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...
Tag: Cotton
Clothing Articles to Make When You’re Just Beginning Historical Costuming
For a newcomer to the world of historical costuming it can seem overwhelming. “Where do I start? What should I make first? What about my hair, my shoes?” Perhaps you’ve sewn a few period things but want to branch into a new time period. You don’t have to be a newbie to feel like Read More...
Fabric Choices for 19th C. Costumes – Part 3 – Cotton
Do you have a type of fabric that just calls to you? You know, the type that even though you’re looking for something completely different in the fabric store you just can’t help walking over to it and reveling in its deliciousness. Yeah, me too. It’s called cotton. Read More...
A Stroll Thru a French Jardin
Fashion Plate from La Mode Illustree, circa 1886 These lovely ladies are wearing such confections I just had to share! Since I don’t have the original magazine issue with the description of the plate I’ll list my own suggestions for how to make these costumes yourself. Read More...
Fabric Choices for 19th C. Costumes – Part 1 – Linen
I think linen is lovely even though I don’t use it much. I’ve had to almost force myself to sew with it. But why? My very first truly historical costume (not counting that blue velvet Italian Renaissance gown or any other Halloween stuff) was an 1880 polonaise courtesy of Past Patterns. You know the pattern. Read More...
Regency Curtain Dress
1813 Embroidered Voile Dress Here’s a look at my last Regency dress made for the Day in Regency England in April 2011. To get the beginning of the project please read HERE and HERE. Read More...
Drapes for Dresses
As a response to the February 2011 article on Regency fabrics, my friend Gina posted on the Facebook page that she didn’t see her curtains mentioned as possible raw material. Ha! Well, here’s where that came from. (And no, I didn’t actually steal her curtains for my project.) Read More...
Fabrics for Danceable Regency Ball Gowns
Ok, I admit I love day wear more than evening dress. This is true for both my historical wardrobe and in my 21st C. life. But when it comes to the invitation to a ball, I have to have *something* to wear to the event, right? With a new year of historical costume events planned, Read More...