Category Archives: Fabric and Patterns

Fabrics and Patterns, Notions and Adornments used within or meant as inspiration for costumes in my first-person history education programs.

The Spontaneous Spencer

The completed project. Isn't it lovely?

The completed project. Isn’t it lovely?

This is a blog I just discovered today, and LOOK AT THE PROJECT completed here!

https://themodernmantuamaker.wordpress.com/2015/03/02/the-spontaneous-spencer/

A gorgeous pale blue dupioni silk Spencer. Absolutely stunning and extremely well-executed, entirely by hand. I cannot praise its maker enough! Oh, to have an excuse to start building a Regency-era wardrobe. Alas, I am still rounding out my late 1890s interpretation collection, so it will be a while…

The Modern Mantua-Maker

This is my entry for February’s Historical Sew Monthly challenge “Blue”. It wasn’t my initially intended entry, which was supposed to be a smart and clever-looking new pale blue wool coat made from a late teens/early 20s pattern I have. However, after doing a muslin and fiddling with it a bit I just wasn’t feeling it. I still hope to make it someday, but I wasn’t feeling totally enthusiastic about it and I think it’s too straight a silhouette for most of the clothes I wear, even though it has a little more flare than most styles from that period.

So, about the middle of the month I decided to completely switch tracks and make something that was nowhere on my sewing list/queue. Very practical decision (please note the sarcasm). I rationalized it to myself by saying that I had intended <someday> to make a new spencer from a piece…

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Hello, Gorgeous!

Hello, Gorgeous!

This pattern, with a few slight modifications, will be the foundation of my Fall/Winter “Best” Dress for Meet Laura Ingalls Wilder presentations. The fabric and notions are chosen, and now comes the long process of muslin mock-ups and several rounds of decision-making. On tap: sleeve volume, cuff width, belt and collar dimensions, “one petticoat, or two?” and “which hat frame will make the best icing on the cake?” I already am in love with it, and have indulged in enough extra yardage to make a special modern-day piece to wear when I’m not portraying Mrs. Wilder. Debut scheduled for September, 2014, but sneak previews will be forthcoming along the way.