Skip to main content

Posts

What was the last ten years even

 So let me catch the blog up on a massive historical costuming project I'm working on.  I was around +-10 years away from the last time I'd actually done any functional sewing like I used to - most of my wardrobe was made up of circle skirts and Victorian riding pants, the last significant thing I'd made was a test corset that I never made an actual copy of: Finished in 2015, nothing futther happened: Circle skirt and petticoat that was most of my wardrobe 2013: I made Simplicity 1139, this was for myself, another I made for a museum: Here's the least accurate Edwardian outfit: Probably the best thing I ever made: I learned how to crochet: I made this for a museum: I knitted a festive jumper: I started knitting another one: Looks pretty good, if you don't consider this a ten year period of desolation.  With all of that in the dust behind me, I was frustrated and plagued by intrusive thoughts. I decided to map some of the good ones: I put in what I was obsessing over
Recent posts

Oh it's supposed to have a title?

Well Hello to anyone reading this I started this in 2013, one of the worst most devastating years of my life, at that point at least. The year I lost the love or desire to read. I also lost my focus and ability to sew. It's now the tail end of 2022 and I'm actually sewing again. I will allow this as a continuation of this blog (of which the original intent is wow quite abandoned), since I'm still working on historical clothing. I don't think this post is necessary, who gives a flying any way, but for continuity sake tis here.

Cleaning up old scans (how to make the background white)

 Let's say you have a fabulous image you want to print, work with, make a 40m sculpture with (I don't judge), but it has a fantastic, ink/toner eating background: If you have access to Photoshop, or someone who does, the following will be helpful. 1. Open image in Photoshop 2. Add a new Adjustment Layer, Levels, and press OK to confirm 3. Now you are going to select the dropper that will allow you to select the point in the image you want to set as white 4. This may require some clicking around and zooming in, as this piece of scanned paper is not completely even and there will be variations. Sometimes it's perfect, sometimes not so much, but after targeting the remaining areas you can get a point that most evenly sets the yellow to white. Et voilĂ ! You can clean up the image further with a new layer and some white, and it's possible to completely reduce the yellow/colour by adjusting the corresponding colour on the Levels adjustment layer.... but you can also just plop

"Leggins" (gaiters) and riding breeches (1897)

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897)   "Leggins" (gaiters) and riding breeches (1897)    The "leggins" are gaiters, a protective garment covering the shoe and calf - the leggins and breeches blocks are apart of a riding ensemble, the rest of which I omitted. FYI "spats" ("spatter dashes") are indeed basically the lower half of the leggins or gaiters, but they include a strap for under the instep and are to protect from spatters. My sincere good wishes to those attempting the above instructions, I tried and quite failed. That was the beginning of this year though so in all likelihood an attempt at this point would turn out way better. Here's a pic of a failed waistcoat and the breeches I made in the spirit of the design: Awkward photo-self is awkward. You can't see the waistband which is a pity, but there's a side metal zip with a double metal button closure, looks pretty damn good. Es

Capes: cape, half-cape and combination (1897)

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) Capes: cape, half-cape and combination (1897)  

The coaching coat (with sleeve) (1897)

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) The coaching coat (with sleeve) (1897)  

The melon sleeve (1897)

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) The melon sleeve (1897)