Re: [h-cost] checking on a merchant

2013-02-03 Thread seamst...@juno.com
I have a couple of styles from Fugawee (Martha and Debbie) and they have all been pretty comfortable. I had a pair of their straight last shoes (Connie) and even though I ordered what I thought would be big enough, I probably should have gone another half size bigger. The other two fit well righ

Re: [h-cost] What's your dressmaker​'s dummy wearing today?

2012-03-13 Thread seamst...@juno.com
I'm currently working on a 1910's suit (lot of that going around!) for a Titanic memorial tea party in April. I have completed the hankercheif linen shirtwaist with lace insertions and am now on to making the suit itself which is a blush/cream herringbone in a silk/cotton blend. KarenSeamstrix

Re: [h-cost] Cedar chips/moths

2012-02-24 Thread seamst...@juno.com
I use a couple of tablespoons of whole cloves in those little drawstring organza wedding favor bags in all my boxes of wool/feathers. It seems to work pretty well. There's no staining from the cloves and my clothing has a warm spicey aroma. I'm sure they would work as well for cedar and lavender

Re: [h-cost] Pattern Suggestions

2012-02-09 Thread seamst...@juno.com
I have made the basic 1870's underskirt several times and it is quick and simple to make. http://www.trulyvictorian.net/tvxcart/product.php?productid=81&cat=2&page=1 I have also made the 1871 Day Bodice several times and really like the result. http://www.trulyvictorian.net/tvxcart/product.php

Re: [h-cost] Pattern Suggestions

2012-02-09 Thread seamst...@juno.com
Personally, I swear by Truly Victorian Patterns. I have made a number of them and they have always gone together easily and fit beautifully. They aren't as cheap as the Big Ones, but they are worth every penny (and they aren't that expensive either). http://www.trulyvictorian.com/ Just a satisf

Re: [h-cost] nankeen substitute

2012-02-06 Thread seamst...@juno.com
As I understand it, nankeen was a pale yellow/pale brownish cotton which was originally from naturally colored cotton and then became a term for a sturdy cotton dyed a buff yellow in imitation of the Chinese original (nankeen=nanking). I have never heard it refered to as being a special weave (

Re: [h-cost] marking tools

2012-01-12 Thread seamst...@juno.com
I use a square of tailor's chalk for most of my marking needs. I have also heard of using a piece of old fashion soap (like Ivory) for marking fabric. Karen -- Original Message -- From: "Nordtorp-Madson, Michelle A." To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] marking tools

Re: [h-cost] Converting a Sack Style Men's Dress Coat to a Frock Style Men's Dress Coat

2011-11-04 Thread seamst...@juno.com
I am assuming that you mean a Victorian Frock coat (as opposed to an 18th century American hunting frock). I would think that it would be very difficult to do such a conversion due to the significant differences in basic pattern between the two. For one, a sack suit generally isn't as long in th

Re: [h-cost] Working class pattern

2009-06-19 Thread seamst...@juno.com
I don't think it's necessarily a painting of a real woman. I think it's a painting for an aristocratic audience who likes to think of the peasantry as happy and prosperous so it's an idealized image that may have never actually existed. I believe that the general style is quite accurate but the

Re: [h-cost] Black beads Princess Elizabeth image

2009-06-16 Thread seamst...@juno.com
I was able to see several period pieces of jewelry at the V&A in London and I was interested to note that the diamonds in the pieces really do look black. It's not just an artist's convention. I would probably describe it as a 'smoke' sort of black, not a solid black but it was a far cry from th

Re: [h-cost] London's Hidden Gems

2009-06-08 Thread seamst...@juno.com
I always recommend Sir John Soane's Museum and The Wallace Collection. Karen Seamstrix -- Original Message -- From: Kate Bunting To: "h-cost...@indra.com" Subject: Re: [h-cost] London's Hidden Gems Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 09:15:12 +0100 Not a London expert, but I do know that i

Re: [h-cost] Elizabethan Pair of Bodies for a petite figure.

2009-05-20 Thread seamst...@juno.com
I've found that boning the tabs makes a huge amount of difference in taking the pressure off the waistline and distributing it over more surface area. I've seen really nasty blisters and abrasions (at the RenFaire) from people wearing tight, tabless corsets. We call it 'corset burn'. Of course,

Re: [h-cost] CC27 historical judge talks about workmanship andhistoric al interpretation

2009-05-08 Thread seamst...@juno.com
And this is a perfect example of how documentation can make or break a costume in judging. If you have this in your docs, then the judges know that you are deliberately doing this as a period practice and not as lazy/sloppy construction. I have judged a number of competitions ( including work

Re: [h-cost] Gore training: was: What period/country etc is this tunic ?

2009-02-21 Thread seamst...@juno.com
look but am suspicious of the authenticity of the way it is made/looks. Sg > From: seamst...@juno.com > Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:07:21 + > To: h-cost...@indra.com > Subject: Re: [h-cost] What period/country etc is this tunic? > > That wouldnt be a 'kick pleat'.

Re: [h-cost] What period/country etc is this tunic?

2009-02-21 Thread seamst...@juno.com
That wouldnt be a 'kick pleat'. The tunic probably has a gore(s) set into the side seam. When it's hanging down, it can give the appearanced of a pleat. Karen Seamstrix -- Saragrace Knauf wrote: Ah ha! That was what I thought - thank you. One of the details I am interested in is t