Trusted with the very special task of transforming a family heirloom dress, I proceeded with caution. Once I had cut into it, there was only one chance to get it right. Additionally, this was the fastest turnaround on a custom … Read More
Recently a theatre colleague came to me with a proposal. She was in possession of her Grandmamére’s wedding gown from 1949 and wanted to use it to make her own. With full permission of family members (and having different proportions than the … Read More
One of my recent finds of particular interest to vintage enthusiasts and fashion history nerds is this McCall’s Magazine from October 1945. It’s an interesting time capsule of the ideas being promoted to women at the tail end of World … Read More
My goodness it’s been awhile since the old blog had a post! Alas I’ve been up to my eyeballs in theatre related work. For most of the fall and into January I was once again working for a large regional … Read More
In which I catalogue my collection of men’s and kid’s patterns. Menswear-wise, it’s a very limited handful of patterns. I just don’t come across that many, and they tend to be similar styles when I do. Usually bathrobes for some … Read More
Part of the ongoing reorganization going on around here involved going through my pattern stash to assess which ones might be candidates for wardrobe additions. This brought to my attention the need to sort through the entire collection, as well … Read More
I have loved this book ever since I found a copy languishing on a shelf at my university library years ago. I was first intrigued by the lovely red and gold brocade binding. Inside it is full of photographs … Read More
As many across North America are asking that same question – due to a sudden cold snap in March, I am thinking about my summer wardrobe. It’s something I routinely neglet to think about until the season has arrived and … Read More
In recent months I have acquired a small but growing collection of vintage patterns. I haven’t experimented with them yet, but here are some fun hot iron transfer embroidery patterns I came across. They were separated from their envelopes in most … Read More