the riding shirt with lace at the front and the cuffs and with a necktie, the skirt supported by a bumroll, the riding waistcoat, the riding coat with pleats and the molded tricorn.

The shirt is based on typical riding shirts of the period. It has shorter back with ties that are tied across the front and hold the shirt closed. The skirt should be worn over a bumroll. It has pleats and side slits to get the access to the pockets which can be tied under the skirt (to make the pockets, please check my pattern #SS1740-01).

The riding waistcoat resembles male waistcoats of the era but it comes with the skirts which are shaped to fit over a bumroll. As in all fashions of the 18th century, the shoulder seams are slanted backwards. The waistcoat has lacing at the back for a better fit (just like its male versions).

I am particularly excited about the riding coat. It is really a miniature replica of a real riding coat (inspired by example in the Janet Arnold’s book). It features slanted shoulder seams and correctly placed back seams. The large, fully lined skirts with pleats and pocket flaps are designed to fit over a bumroll. The sleeves are shaped just like the 18th century sleeves would have been. They also have wide cuffs with buttons. The riding coat is designed to fit over the waistcoat and can be worn open or fully fastened.

The pattern also has patterns and instructions to make not one but two tricorns in two different sizes. These are molded from one piece of wool felt and are 100% hand sewn. They are quick and easy to make (the longest part is waiting for the tricorn to dry!).


Finally, this pattern has been successfully tested by 4 of my wonderful testers. Below are some of their photographs. As you can see, the variations are endless! 

If you don’t sew but would like to buy a gown made from this pattern, please click on the links or the photographs below to get to the Etsy shops of my testers where you may be able to buy or order one: Kel Pederson’s Nuclear Needle Arts and Elizabeth Gearhart’s Pemberley Threads.

The pattern can be purchased HERE.

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