historical costuming

Roman Garb for SCA

I discovered my area's SCA group last summer and started going to their weekly meetings around the end of the year. I'm lucky - our local...

Apr 27, 2023

Utilitarian Edwardian Combinations

Sometime last summer, having finished my 1890s corset, but not started planning the corresponding wardrobe, I bought a pattern for...

Apr 13, 2023

Blue Lace-Up Bodice

I have, once again, been long absent from this blog and from sewing. I moved rather suddenly in August (like toured one day and moved in...

Dec 2, 2022

Making the DAR Vest

At some point in 2020 or 2021 (it's all a bit of a blur these days) I bought myself Fig Leaf Pattern's DAR Museum vest pattern. I finally...

Apr 28, 2022

More Regency Reticules

When I went through my fabric stash at the end of 2020, I rediscovered two pieces of polyester brocade - one in a blue/brown pattern and...

Jan 19, 2022

Late 1890s Corset Part 4 - Flossing & Wrap Up

Part 1 - Research & Resources Part 2 - Mockups Part 3 - Construction My 1890s corset is finally constructed and wearable, but it's not...

Jul 22, 2021

Regency Ribbon Bodices

I found the image to the left on Pinterest ages ago and fell in love with the idea of an over-bodice made of ribbons. Eventually (read:...

Jul 8, 2021

Late 1890s Corset Part 3 - Construction

Ok, so my corset quietly slipped from being a "work in progress" to an "unfinished object" sometime during March and April, mostly...

Jul 1, 2021

"Whatever Shall I Wear?" Review

"Whatever Shall I Wear? A Guide to Assembling a Woman's Basic 18th Century Wardrobe" is exactly what the subtitle says it is - a solid...

Jun 10, 2021

"Household Sewing with Home Dressmaking" Review

If you spend enough time in online costuming communities, you will inevitably hear about Bertha Banner, author of "Household Sewing with...

May 27, 2021

Making a Regency Bonnet

With the underthings and classic white dress for my Regency wardrobe done, I can focus on expanding my wardrobe with accessories! Several...

Apr 22, 2021

Late 1890s Corset Part 2 - Mockups

Pattern Selection I had my heart set on a Symington pattern from the start (because heaven forbid we make things easy on ourselves), and...

Mar 11, 2021

A Pair of Pieced Pockets

One of my sewing goals for 2020 was stash-busting (yeah, I started this a few months ago). Making a pair of pieced 18th century pockets...

Feb 11, 2021

Late 1890s Corset Part 1 - Research

As I mentioned in my 2021 goals post, my big, year-long project is a late 1890s corset! Given that my last (and so far only) foray into...

Jan 28, 2021

Sewing a Regency Gown Part 5: Photos and Inspiration

Part 1: Drafting the Bodice Part 2: Sewing the Bodice Part 3: The Skirt Part 4: The Sleeves I've been thinking about, researching,...

Oct 8, 2020

Sewing a Regency Gown Part 4: The Sleeves

Part 1: Drafting the Bodice Part 2: Sewing the Bodice Part 3: The Skirt Going into this, I want you to understand that everything I know...

Sep 23, 2020

Sewing a Regency Gown Part 3: The Skirt

Part 1: Drafting the Bodice Part 2: Sewing the Bodice As I neared the end of the bodice drafting process, I realized that I had to figure...

Sep 17, 2020

Sewing a Regency Gown Part 2: Sewing the Bodice

In Sewing a Regency Gown Part 1, I drafted the bodice pattern for my quintessential white Regency dress. Now, I can go over construction!...

Sep 3, 2020

Sewing a Regency Gown Part 1: Drafting the Bodice

I've been planning to sew a basic white Regency dress since 2016. I started blogging about my plans in 2017. In 2020, and in the midst of...

Aug 27, 2020

A Regency Re-do

Several years ago (possibly 2014) I took my first foray into historical costuming and made a vaguely Regency-era dress using a dark green...

Aug 6, 2020