french hand sewing patterns
Reenactors: Do you make your own costumes?
Do you make your own costumes or do you buy them? If you make them, then what brand of patterns are you using? Any good websites? Where you do find documentation for pieces? If you buy them, where from? Do you ask for documentation of accuracy from the vendor? Either way, do you feel that all reenactment costumes need to be hand sewn, or is machine stitching acceptable? Also, please, say what era you have experience with: i.e. Revolutionary, Civil War, French Fur Trade, WWII, ect.
1. For the most part, I make my own (and my husband's and my brother's) outfits - I don't call them "costumes"; I think of them as "clothes." There are a few things I buy, because I'm not good at making them myself. Shoes and hose fall into this category.
2. I don't use pre-printed patterns. I draft my own patterns to fit exactly the person I'm making the clothes for. This is how our ancestors would have done it, too.
3. Tonnes. Which period in history are you interested in?
4. I primarily do Norman (12th century) for myself. A lot of my documentation comes from a really excellent book that was originally written as a Master's Thesis at John Hopkins University: Women's Clothing in French Texts of the 11th & 12th Centuries, by Eunice Goddard. I also belong to the 12th Century Garb List (a Yahoo Group discussion list) and the folks there are great about sharing their resources.
For my husband and brother, who do primarily Norse (aka Viking) there is another excellent book, published last year called "Viking Clothing" by Thor Ewing.
Marc Carlson's website at the University of Tulsa is also a wonderful compendium of drawings of extant garments.
5. I bought my shoes from Revival Clothing; my hose from a lady from somewhere in Maryland who sells them every year at Pennsic. I have a hat that I bought from Black Swan, and jewelry from Raymond's Quiet Press.
6. Revival, Black Swan, and Raymond all have documentation readily available. I didn't ask the lady selling hose because her pattern is the fairly standard one most medieval re-enactors use.
7. I use a machine on the interior seams (hidden) and hand sew anything that can be seen from the outside of the garment. Also I hand-finish all seams (makes them stronger and is a more period practice) and hems.
8. As noted, I do medieval re-enactment. However, I have done colonial and pioneer in the past. For those I did use paper patterns because I had not yet learned to draft my own.
I also did World War II for a film project in university. That one was completely different. I lived in the DC at the time, and it was fairly easy to buy or rent both uniforms, civilian clothing and shoes from the 1940's (it was only 60 years ago after all).
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Sew Beautiful - Julies Gown - French Hand Sewn (by Machine) gown by Susan Oliver $9.75 |
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FRENCH HANDSEWING 1981 The Children's Corner INSTRUCTIONS IDEAS PATTERNS sz 1-6 $8.99 |
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Sew Beautiful - Julies Gown - French Hand Sewn (by Machine) gown by Susan Oliver $9.75 |
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FRENCH HANDSEWING 1981 The Children's Corner INSTRUCTIONS IDEAS PATTERNS sz 1-6 $8.99 |
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Elise FRENCH HAND SEWING OR SMOCKING SHIRTWEIGHT DRESS PATTERN Sz 8-20 $14.95 |
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FRENCH HAND SEWN LAYETTE PATTERN FROM SANDY HUNTER-NEW $9.99 |
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MARTHA PULLEN HEIRLOOM DOLL CLOTHES SMOCKED AND FRENCH HAND SEWN PATTERN UNCUT $17.99 |
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Martha Pullen French Hand Sewing By Machine Second Book Patterns $9.99 |
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PATTERN FRENCH HAND/MACHINE SEWING LACE COLLARS ALL SIZ $18.50 |
french hand sewing patterns
Learn How to Embroider - Stitching Cow
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Alex Toys Knot-A-Quilt $14.57 Who needs needles, stitching or stuffing' Get "knotty" and easily make a quilt without any difficult techniques. It takes just a few creative hours to make a giant 36" x 48" quilt of fringed squares knotted together into a colorful pattern. Then cuddle up in your new creation. Kit comes with instructions and 48 squares (9" each) of colorful fleece in six colors.... |
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The Dressmaker's Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques: Essential Step-by-Step Techniques for Professional Results $17.30 interweave press the dressmakers handbook of couture sewing techniques. uncover the secrets of couture sewing and make professional quality garments. fashion designer lynda maynard makes these techniques accessible to every sewer explaining the seemingly difficult secretes of couture design and construction from functional hems and waistbands to decorative ribbon trimmed collars. with beautiful ph... |
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Couture Sewing Techniques $13.15 If you love to sew and want to create the elegance detail and polish of couture garments here's a comprehensive source of techniques that you can duplicate at home. Includes detailed techniques for: Hand stitching shaping with seams darts and pressing and much more. Taunton Books... |
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Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing: Patterns and How-To for 24 Fresh and Easy Projects $6.59 Internationally celebrated designer Lotta Jansdotter collects 24 of her most popular sewing patterns into one irresistible collection. The innovative packaging makes for easy use reusable pattern sheets which are neatly tucked into a folder inside this full-color lay-flat spiral bound book. Patterns include: handy tote bags smart aprons chic bed linens and much more. Each project is paired with st... |