Everyone who loves creating historically-inspired garments, at some point or another, will want to improve their skills in the accuracy department. As we are all on various creative journeys, this urge falls upon us at different times and with diverse intensity. For some, the “accuracy thing” hits as soon as we sign up with a Read More...
Ruffle Calculations for Height Differences
Have you ever made up a pattern with skirt ruffles, and then when you saw it on yourself it was, like, “Holy Smokes! I’m drowning in those ruffles! They are way too large for my short height.” Or perhaps you are quite tall and skirts seem never-ending in their length. Then you carefully mount a Read More...
Steampunk from a Victorian Costumer’s Standpoint
Guest Article by Valarie LaBore Editor’s Note: When I first came to know Val she was all into Steampunk. Being hesitant but intrigued with this up-and-coming genre I found myself attending her class on the subject a few years ago at Costume College. This article is her condensed version of that class. First off, Read More...
Top 10 Sewing Tips
Top 10 sewing tips – Ha! We’ve all heard that one before. As if there could only be 10. As if only 10 mattered. As if your 10 would be the same as mine. You may be an experienced dressmaker and have your own Top 10 best tips. That’s awesome! They may be the same Read More...
The Big Scary World of a New Time Period
You keep coming back to it. Over and over. It draws you in with its delicious appearance as a moth to a gaslight flame at a Victorian ball. It calls to you; speaks your name. Torments your dreams…. Ruthless in its pursuit of your desire to make it come to life. That long ago fashion Read More...
Fitting a Victorian Bodice on Yourself
Fitting. Some people can figure it out like that – ‘snap’. Whoo-hoo! Good for them. (It IS one of the biggest mistakes costumers make and getting it right is like Devonshire cream! Divine.) 🙂 The rest of us have to struggle through each mockup as if we were climbing the Cliffs of Insanity with dental Read More...
1886 Pink Bubble Gum Diamonds Dress
Every time a photo of this dress pops up somewhere I get requests for how I made it… you know, all the details like what patterns did I use, what are my fabrics, how much time, etc. Without further delay, here is how I developed this pink bubble gum confection to wear at my first Read More...
How to Flatline a Bodice
Flatlining. No it’s not dying in pursuit of that ultimate dream costume. Neither is it the process of killing your bodice to make it work. Ha! (Although, it feels like it kills us sometimes!) I use the term “flatlining” often when describing this historical sewing technique. It is also called “mounting” and “adding an underlining.” Read More...