The Headache of Sleeves
Even after fifty odd years of sewing, drafting a sleeve pattern is still a challenge. It starts, the night before, with trepidation. "Stop worrying," I tell myself as I toss around in...
Outside the Lines
The posts in this category are just what its label says, i.e., every single thing ever written without categorization. If you want to read straight through from the very beginning, go to the last page and work your way through backwards. The most recent posts are always added at the top of the first page.
Another Small Step
Some days I need to remind myself that it’s okay to just keep plugging along - even if it's at a snail’s pace. I think we all do. Maddie’s dress is coming...
Sheer Summer Dresses
Until I started looking into whether the bodice of Maddie's dress should be lined or unlined, I didn't know Sheer Dresses were a "thing". I mean, I knew there were sheer dresses....
Maddie’s Cage Crinoline
During the hours and hours of hand sewing involved in narrow hemming bias cut dimity, I remembered that Maddie still needed a crinoline. Yes! A break from ruffle making was just what...
The History of Cage Crinolines
Women's skirts reached their greatest circumference in about 1860. But what happened before, and after, this point makes for a fascinating read. One of the most interesting articles on the topic can...
Maddie’s First Dress
In the beginning, there was a woman. Her favorite dress was sewn from a lovely piece of single bar dimity - pink stripes, light as air, and adorned with lace. She made...
La Mode à la Girafe
There was a time, not so very long ago, when the average person had never seen lions, zebras, alligators, or elephants in person. Prior to the development of photography, there were only...
Woven Air
A link to an article about the history of Dhaka muslin was recently shared on the French Fashion Doll Sewing Club. It was so fascinating, I wanted to make sure it was...
Maddie’s Underthings Completed
"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want." I heard this on a sports program last weekend and it resonated perfectly with regards to Maddie's slip. Because there...
Maddie Visits the Couturière
Maddie is pretty pleased with herself at the moment. Having her underthings finished means she's able to visit one of Paris's famous couturières. There's so much to see - enough fabrics and...