Sewing project: 18th century shirt

[luzula]

I am dogsitting at my parents' house for a few days, and they have a sewing machine. So I am taking this opportunity to make an 18th century shirt (inspired by garonne's similar project). It's been ages since I did any sewing, and I'm really enjoying it! I have lovely soft drapey white linen, and my shirt will have the floofiest sleeves ever to floof. Pictures to follow.

Poll #26425

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 23

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Should the cuffs of my shirt have...

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Ruffles made of the same cloth as the shirt.
2 (8.7%)

Lace ruffles such as the shirt of Ewen Cameron's court dress clearly has ("And with his free hand he tucked his lace ruffle out of the way." The better to do his swordfighting, of course...)
14 (60.9%)

A combination! You should do cloth ruffles with a narrow border of lace.
6 (26.1%)

No ruffles. Show some restraint, why don't you?
1 (4.3%)

Comments

[sanguinity]

I also suggest ruffles of a lighter and stiffer fabric than the shirt. (Am I recalling than my historical sewing person used organza? Whatever it was, I think it was light enough to require a rolled hem, which thence stiffened it. Of course, a rolled hem requires that many more hand stitches...)

[luzula]

Hmm. Is this suggestion for the ruffles on the front? As a first step, I guess I will experiment with the bits I've got left of this fabric, but I'll keep the suggestion in mind, if it doesn't look right!

[sanguinity]

Yes, a suggestion for ruffles on the front! This video is what I was thinking of, which uses a light cotton organdy. I thought it was a very nice look.