No, I’m not actually talking about dying or death (although so much of it happened in the early years of this decade because of the American Civil War). I’m also not discussing how a costume project nearly “kills you” in its journey to completion. (ha!) Flatlining in the dressmaking or costuming sense is the technique Read More...
Category: Sewing Tips
Attaching Hooks & Eyes to the edge of a Bodice
It so often seems that after you spend hours on a project that you’re very proud of, you come down to that bodice opening that you dread finishing. You know, ALL those hooks & eye to hand sew on. How many to sew on? How far apart do I place the hooks? Do they need Read More...
Conquering Velvet: 24 Tips to Ease Your Fears of Working With This Majestic Textile
Oh the beauty of luxurious, silky smooth velvet! Oh the headache of trying to make something with it! Most costumers I’ve run into have fallen in love with at least one garment made from velvet. It’s so beautiful. One of my favorites is the burgundy cut velvet one from the Kyoto Costume Institute. Read More...
Demystifying Bustle Skirt Poufs
If you’ve never made a bustle dress they can look quite intimidating. The complicated fabrics swirling every which direction; the tightly-fitted bodice with a tail that floats on the skirt; the trimming that knocks you sideways with its complexity. But under it all are actually some basic shapes. Drill down and that skirt is just Read More...
Stop Wrestling With The Ruffles!
Am I done yet? Ugh! The never ending strip of fabric kept coming over the ironing board edge where I was hunched over pressing and pressing up one long edge for a hem. Have you made a petticoat and just gone crazy with getting the thing decorated with ruffles? Or do you shy away from Read More...
How To Finish Your Skirt Hems For The Most Support
All the Victorians did it. They knew what to do to keep clothes lasting longer. They finagled fabric and thread until it gave them the silhouette they wanted. One of the best things they utilized was the method of using a second or third layer of fabric to stiffen a particular area of a Read More...
Fixing Those Pesky Bodice Necklines So You Don’t Have To Hide Them Under Cameos
“My bodice necklines never ever come together correctly. Maybe I am too much of a perfectionist, but I really hate having to hide them under cameos when they are made to lay flat. One side of the collar always sticks up more than the other because of the thickness of fabrics.” I had asked my Read More...
Where the Dickens is That Pattern List?
The autumn season is creeping up upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere. (Yay!!) And as cooler weather events start being organized and hosted, I’m sure many Dickens’ Fairs will be included. And don’t forget Christmas caroling and outdoor walks through state parks. When I think of these activities with my costume mind I usually Read More...