Because I’m feeling a little daunted by how much I have to do for Leonard, especially since I’m going to West-An Tir War and I won’t have the 4th of July weekend to sew, let’s make a to-do list!
Pants:
Breeches, in progress
–Hand-sew waistband facing/lining.
–Make buttonholes.
–Make eyelets for back lacing.
–Hand-sew leg linings down.
–Make leg buttonholes.
–Make leg bands, add buckle and eyelet, and attach.
–Make buttons for waist and legs. Attach.
[Gah, bifurcated garments are a PITA.]
Coat:
–Cut lining and fashion fabric.
–Sew lining and fashion fabric.
–Make pockets.
–Make buttonholes.
–Make buttons.
–Trim? Topstitching with embroidery machine?
[Note: Will probably make all buttons in car on way to West/An Tir War. But will need to cut out fabric rounds first for different sizes!]
Shoes:
–Pattern over purple satin shoes.
–Make bias tape (would like contrasting, but not sure if I have anything suitable in The Stash…).
–Cover shoes.
[Y’know, if I totally can’t finish in time, I could wear my black 18th-c. shoes. Wouldn’t be a total crime. Just not as perfect as I’d hope.]
Where do you get your patterns?
It really depends — I draft or drape a lot of women’s bodice patterns myself & with the help of friends, based on historical designs. For the few men’s garments I make, I’ve used a few patterns by Reconstructing History, & I’ve scaled up from Tudor Tailor & from Janet Arnold’s Patterns of Fashion. All of these are imperfect & require making several muslins to get a good fit & shape 🙂
Excellent, I’ve been wanting and planning to put together an 18th century gentleman’s costume, so I’ve been brainstorming ways to make everything from the tricorn hat to the heeled pretty shoes. I like the “peacockishness” of men back then:) But with low funds I’ve been trying to find as many diff. free patterns I could.
Well, if you can drape/draft or are willing to learn, I’d recommend “Costume Close-Up” by Linda Baumgarten (available on amazon.com & in larger libraries, esp. universities). It’s an excellent resource for 18th-c. clothing, both women’s & men’s, & has scaled patterns drawn from extant garments. Not for beginners, but great details on how clothes of the period are made & worn. I’ve used the breeches & waistcoat patterns for myself & my husband.
I did use a Reconstructing History pattern for 18th-c. coats, simply bec. scaling up such a large garment is a pain to me! Their patterns are expensive but useful & can be a good shortcut.
Tip for making hats: search online for wool or felt hat blanks. Many places sell them, just find who has the lowest price today. Get one in the color you like. Tack up the sides, trim the bejezus out of it, & *ta da* awesome tricorn. That’s the easiest part of the ensemble 🙂
Good luck!