1750s , 1760s , 18th century , Accessories , Blog , Cloaks and Mantelets , garment construction , tutorial

Keeping My Ears Warm in Winter – an 18th Century Velvet Hood

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I used my grey boiled wool to make an 18th century short cloak, but the short cloak did not have a hood. How would I be keeping my ears warm? In the 18th Century, the answer for a woman would be a separate hood! I had some black cotton velvet in my stash, so I reckoned this would be easy – I would make myself a mid 18th Century velvet hood to go with my Burnley and Trowbridge Short Cloak!

18th century , Accessories , Blog , Cloaks and Mantelets , fabrics , garment construction , pattern review , ruffleruffleruffle , tutorial

A Blonde Silk Gauze Mantelet

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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!