OMG – piping! Some costumers cringe even just thinking about piping, others squeal with delight. Or some are simply: “What’s the big deal about piping?” What’s the big deal?!? Well… everything! Piping is THE historical definition of design lines AND the support of seams that receive so much wear & tear. (Remember, our ancestors Read More...
8 Historical Sewing Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making
As we worry about how that seam or hem will come out, we also fret over whether we’re doing it right or not. I say, don’t worry about “doing it right.” Sew your project how you see fit. Use a new technique you’ve read up on. Practice – again- that same step you’re always trying Read More...
Books obtained at Costume College 2014
Every year in my Costume College budget planning I give myself some spending money for books. Because… BOOKS! Some years are rather dry of good resources to pick up; others – too many to narrow down the purchase. This year I managed to find four that needed to come home with me: one that’s been Read More...
1873 Licorice Princess Dress
What is it about black dresses?? Apparently they are very well liked by the general population as I received more compliments on my new evening gown than expected. (Thank you!) And this happens to be, essentially, my first black costume aside from my 1862 cotton mourning dress. So… is it the black, or is it Read More...
Van Dyke Points for a 1830s Dress
“Please tell us how you made those little points!” – This was the general request when I posted the above photo on the Facebook page showing my dressmaking progress on the 1838 Persimmon Puff dress. Now, I have been calling them “teeth” but after some research and useful suggestions from my followers they are van Read More...
Ironing Paper Patterns
Yes, it may sound kinda strange to be ironing patterns… but you really can do it! Although, I only do this on tissue patterns – not the heavy bond paper patterns that are so common amongst independent pattern publishers. But for the Big 4 companies (Simplicity, Butterick, McCall’s and Vogue) and others who publish tissue-printed Read More...
Progress on the *Orange* 1838 Persimmon Puff Dress
Ok, so orange was probably the last color I would have expected to sew with. Well… at least make an entire dress out of. But then I came across THIS DRESS over at the Met Museum’s website. O.M.G. I was (and still am) in love!!! So of course I have to reproduce it…. Read More...
Tips for Working with Fabric Grainlines
We all want our garments to look marvelous. A lot of how they turn out is based on how we cut out the pieces. Their layout needs to work as a team with the weave of the fabric. Cutting patterns on the straight of grain is crucial for the garment to hang correctly on Read More...