American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
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...
V250: Finished 1770s Parisian Chapeau
Awhile ago I posted a little page of sketches for a late 1770s hat to go with my striped "Parisian Gown." I went out and bought all the materials for...
V220: The Parisian Gown - Finished!
Despite all the trouble this gown gave me, I'm so happy with how it turned out! I certainly learned many a lesson about fabric choice, sleeve construction, and general patterning....
V208: 1770s Chapeau de Paris Sketches
I'm winding down the Parisian Gown (at least the gown part of it), and realize I need an awesome hat to go with it. No ordinary bergere will do -...
V205: Nearing Completion for the Parisian Gown
I've been working holes into my fingers over the past week, trying to complete shiny new costumes for Costume College, the first weekend in August. I have her on my...
V194: More Robe a l'Anglaise Problem Solving
Just getting any idea of final look, with one panel of skirt pinned on, and some trim pinned to the CF - the trim will go around the neckline and...
V190: Progress on the 1770s l'Anglaise
Oooo, fits niiice... LIES! I spent all day yesterday working on this new robe a l'Anglaise, draping, then cutting and stitching. Then correcting. Correcting more. Cursing. More correcting. Ah, if...
V189: Beginning a Robe a l'Anglaise a la Polonaise
I've been procrastinating on, well, everything costume-related, and with Costume College a mere month away, it's time to get down to business with this striped gown. My material - I...
V185: The Polonaise Jacket of Doom and Hell
Du...Du Hast...Du Hast Mich You know those projects that just don't want to be made, and give you trouble all the way through to the violent end? This is one...
V178: 1770s Polonaise Jacket Progress
I haven't been in a super-sewing mood, but I have made a little progress on the polonaise jacket planned for our Colonial Williamsburg trip this coming October. I draped the...
V160: Progress on My 18th c. Pocket...and Then More Pockets!
I've been embroidering on and off since early May, on my first Georgian pocket. I originally used a pattern from Costume Close-Up: Clothing Construction and Pattern, 1750-1790, but decided not...
V149: Taking Stock of Stockings
Those of you who follow me on Facebook will know I've been asking around about stockings. What material, what color you like, etc. Some more questions are to come, but...