American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
V80: Petersham vs. Grosgrain Ribbon
What is the difference between Petersham and Grosgrain ribbon? Both ribbons are ribbed and have a matte finish, but there is one really big difference, the edge finish. Grosgrain ribbon...
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...
Gussets, Godets, and Gores ... and progress on the 17th c. Jacket
First, the progress - the bodice is sewn together, the sleeves assembled, wings on, and sleeves set in. They still pull the tiniest bit at the shoulders, causing the shoulder...
17th c. Jacket - Progress on the Final
With my client's 17th c. jacket toile back, unpicked, and the pattern altered, I cut into the lovely burgundy wool, and began putting the final piece together, starting with the...
17th c. Jacket: Finished Toile, Round 1
Ah, how lovely it is to have a finished, fitting toile. My client is afraid the toile won't fit her, but as it's in the mail today, we will wait...
17th c. Jacket: Toile-ifications, Round 1
With my dress form "batted" and corseted to my client's measurements, I started working on her pattern. I drafted this pattern with help from a little scribble I made in...
A Dress Form, of the 1 7th Century
Okay, this post isn't very exciting, but I'm excited about, because my brilliant plan is working. My client is all the way across the country, so we will not be...
17th c. Shirt
Last time I posted about 17th c. costume, we were looking at the client's references for 17th c. linen shirts. Well now it's done! lol. I used a simple rectangle-based...
Time Travel: The Baroque Gown at June Gaskells Ball
So what if Gaskell's Ball in Oakland, CA, has a Victorian theme! I wore the Baroque, and loved every minute of it. I'm continually surprised at how comfortable this costume...
The Baroque, AT LAST
My lovely blog readers, you have been so patient in waiting for me to chug through a couple other costumes before returning to The Baroque, but at long last your...
17th c. Costuming
I have taken on a commission (actually 2) for a lovely lady in New Hampshire, who is a 17th century reenactress, and greatly in need of both a shift/shirt/smock, and...