What does one do with just over a yard of heavy charcoal colored wool? Hope that there is JUST enough fabric for an 18th Century Short Cloak!
A black lace mantelet is a foolish and fragile thing, one of the most pointless accessories in the history of western fashion. Of course I wanted to make one!
One long piece of white lace trim with a moth-nibbled middle makes… two short pieces of white lace trim! Here’s a tutorial for a pair of 1790s chemisettes – one with ruffles down the front and one without, suitable for any early regency sartorial vibe!
One of my favorite 18th Century costume references is this portrait of Olive Craster by Sir Nathanial Dance-Tolland. I love the puffy blue stomacher bows. I love the enormous pearls worn high on her neck. I love her pet squirrel. But mostly I love the lace mantelet that she is wearing over the top of all of it! When I found this embroidered silk fabric I reckoned it was MEANT. Let’s see if i can make the blonde silk gauze mantelet from the portrait!
Last spring at a workshop, I came across a silk sultana hanging on a peg. I tried it on – and I wanted it. I didn’t NEED one, so of course I immediately went fabric shopping and found a piece of suitable-enough silk shantung – just enough of it for a midnight purple silk sultana.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it another wrapping gown? It’s the Fitting and Proper Chintz Banyan! Let’s talk about how to put it together.
When I was gifted a length of striped linen from Burnley and Trowbridge,I knew just what I wanted to do with it – Burnley & Trowbridge had just released a new pattern, and I would turn my summer fabric into a summery 18th Century linen bedgown!
My first Mrs Sandby Cap was far too respectable – so I sewed another one. With lace. Introducing: the Milkmaid’s Nightmare!
I love the cap patterns from Good Wives Linens. The mid-18th Century Mrs Sandby Cap Pattern makes a very serious lappet cap indeed!
