American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
Ikea Costuming 101 - Making Historical Gowns with Duvet Covers, Curtains, and Sheets
The Italian Gown from "The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking" was made with one LJUSÖGA Queen size duvet cover from Ikea. Accurate printed cottons are very difficult to...
1780-81 Glasgow Polo-Sacque Fiddling
Progress! This past weekend I made a lot of good progress on my version of the 1780 - 1781 Polonaise-Sacque Jacket. I am always so very chuffed by how quickly...
Making A Start: The 1780-81 Glasgow Polo-Sacque Jacket Progress
A quick mockup - feeling excited! At last, and for the first time in 2019, I am sitting down to sew something! The first four months of this year have...
The Curious Polonaise-Sacque Jacket
1780-81 jacket - Glasgow Museums Collection - 1932.51.o January is Costume A-D-D time. A whole new year lies ahead and we are all brimming with project ideas. Some I've even...
A Little History of "Sophie" 18th Century Mules
The Laundress, 1761, by Greuze Mules! (AKA Slippers!) Did you know that mules were incredibly common in the 18th century? Women of all social classes wore them in various materials...
How to Lengthen/Shorten 18th Century Stays
The #1 question we receive about Simplicity 8162 (and will with Simplicity 8579 as well) is how to lengthen or shorten the stays. Particularly with Simplicity 8162, the body block...
CORRECTION - 1780s Cap Pattern - American Duchess Guide
Hi gals! We've been alerted to a flaw in the 1780s cap pattern from "The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking," so before you all tear your pomaded-and-powdered hair...
A New 1780s CandyStripe Italian Gown
Italian gown - The Met - 1785-87 C.I.66.39a-b Well, I just can't stay away from the late 18th century (can you blame me?). There is just so much to be...
The Many Types of 18th Century Gowns
I realized today with the 18th century gowns I have made I have only scratched the surface of how many different types there were. It's easy to fall into the...
V262: Progress on the "Curtain-Along" 1780s Indienne Gown
So far so good - and sleeves that FIT! This project might have been quick if I hadn't spend whole chunks of days not doing a darn thing. At least...
V251: Starting the Indienne Gown, 1780s
With only about a month left until we leave for Williamsburg, I have rather a lot of sewing to do! I was giddy when I found this Indienne print cotton...
V245: Floral Gowns of the 1770s (and a little 1780s too)
Met - 1770s-80s gown, remodeled from c. 1740s silk Happy Saturday! Chris and I have been working overtime packing up Pompadours and white Kensingtons to ship out, so I'm a...