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...
Tag: Bodice
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...
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...
Avoid the Corset Ridge
If you’ve worn a corset you know it…. THAT LINE! That horrible, awful line. That ridge that sticks out in front of you like a power boat pushing through the water creating a wall of water around its bow. It’s nearly as bad as obvious hoop lines. Ugh… So what can you do next time Read More...
Cleaning & Storing the Costumes We Make
If you’ve been making costumes for any length of time you KNOW the space they take up in the house… the closets… the garage… the bathroom… under the bed… How does a flat bit of fabric suddenly need a stretch limo to take it home? Or its own bedroom to pout in? And what happens Read More...
1887 Summer Berry Trifle Dress
Back in January 2013 I declared it was to be the Year of the Striped and Plaid Bustle Dresses. (Have you participated yet?) During the Fall 2012 session of the Bustle Day Dress Online Class someone had posted a link to striped fabrics over at Farmhouse Fabrics. [insert dream time and drool here…] Through a Read More...
Matching Stripes on a Bodice
Stripes are awesome! (if you don’t know). And they rule fantastic designs throughout the 19th Century. What if you love stripes but the matching part terrifies you? You avoid sewing with beautiful linear patterns because you think the Stripe Matching Game is beyond your reach. I can assure you it’s not. It’s a matter of Read More...
How to Apply Boning to Darts
You may have read a recent article I wrote on boning in bustle bodices. How you HAVE to have boning to keep the shape of bodice in place. Yes. You do. Well, Frank asked the question about just how one applies boning to the front waist darts. “Do you encase the bone in the dart, Read More...