Recent projects (1490s-1890s)

I was updating my dress list and realized that I'd never bothered to post about a lot of my recent projects. Oops. I don't tend to post about smaller projects or ones that I didn't consider interestingly challenging, and as I get more familiar with sewing techniques and eras, there are fewer ensembles I consider …

Resource: Jumps, 1702-1882

Jumps: What, where, when, and why... This is a resource page dedicated to collecting textual references to women's jumps, a somewhat mysterious undergarment of the long 18th century. I have excerpted definitions, translations, news articles, court records, and published books and magazines from 1702-1882. For a general overview of corset terminology, check out The Dreamstress. …

1790s Transitional Stays (and gown!)

I wasn't able to sew much in the past few months, and I've been very productive this week to make up for it! (I'm blissfully ignoring the fact that Costume College is rapidly approaching...) I'm planning to attend a party on Saturday with a very specific dress code: black historical clothing. When I saw the …

1740s-60s Court Suit (Part III)

Back to Prince Adam! It's now mid-winter, and I've finally finished this behemoth of a costume. This blog post will be about making the frock coat and remaining accessories. (As a reminder: this is not historically accurate – I am reproducing the court suit that Prince Adam wears in the last scene of the the …

1740s-60s Court Suit (Part II)

"I hope to finish it this summer!" I said with optimism back in January. (After having worked on it in September 2017 and putting it aside...) Instead, here comes autumn, and this post will be about finishing the waistcoat and starting the frock coat buttons. (As a reminder: this is not historically accurate - I am …

June mini-projects

Some of the smaller projects I've done in the past month or so: two more Redthreaded supports, a plain 1865 summer dress, and a bonus pocket! #1 I had made Redthreaded's Regency long stays before, and wanted to try my hand at the short version (mostly because I foresaw them being easier to get into …

1775 Striped Italian Gown

Finally, an 18th century gown! I started foundation garments for this era two years ago - really, my first foray into historical costuming at all - and then ran up against a big mental block and never cut into my fabric. (It's okay, the fabric wasn't a good choice anyway.) I was invited to Gloria's …

1776 Stays (American Duchess)

I needed a break from a real project, so I picked up a pattern I'd had lying around for ages - the original American Duchess stays pattern, Simplicity 8162. -> My full review, with specifics and advice <- I tried to search around for advice on whether these needed alterations, and found nothing. I remembered …

1740-60s Court Suit (Part I)

Part I - Breeches, binder, shirt, and part of the frock coat. Part II - Waistcoat and fancy buttons Part III - Frock coat &c. So help me God, I saw the new Beauty and the Beast and fell in love. Specifically, with Prince Adam's human outfits. His skirts are all a-twirlin' in that ballroom …