What We Did When The Power Went Out (Sewing In Walden)

 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 voilà! 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...

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...

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

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

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

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) The double-breasted coat (1897)

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

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

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) Double-breasted jacket (1897)  

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

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) One-seam sleeve (1897)  

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

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) Double-breasted cutaway jacket (1897)  

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) Double-breasted vest (1897)     I made this one myself. It really is a vest, one that really ends at your waist. Also the shoulder seam is really interesting, it doesn't sit like modern designs, it's more on the back side. I battled a lot with the instructions, I often cannot understand the terms used and their meaning is often taken for granted, so a vague understanding of what measurement is needed can be useful.

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) Jacket and Vest (1897)   The sleeve block will be posted separately.  

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) The fancy waist (1897)  

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) The double-breasted frock (1897)  

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) Basque    

Superlative System of Cutting Ladies' Garments (1897) The Dress Bodice (1897)