A month ago a Facebook post on Elizabethan Costume showed me some inexpensive* shoes (non-affiliated link) that looked very similar to cutwork shoes found in period. The price was right, but they came in only one color: white. I ordered 2 pairs, not seeing the FB thread till much later about sizing up (and again if you… Read More 16th Century Shoe Hack: Painting Shoes
16th-Century Handsewn Silk Sleeves This week I finished the silk sleeves, yay! The last few steps ended up being very fiddly, as I needed to change the curve of the underarm section of the armscye and take it in by an inch. The last few steps ended up being very fiddly. I needed to change… Read More WiR: Hand Sewn Silk Sleeves Done!
The main project this week was revising my 16th-century sleeve pattern and making up a pair of test sleeves. I was not happy with how my sleeves turned out in the caramel wool petticoat bodies. Some of that was from how thin and lightweight the fabric was, and some of it was from the pattern… Read More WiR: A Pair of 16th Century Silk Damask Sleeves
This week I unearthed some unfinished projects while “Cleaning” aka where did I put my photo box? How could it have vanished? I’ve looked in that box three times now and I’m running out of places it could be. That is the problem when I clean, I put things in a safe place and never find… Read More Hand Sewn Red Linen Hose
This post is a tiny bit misleading, I’m smooshing together last week’s missing review in with this week. I was sick last week and while I sat at the laptop with the Edit Post tab open it, it just wasn’t happening. (After typing the week that many times in a row the word has lost… Read More Week in Review: Silk Pincushion and Bobbin Lace
This week I finished pad stitching the silk taffeta kirtle interlinings and basted the outer fabric in place. I popped it on the dress form with pins holding it together to see how it looked. The 3 layers of canvas at the front (which may be overkill) plus the pad stitching gives it lots of… Read More Week in Review: Silk Taffeta Kirtle and Passementerie
Let’s just get this out of the way first, silk damask photos: These will be turned into sleeves, purses, and pouches for the Etsy shop. Sewing This is prototype pouch version one, it is lined in silk taffeta and decorated with handmade silk tassels. I’m still deciding… Read More Week in Review: Worked on the Taffeta Kirtle – Organize Costume Projects and Silk
Sewing The black silk taffeta kirtle is coming along, I pad-stitched the bodice fronts and got the bodice lining cut out and I have a black linen blend for the skirt. I usually don’t line the skirts, but the taffeta is lightweight, so the lining will give it a nice drape. Accessories I’m dusting off… Read More The Week in Review – May 5th 2017
Based on a few different museum pieces I did a mock-up/prototype for a 16th-century pocket. These were worn under skirts, much like their 18th-century descendants. This is version 1, which I made a little roomier for our modern day needs. It will fit a phone, money and other often necessary items. It is all… Read More 16th Century Pocket Prototype