Do you like red? Have you made any costumes in red? Great! If you have, you have inspired me to take on my own red costume project. I don’t naturally gravitate towards reds. Blues, purples and pinks float my boat. So I’m taking the challenge to put some sort of red costume into my historical Read More...
Tag: Cotton
Tips & Tools to Reduce Stress During Fittings
My arms were growing tired as they twisted up and over my shoulder. I was trying to pin in a new shoulder seam with the bodice front & back sections draped over my shoulder. It’s not easy, though, when that shoulder seam angles from the neckline down to the back of the arm. Sheesh! Of 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...
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...