I've been collecting pictorial resources for a few years now of mid 1500's German womens clothing. When I was going through them recently, a particular gown style that I had not noticed before jumped out at me. I discovered three paintings with the same style of gown, and it occurred to me that I had just the right fabric for it in my stash. So ( Read more... )

Finally cut out the fabric for S's coat today, pieced the shoulders together and put the first band of trim fabric over the front and neck. The final effect gives it a soft collar and lapels. Tried it on him when he got home from fight practice and it fits perfectly! I measured him for the sleeves while it was on him, and I will cut and trim them ( Read more... )

Two things actually, S asked for a specific piece of garb. This does not often happen as he knows I won't dress him like a goob, and he's a very easy keeper in general. I know his period, and he trusts me to make him pretty. :0 ( Read more... )

I just sat down and worked out a pattern for the shirt. It will button up the back and have two or three rows of trim to hold the pleats/gathers together in similar fashion to one of Cybille of Cleves shirts. I'm still not convinced that any smocking they may have done to these shirts is visible, although the pleats sure are. I wonder if they were ( Read more... )

I seem to be gravitating towards paintings of Sybille (Cybille, Sibylle) von Cleve (Cleves, Kleve). She seems to be the Kim Kardashian of her era, and it is rumoured that she's the girl that ol' King Henry had the hots for, but got her not quite as good looking sister Anne instead. Drama ensued ( Read more... )

For a single item, there is a LOT going on and many decisions to be made. You only ever see a small portion of it, but it's crucial to the overall look of the gown. Going over artwork of the time reveals a large number of variations and details. Gowns can be nearly identical to one another, but the shirts are not. This is both a good and a bad ( Read more... )

Time to start putting this stuff down in something resembling coherence. :0) I've been stockpiling images and ideas for years now, time to get it all into order - especially as I've now started with some of my patterning and sewing ( Read more... )

Just had a bit of a lightbulb moment. I think I have figured out another period way of doing my hair. All it took was a long piece of string. Seriously, no pins, no elastics, just string. Super simple and resulted in a bit of a 'Well, Duh ( Read more... )

Mini corset was a success ( Read more... )

Too many ideas for things to do ( Read more... )