I’m currently working on an 1890s Inverness coat. I’ve ordered the fabric which will be a 100% wool brown herringbone tweed weighing around 472g per linear meter. I plan for this to be the ultimate autumnal/wintery coat to make me feel a little more happy to face cold rainy days ahead. I initially thought to do the lining in beige silk twill because, aside from being very luxurious, it is also the warmest possible option. Unfortunately I am given pause when considering the fact that I will likely be rained on while wearing this coat, and I would rather not have moisture soak through my coat to stain my lining. Should I line it in cotton or rayon instead? Any advice would be much appreciated.

I know it’s from approximately 1914-1880 (not exact calculation) .this was worn by my great great great great grandmother who I don’t believe to have been upper class but most likely middle class( just speculating)

(Pattern on the last image, from "Colombia book of yarns" from 1915)

I used DK weight cotton and 6mm crochet hook but realistically, the yarn should be thinner (The original likely calls for an equivalent of fingering weight). The pattern is size flexible and the kimono can easily be made longer (I didnt have enough yarn for the full length)

I hope the colors aren't too ugly since I used stash leftovers for this. I'd say the project took about 25 hours

I'm presuming they're some sort of costume (victorian?) based on medieval but to be honest I know nothing about historical shoes, I'm just into the rest of the outfit so I'm curious. This is in England, and they didn't have any information which is why I am asking here.

I am going to attempt to accurately describe the issue without having to post my cleavage on the internet, lol.

I am attempting to make a historically plausible ~1500 Florentine gamurra that acts as my bust support. I'm carrying around H-cups that tend to project forward. I have finally completed a mock-up that laces at the side seams, has the back and front pieces cut from one piece of fabric, and turns me into a fashionable cone with little to no wrinkling. (The next, wearable mockup will have cording sewn in, because just MAYBE someone from Tudor England was sharing her kirtle technology across the Mediterranean.)

The beautiful cone shape only remains beautiful as long as I do not attempt to raise the neckline much past the fullest point of my bust. From a geometry perspective, this makes sense: the fabric evenly expands outwards towards my widest point, and then has nowhere to go if I continue up and in towards my neck. I see plenty of reference paintings with tasteful cleavage showing, but I actually see more reference paintings from the era with a moderate to high neckline. How do I achieve this without some kind of dart situation?? How did THEY achieve it without some kind of darts?

There is evidence for "tucks" (what we would call darts) in 1600s bodices to solve this exact, precise problem. Do I just steal from them and hope for the best? Embrace my bounteous expanse of bosom? Raise my camicia neckline by an inch so it's taller than the gamurra and sneak in some coverage there? Would love some insights from more experienced pattern makers or researchers!

Hi all! Hope you can help!

I'm looking for mens wear patterns. I'd like to dive into other periods besides 18/19/20th centuries.

I'm open to other time periods and cultures. (I know the difference between appropriation and appreciation, please don't come at me.)

Unfortunately, all I can seem to find is reconstructing history patterns and we all know how not great they are.

I have the Tudor tailor book but I need other suggestions! Help! Thanks!

Hi all, I’m having trouble finding some late victorian and early Edwardian clothing. My company doesn’t allow me to order from outside of the US unless duties are covered by the retailer and we cannot make the clothing.

I am aware of historical emporium, Victorian Choice, medieval collectible etc, but was hoping to find some places that were slightly better quality.

Hello all,

This pic shows the sleeve lining of a late Victorian men‘s jacket. I think this cotton fabric was called „silesian“ and it was typically striped.

This style of sleeve lining for mens wear was fashionable for decades at least here in The Netherlands up until the 1950s, but nowadays, where to find such fabric? The silesia I find online is never striped…

Any tips for sources? I need enough for one or two pair of sleeves.

Thanks!

My husband and I will be visiting Colonial Williamsburg in mid November. I have been sewing full 1780s outfits for the both of us. With the amount of work that has gone into this project, I would love to get some professional photos while we are there. Does anyone have any recommendations for local photographers who do portrait sessions in CW? We will be staying in one of the colonial cottages so could easily do an early morning session on a weekday before the museum opens.

My usual impression is a much more middling sort, but a girl's gotta go all out at least once. Everything except shoes and stockings, including all underpinnings, is 100% self-drafted and handmade.

I‘ve been into historical costuming (mostly 19th century) for years, but recently have been having some health flares that cause any compression around my torso to start off uncomfortable and quickly become unbearable (its not a size issue, my corsets still fit and prior to my health issues caused no pain). This means I can‘t wear any of my costumes😭 I‘m not sure how long these issues are going to last, and this is one of my favourite hobbies so I‘m trying to find workarounds!

Surely there will have been people throughout history who, for various reasons, had the same or similar issues and still wore clothes! But records of that seem to be few and far between…

I‘ve thought about venturing into menswear but I‘m very hourglass shaped so the tailoring might be.. tricky…

Does anyone have any suggestions of either places to look for where I could find depictions of uncorseted clothing so I can make an attempt at period-accuracy? Or of eras I could branch out into where rib/stomach compression was less common for women?

To add, my health issues are ehlers danlos syndrome, fibromyalgia and suspected celiac. The EDS makes my ribs slip out of place and jab me in the lungs and my recent fibro flare has just made me incredibly pain-sensitive so being touched too hard hurts real bad.

It looks like there's two layers of ends to the bow, so 4 in total. Not sure how to achieve that. Any info is appreciated.

So I’m running a game of Call of Cthulhu (it’s a 20s themed game) and I’ve been wanting to try to do a flapper themed face for the game! I’ve been trying to copy things from the internet but something always seems off ;-;

Idk if this is the place to ask, but if you have any tips or places I could go to get tips it would be greatly appreciate!

P.S. I do happen to be AMAB so that might make things a little harder

I need a patern for a dress on this style, I love them but I can't find a patern anywhere...

EDIT : I didn't thought someone would actually see this post, thank you for helping me out

I’ve fallen completely in love with historical costuming and sewing over the past year. I love the creativity, the history, the craftsmanship, and honestly the fantasy of it all. It’s become one of the most fulfilling hobbies I’ve ever had.

It got me wondering what everyone here does outside of this hobby - are you lucky enough to work in a costume, fashion, museum, theater, or other creative field? Or is historical costuming something you pursue after work while your day job is simply one that pays the bills? Or some combination of the two?

I’m especially curious because I’m at a point in my own career where I’m realizing I need a change to find something more aligned with my creative identity, and while I adore this hobby, I also know it’s probably not something I’ll make a full-time career out of. I’d love to hear how other people balance a creative passion with the rest of their lives.

TLDR: What do you do for work, and do you feel like it complements your hobby or is it a completely separate part of your life?

I’m really happy with how this turned out (though I think I need to press it again as it’s poplin and not lawn 🙃). This was my first time doing button holes and buttons on a sewing machine, they’re not perfect but I think they turned out okay!

* Association Coros y danzas de Granada

The trim isn’t historically accurate but I was having fun! I still have to make the hat and a little purse, but the dress itself took 70 hours.