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V80: Petersham vs. Grosgrain Ribbon

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...
American Duchess
17th c Jacket - Empty Nesting

17th c Jacket - Empty Nesting

It's done. It's beautiful. I'm proud. It's shipped.
American Duchess
17th c. Jacket - Light at the End of the Tunnel

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...
American Duchess
Gussets, Godets, and Gores ... and progress on the 17th c. Jacket

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...
American Duchess
17th c. Jacket - Progress on the Final

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...
American Duchess
17th c. Jacket: Finished Toile, Round 1

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...
American Duchess
17th c. Jacket: Toile-ifications, Round 1

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...
American Duchess
A Dress Form, of the 1 7th Century

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...
American Duchess
Tagged: 17th Century
17th c. Shirt

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...
American Duchess
Time Travel: The Baroque Gown at June Gaskells Ball

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...
American Duchess
The Baroque, AT LAST

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...
American Duchess
17th c. Costuming

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...
American Duchess
Tagged: 17th Century