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How to Scale Up Gridded Sewing Patterns with Adobe Photoshop

How to Scale Up Gridded Sewing Patterns with Adobe Photoshop

If you've been into historical costuming for any amount of time, you will be familiar with many a book featuring gridded (or scaled) sewing patterns. The Tudor Tailor, Patterns of...
Lauren Stowell
The State of the Book (2) Address

The State of the Book (2) Address

Abby works on Cynthia's (Redthreaded) hair while I photographs each step for "The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Beauty," coming July 2019. Hi! I've been a pretty terrible blogger...
American Duchess
The 7 Stages of Piecing

The 7 Stages of Piecing

There are very few historical projects I've made over the years that have gone totally smoothly. In fact, I can think of one. Every other gown I've made, and a...
American Duchess
Book Signing Soiree at Lacis Museum of Lace & Textiles

Book Signing Soiree at Lacis Museum of Lace & Textiles

This past weekend we popped over The Hill down to Berkeley to visit on of our favorite shops *ever* - Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles. We were honored to...
American Duchess
The Creature Reborn - Retrimming the Pink Polonaise

The Creature Reborn - Retrimming the Pink Polonaise

Once upon a time I made a pink taffeta polonaise and trimmed it in organza, a very 1770s thing to do. At the time, I tried hand roll hemming and...
American Duchess
1765 Robe a la Bon Bon - Progress on the Gown

1765 Robe a la Bon Bon - Progress on the Gown

The sacque back is looking swell I've been sewing on-and-off on my new sacque for a few weeks now. I only have the weekends to fiddle these days, but luckily...
American Duchess
1760s Robe a la Bon Bon - The Petticoat

1760s Robe a la Bon Bon - The Petticoat

Finished sacque petticoat over pocket hoops I've been steadily progressing on my new sacque, using the Simplicity 8578 Robe a la Francaise pattern we released December 2017. Since I already...
A *New* 1760s Robe a la Bon Bon (or Sacque-a-Macarons?)

A *New* 1760s Robe a la Bon Bon (or Sacque-a-Macarons?)

I have a confession to make. I admit to feeling quite jealous whenever I see Abby dressed in the pink and white 1768 sacque from The American Duchess Guide. To...
American Duchess
What is an 18th Century Milliner / Marchande de Modes?

What is an 18th Century Milliner / Marchande de Modes?

La Marchande des Modes (The Modiste) - Studio of Francois Boucher - c. 1746. Wallace Collection When you're just starting off in the world of 18th century dress, terminology can...
American Duchess
2017 - Costuming Year in Review

2017 - Costuming Year in Review

Jane Austen Festival, 2017. Photo by Tony Tumbusch. It's that time - that year-end-year-beginning-blog-post time. This year I feel I was a terrible blogger. One of the side effects of...
CORRECTION - 1780s Cap Pattern - American Duchess Guide

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...
American Duchess
{Video} Wherein Lauren & Abby Get Racked

{Video} Wherein Lauren & Abby Get Racked

...or Racked gets Lauren'd & Abby'd. ;-) In early December, Abby and I took our annual trip to New York City to do *all the things.* One of the things...
American Duchess