This week on Costume Analytics we are taking a look at an extant garment from the 1780s. This little jacket is known as a “casaquin,” a short jacket usually pleated at the…
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1940s Evening Gown in Progress
I have mucho to update you all on, and I’m having difficultly deciding where and which project to start with! See, it’s one of *those* months, in which way too many things…
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American Duchess Designs on Garmz.com
Special thanks to Lady Carolyn Runnells, who sent me a link to this snazzy new website, called Garmz.com, I think you should *all* take a look at. It’s a website for clothing…
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Costume Analytics: 1770-80 Chintz Caraco & Petticoat
This week on Costume Analytics, we’ll be looking at everyone’s favorite caraco-petticoat ensemble, from the V&A. A beautiful example of a matching jacket and skirt, this English ensemble is made up in…
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Pattern Grading, Not For the Faint of Heart
The dining table in all its glory I just finished a bit of an assignment that is quite literally the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my entire seamstering…
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Stays – Olympe’s Test Stays Complete
I’ve learned SO much while working on these stays, and much shall change in the final pattern. They’re to be mailed off to Olympe today, for a fitting, and we’ll go from…
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Costume Analytics: Marie Antoinette’s Dove Grey Riding Habit
Welcome to “Costume Analytics,” where we take a close look (or as close as possible) at scintillating costume pieces from portraits, movies, and museums, and break down what they’re made of, how…
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Cranach and Holbein and Durer, Oh My…
“Judith Victorious” Cranach, c 1530 Something I’m thinking about, but I’m not *sure* about right now. I’ve had an itch, a tiny only mildly itchy itch, for some years now, that I…
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Staycation – More Progress on Olympe’s Test Stays
The tabs on the right are bound, but not on the left. Also to come – eyelets, bindings, and ribbons for the straps. Some more progress on the test stays for Olympe.…
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Staying Put – Olympe’s Test Stays, and Moving
More work on the test garment that will help me fit Olympe’s stays. I’ve installed all the boning as well as the grommets (to be covered in threads in the future). I’ve…
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Happy Autumn from American Duchess
In honor of the turn of seasons, enjoy this autumnal new background from ShabbyBlogs.com. And just for extra Autumy celebratory entertainment, here’s a poll: What is your favorite period for historical costuming?Market…
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Olympe’s Stays – Overnight Stay
The boning channels, stuffed. I should have taken more care to cut the peach jacquard in a way more, well, thought through, but as a mock-up garment it was not the priority.…
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Olympe’s Stays – Mock-Up Progress
The blue line at the waist indicates where an additional tab will be cut, after installing the bones. Ah, lovely progress on Olympe’s stays this evening – well, the mock-up in any…
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The Problem With Sewing for Other People
This is a blog, a place where I can post my dress progress, what’s going on in my life, what I’m working on, places I’m going…and also a space in which I…
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The Stays That Bind: Olympe’s 18th c. Stays
Starting a new project, a pair of stays, a commission for Olympe. Olympe’s materials – cream jacquard, yellow linen, and the stays shall be interlined in canvas They will lace at the…
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18th Century Notebook
This just in, from Demode (which means most of you already know about this): The 18th Century Notebook A vast and huge consolidation of 18th c. clothing from across the webiverse. There…
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Happy Friday
Happy Friday to my international sewing, seamstering, and seriously silly pals! And if it’s not Friday where you are anymore, then happy Saturday. Either way, have a cupcake :-).
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17th c Jacket – Empty Nesting
It’s done. It’s beautiful. I’m proud. It’s shipped.
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Mad Miss L
Today, a fellow member of the Great Basin Costume Society, Stacy Ferguson-Standstedt, GAVE me a handmade, home-made vintage dress her grandmother made waaaay back in I’m guessing the 1950s, by the looks…
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17th c. Jacket – Light at the End of the Tunnel
Ha HA! I see light at the end of the tunnel! It wants buttons and buttonholes, and to turn up the hem. Then I shall lovingly place her into a box, tape…