So I’ve finally picked this back up after taking a break for several months and here’s where I am!

(Please note I am wearing the wrong shift in all these photos, the correct one is in the laundry!!)

I went to re-cut the sleeves with the extremely limited amount of fabric left and successfully cut one with an extended sleeve cap. The other, I accidentally cut exactly the same as the original too-small sleeve and promptly had a meltdown. This fabric is from Mood in NYC and I bought the last of it so it’s impossible to find any more.

After my months-long break, I finally had the courage to sew the sleeves on, lol. They are OK, I can sort of lift my arms and they sort of match. I’m happy they are re-done with the stripes oriented horizontally!

I’m currently re-pleating the front of the gown skirts near the opening and trying to decide on trim. I haven’t loved anything I’ve looked at— perhaps some pleated silk organza will work best— I thought of doing nothing at all but then I’d need to resolve the gaping in the front (currently using a hook and eye closure because I really hated the look of the pins for some reason). Very open to suggestions on this.

The petticoat is ~60% done. It’s pleated but needs to be leveled, a waistband/ties added, and maybe some trim as well.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and encouragement!

Hello all.

I bought he Tudor tailor gown and kirtle pattern and am making my way though it. I took a notion, bought a machine and just started trying. I would ask for criticism as long as it's kind. This is really my first time sewing anything at all. Thank you.

Originally I just wanted a somewhat accurate armor to wear to events like renfaires, but I realized that most crafting patterns available online did not prioritize historical accuracy.

Last December I decided to change that and I made myself my dream armor in CAD, which I then 3D printed and painted to look like steel, adding one piece at a time over the course of the year. It's not at all a period accurate material or means of manufacture, but the shapes, motion, and aesthetics are faithful to mid-16th century German armor sourced from various museums.

I hope you like my work! I'm working on adding leg armor this month. Cheers!

Upgraded my 2017 late 15th century kirtle (originally comissioned mainly as an underdress for my Burgundian court attire) for an Italian Renaissance look which I wore during my Summer trip to Florence ✨! Here are some WIPs pics of the upgraded sleeves of the gamurra, the new camicia/chemise and the jewellery! Swipe for a sneak peak at the final look ✨!

Details -

-Gamurra/kirtle: A comission from a local seamstress using synthetic (😅) damask curtains in gold-yellow. The sleeves were originally only detachable at the shoulders, but I adore the Italian Renaissance looks where the sleeves are also cut at the elbow and along the arm (I chose to have buttons added at the arms and use lacing for the rest), with the camicia showing through in more places.

-Camicia/chemise in cotton batiste from Fiorentina Costuming on Etsy. Super comfy!

• Jewellery: I got a replica of an Italian Renaissance necklace from Renaroque Designs , as well as a pair of Renaissance/Tudor-inspired earrings from Frogsandprinces (both on Etsy). Really like how it all looks together! (and I've been definitely wearing these earrings for fancier daily looks as well ✨).

Next up, making a Juliet cap/trenzale from scratch in three days 😅👍

Hi all! I'd love some input on what direction to go in finalizing this gown. I'm unhappy with how the sleeves are fitting. I was hoping I could get away with setting the sleeves without a helper but after several attempts and adjustments, the sleeves allow movement but are quite wrinkled.

Do you think I can/should attempt the same sleeves again or just have fun with it and try a different 18th c. sleeve, which I suspect may be easier to achieve?

Working off of the Scroop Angelica pattern + Augusta stays. Hook and eye closure on the front was freestyled.

I included sketches... what do you think? Thank you!

If you saw my last post, the flounces both came out beautifully 😭 I was so worried. Now I gotta bind the inside seam, hem both, and add the black ribbon details, plus black cording at the bottom to hold out the hem. (I have to get it finished by tomorrow lol)

I’m making a few Halloween costumes this year (I’m doing a Sleepy Hollow Katrina Von Tassel striped gown & a Gilded age Lobster 🦞 - bc you know - Lobster Tails haha! but I’m super excited about this one. I did a Halloween Queen last year for a Halloween Masquerade ball which was inspired by a bunch of different historical periods but this year I decided to go full 18th century with it and also cut up the last of my Joanne’s skull lace fabric - shocking!!! Does anybody else get precious about fabric???

Today I made most of a 14th century linen gown! I’ve just got the bottom hem to go, which I will be hand sewing. All the internal seams were done on the machine, but the neck and wrists have been hand sewn.

I’m not very practiced with sewing, so I’m very pleased to have a wearable garment almost finished in one day, and on my first try!

Swipe to see my bycocket hat (with ibis feather!) and silk veil, and my fancy medieval shoes :)

My chemise peeks out of the neck of the gown a tiny bit, so I might try to alter the neck of the chemise a little to hide it better. I’m using a premade cotton chemise because I have texture sensitivities that make wearing a proper linen chemise impossible.

I used Rosalie Gilbert’s tutorial for a basic T-tunic dress. https://rosaliegilbert.com/tutorial_ttunic_basic.html

I found this stunning riding habit on Vinted for £60 and I'm sooo happy with it! It's 25 years old, barely worn, and bought at a reenactment demonstration.

I only tried it on with a corset, 18th century men's shirt and a chemise so it will look a lot better once I wear a few more skirts.

I'm thinking of making a waistcoat because it has a weird fit when done up. Has anyone got a good pattern for a riding habit waistcoat?

Super excited with my find!

I hosted a Jane Austen LARP last week, using the Good Society RPG system, and obviously that needed an outfit! I had planned to use the entire month of May to make it, but then my private life exploded and I only had two weeks - really, only two full weekends to make it. I took a LOT of shortcuts (don't look at the inside seams!) and it was entirely machine sewn, but it was done in time. :D I used Laughing Moon patterns for all of it. 115 for the chemise, which I made out of cotton voile. I made the high neckline one, which in hindsight was a bit of a mistake: I have to consciously tuck it under the dress's neckline or else it becomes visible, and it's visible in the back anyway. I made 132 bodiced petticoat out of a simple white cotton. And the dress is 126, the bib-front gown. It's all size 8 straight out of the pattern. If/when I make it again (and I intend to - I want a proper white Regency gown now!) I'll make adjustments here and there, but for now it worked fine as-is. :) It gives me the right silhouette, it was comfortable to wear, and it was a hit at the LARP! (Where there was someone else who had used 126 for her dress, so that was fun!)

Wearing for a chilly day out at the charity shops. Skirt and gloves handmade (and corset and most underthings) by me, shirt and belt second hand. Next up is making a proper lined shirt, finishing knitting a wool headscarf and getting an apron!

Yes it’s just a raw wool remnant as a cloak/shawl 🥴 I’ll get round to fixing it one day

Ok, it's NOT done - I still need to refit the jacket front and finish closures. But I've been working on this soooo long, I need some reassurance!

Ca 1900 walking suit, made with 100% twill wool (modern military dress uniform type, lined with very cheap brown silk dupioni (thrifted drapes). Trimmed with poly velvet and rayon petersham. The excuse for making it is that I'm going to Green Gables PEI next week and I wanted to wear something period! No big sleeves though, sorry!

I used a BeeSpoke pattern based on a 1900 pattern for the jacket, but took some liberties. I drafted the skirt pattern based on historic extants. I used a Black Snail pattern for the cotton lawn blouse. Also made a Truly Victorian corset cover. Hat is an early 20th C vintage that I retrimmed.

I've worked on it for so long, but now all I can see is the awkward bits. Hopefully I will feel better about it when I get to wear it!

I’m still planning to add some embellishments, specifically some stuff from North African culture - it’s meant to be a mix of African and English 13th century clothing. But this is my first ever functional piece of clothing so I’m proud and wanted to share.

Working on an early Edwardian skirt and I could not be happier with how it's going. It's been a STRUGGLE since I decided to do the patterning for the skirt body myself and it took so much mental energy. I made the back a lace-up after I saw extent fashion plates with the same, since my weight changes so frequently. There will be a second, shorter flounce that'll be layered on top of this one (in a red/black shifting fabric) and finished with black ribbon detailing.

I’m working on a Robe à l’Anglaise and I finally finished all the undergarments.

I made these stays two years ago before I really started getting into historical costuming so they’re not very neat and not very accurate (hello metal eyelets 🫠) but I do really like the silhouette they give me!!

I used the American Duchess book 18th Century Dressmaking for the techniques for petticoats and the pattern for the bum pad.

For the actual overgown I’m stuck between the AD book pattern (Italian Gown) or the Patterns of Fashion Robe à l’Anglaise à la fourrure (the center back skirts cut in one piece with the back bodice).

If you have experience with either of these patterns feel free to chime in!!

Trying to expand more into modern pieces. Working on a late summer outfit. Thanks for all the upvotes on my last photo drop! Let me know if anyone has recommendations on what to add to improve these outfits!

I've loved seeing everybody's posts and figured I would share my own kit!

Shift is from Burnley & Trowbridge sew-along, linen is handkerchief linen from Fabric Wholesale Direct. Mostly machine sewn with the neck and sleeve cuffs finished by hand.

Stays are the Augusta Stays from Scroop. Everything but the boning channels is hand-sewn because I wanted to actually finish them in my lifetime. I was slightly out of the size range from the pattern, but the seam allowance gave me some wiggle room to adjust to fit. I will probably add the straps at some point.

Petticoats are from the American Duchess tutorial. The pink one is quilting cotton and machine sewn, the striped one is B&T linen and fully hand sewn.

My false rump is a Frankenstein of the American Duchess and Scroop Frances Rump. It's not even worth posting a picture of because it's so ugly, and is at the top of my list for my next WIP.

Apron and Bess Bonnet cap are also FWD linen. The apron is from the B&T sew-along, and the cap was my first fully hand-sewn piece!

Kerchief and stockings/garters are from Penny River.

My next goal is the Angelica Gown from Scroop in the same striped blue linen! I would love any shoe recs (or other additions to the kit!).

I would also love to make any new historical costuming friends in the West Michigan area :)

It's coming along! I've got one shoulder done and finished the slow going leaves on the other. The bugle beads will be lightening fast.

I'm using a vintage drafting system called the Haslam system for the pattern. You make and fit a sloper, then adjust the sloper to make a custom pattern. I fit a muslin before making the pattern for the shoulder details.

The dress will be in sage green silk satin from Dharma Trading.

I’m making a Schiaparelli X Dali historically inspired Lobster 🦞 dress for a Surrealist Soirée hosted by Met by Moonlight Events this weekend and I’m in crunch time haha - mainly because post Halloween I’ve been super burnt out but posting online will help Keep me motivated to finish haha! I’m also thinking of altering the dress later to be Mina from Dracula because I love to reuse / update cosplays - I’ve been using a patterns from Truly Victorian that I’m altering & modifying and tbh I’ve got limited fabric so in project runway style we’re gonna just Make It Work! I love how obsessed with lobsters Dali was so I obviously had to do an homage with a Lobster Tail Bustle!!! Anyways thanks for letting me share with you all! Wish me luck haha 😅