Random thoughts on random things

[justawench]

I love making hats. They're really so easy. I'm making tiny girl a tiny-ish hat right now, concurrently with all my other projects. I've attached the crown of a tiny decorative (or large doll?) hat to the outer part of a braided straw place mat. I may have made the brim a bit large, but I also want to keep the sun off as much as possible. I soaked

Comments

[bauhausfrau]

[zaftig46]

John Styles in Dressing the People makes a pretty good case for silk bonnets being one of the most popular lower-class items, so I'd say go for it!

[justawench]

Oh, good! (There is so much info in that book, I can't even remember it all!)

[virginiadear]

Thank you for the thank you! ;->

For shapes of various garment pieces (upper/outer sleeve, lower/inner sleeve, jacket back, revers, cuff) two helpful sources are Hill and Bucknell's "Evolution of Fashion" which is completely useless as far as documentation goes but which does provide basic shapes for cutting, and anything by Jean Hunnisett within a given period because she provides gridded diagrams which can be extremely useful.

I used to end up with Franken-toiles and worse, Franken-patterns because I didn't know enough (and wasn't quick to figure it out, either!) to copy my pattern pieces onto tissue paper, keeping the original uncut so I'd always have the original to which to refer. And to which to make comparisons so I'd have some idea of what I had done and what I needed to do to future patterns

[justawench]

Yes, that makes sense.

I have a few vintage books on sewing that give some pretty good info on altering and tailoring (modern-ish) women's clothes, but I haven't studied them like I should. It was a subject that used to make my eyes cross. I guess it's hard to soak up that kind of information when you're just starting out sewing. I understand it more now, but reading about fitting is still not what I *want* to do with my spare time. One of these days I'll buckle down and tackle it again.

[virginiadear]

My mother, bless her soul, did not sew; she hated sewing, said it made her nervous

[justawench]

I will have to look into those books you mentioned, esp. the Better Homes and Gardens one. I may have a couple (the Vogue Sewing Book at least has been in my possession, if it's not still). I have a small collection of general sewing books and for some reason, I find the vintage ones easier to understand. The diagrams are clearer and the instructions simpler, it seems.

One of my favorites that I always plan to put to use *someday* is "How to Design Beautiful Clothes" by Esther Kaplan Pivnick, 1949. Don't you love the title? It's only about designing and pattern making and covers making custom bodices, skirts, yokes, all types of sleeves, collars, pockets, etc. I'd love to make a (modern) dress sized just to me.