“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...
Tag: Regency
Life is Too Short to Quibble
Ever come across the term “for an elderly lady” when researching antique sewing patterns and designs? Yeah…. So what does THAT mean?? My mom is in her sixties. If you read about a 65 year-old woman in the news you might think that’s an elderly woman. But then I consider my 102 year-old living great-grandmother Read More...
Patterns for the Well-Dressed 19th Century Gentleman
Lest you think we forget our handsome gentlemen around here… Without them where would our Elizabeth Bennet be? What about Molly without her Roger? Or Scarlet without her Ashley AND Rhett? For these dashing men to be appropriately dressed, they must make a visit to their tailor – who probably dressed them to the T Read More...
Trimming a Regency Bonnet – Ideas & Instructions
Jane Austen you say? Lizzy Bennet? A walk to Meryton? The War of 1812? Napoleon and Josephine’s court? If you are at all into the early 1800s you know you can’t dress up without completing the ensemble with a bonnet. (Heck! That’s why those films we swoon over are called “bonnet dramas.”) The Regency Era Read More...
Big Butts of the 19th Century
A recent comment on the Facebook page indicated that the particular poster could not understand why anyone would want to wear something that made their behind big. Mind you, this was on a photo post of a Regency gown. My mind went immediately to my love of dresses from the 1870s and the popular “I Read More...
Building a Dream Regency Wardrobe
Have you ever dreamed of opening up your closet and it’s packed with dresses from another time? Of course you have or you wouldn’t be here reading! Isn’t it fun to dream of silk dresses, wool coats and bonnets? To think of afternoon tea and reading Pride & Prejudice as a contemporary novel? So Read More...
Getting a Clue About Accessories
A fair number of historical costumers I’ve talked with have no problem when it comes to sewing a dress for an upcoming event. They can get the right pattern. And they’ve got the routine down of selecting fabrics. Despite the fitting challenges, after some hard work they manage to produce a creation they love. Then… The Read More...
Deciphering Sleeve Styles of the Regency
Fashionable dress in the Regency years (1795-1820) is full of uncomplicated styles. Although the bodices and skirts are relatively simple to begin with, dressmakers give their own take on basic forms like with a cross-over bodice or perhaps an overskirt. But what’s truly an area of design here is in the sleeves. I mean, how Read More...