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Finished Vintage Dress UFO #1 - Simplicity 8248

Finished Vintage Dress UFO #1 - Simplicity 8248

Simplicity 8248 1930s day dress with alterations. Reader, I must admit I am *terrible* at finishing UFOs - "unfinished objects." I have two sewing mindsets: I want something quick, easy,...
American Duchess
Coming Up: LIVE Youtube Q&A with Lauren - Covid-19 and Small Business

Coming Up: LIVE Youtube Q&A with Lauren - Covid-19 and Small Business

Hi everyone, I will be going live on Youtube on **Monday, April 13th at 10 am PDT** to talk about Covid-19, small business, and how we've been affected. You can...
American Duchess
Tagged: Videos youtube
Spring Cleaning 2020 SALE!

Spring Cleaning 2020 SALE!

It's that time of year again...Spring Cleaning! In the midst of all the madness you may be sewing up a storm. Even though all the events and shows are cancelled,...
American Duchess
Tagged: Shoes
#ADCapeCult - Free 1910s Cape PDF Pattern!

#ADCapeCult - Free 1910s Cape PDF Pattern!

Free 1910s Cape Pattern - click here! Hi! If you've been following us on Instagram you may have seen the explosion of capes. We've released a free PDF gridded pattern...
American Duchess
History is Cool: 1890s Belle Epoque Linen Summer Blouse

History is Cool: 1890s Belle Epoque Linen Summer Blouse

Hi all! Well, during this crazy time in human history I managed to start and actually finish one (1) project, an 1890s summer shirtwaist made in lovely white linen. I've...
American Duchess
American Duchess on Youtube!

American Duchess on Youtube!

Hi all! Well, in light of recent and ongoing events, we're all at home making lots and lots of Youtube videos. It's a good way to help keep the costuming...
American Duchess
Tagged: videos youtube
Podcast Episode 28: Merging Royal Vintage & American Duchess

Podcast Episode 28: Merging Royal Vintage & American Duchess

Yay! Welcome back to a whole new season of podcastery! It's been awhile since we've done podcasts, but we get a lot of requests for them, so we thought we'd...
American Duchess
Review: Vecona Vintage Three-Piece Ladies' Suits

Review: Vecona Vintage Three-Piece Ladies' Suits

Sporting the Vecona Vintage "Viktoria" three-piece suit in grey wool blend, in Portugal. Anyone who follows my personal Instagram page (@lauren_stowell) will know I'm a *big fan* of menswear, particularly...
American Duchess
The 1630 Thang - Finishing the Bodies

The 1630 Thang - Finishing the Bodies

Dayum she looks good! 1630 Dutch formal basque bodice with ribbon points. It's been a few weeks since I started the yellow and black bumblebee-lobster bodice/bodies/smooth-covered stays for my 1630...
American Duchess
The 1630s Dutch Thang - Badonk-a-donk, Petticoat, and Starting the Bodies

The 1630s Dutch Thang - Badonk-a-donk, Petticoat, and Starting the Bodies

Just playing around with pinning things on my dress form Now into the making up! I've been stitching on my big 1630 project and quite enjoying the process. There's enough...
American Duchess
The 1630 Dutch *Thang* - Beginnings

The 1630 Dutch *Thang* - Beginnings

A still from "Tulip Fever" (2017) - outstanding costuming by Michael O'Connor. As so often happens, after a no-sew period of downtime and feeling phlegmatic about costuming, I was struck...
American Duchess
18th Century Printed Cotton Do’s & Don’t’s

18th Century Printed Cotton Do’s & Don’t’s

A beautiful printed cotton gown, 1785-95. The Met. A very condensed version of this essay, without pictures, appears in The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking. Because there is...
American Duchess