To Sew, or Not to Sew: The Vintage Housecoat Edition

I don’t know what the evening weather has been like in your neck of the woods but around here it has been positively delicious — not too hot, not too cold, soft breezes and the sounds of crickets and frogs in the air — just perfect. Mr. Beguiles and I have taken to having a little cocktail out on the back porch after the little ones have been tucked safely into their beds and I’m savoring each and every evening we have left before the oppressive summer heat descends. It occurred to me that it wouldn’t hurt to have a vintage housecoat on hand for these quiet outdoor evenings. No, I don’t think it would hurt at all, in fact. The only problem? Those lovelies are expensive! Like a $200-700 kind of expensive! So I’m thinking of making one myself. Am I crazy? I think I might be crazy.

I did find these two great sites that have adorable vintage lingerie patterns…

http://www.oldpatterns.com/robes.html

http://www.grandmashouse.ws/patterns/vintageLingerie.html

…but I’m just not sure I’m brave enough. Sewing a vintage housecoat sounds hard. The pattern I have my eye on does say “easy to sew” but it’s my understanding that “easy to sew” meant something quite different back in the day than it does now. Those gals knew their way around a sewing machine! Their Mamas made sure of it…or so I hear.

So what say you, girls? (I’m trusting you to have my back here.) Should I attempt it or should I play it safe and stick to stealing Mr. Beguiles’ warm jersey robe? It’s definitely cozy, and it smells like him which is a definite plus, but it’s just not very pretty. And we can’t have that, can we ladies?