turn-of-the dressmaking instructions undergarments

books:

Reconstruction Era Fashions: 350 Sewing, Needlework, & Millinery Patterns 1867-1868

6 reviews

Lavolta Press, 2001

Good for the war years as well as the Reconstruction
I am a Civil War re-enactor (female) who bought Reconstruction Era Fashions because I don't believe in restricting my research to just the war years. However, I was happy to discover it also contains material useful for my Civil War impression. There is a substantial section of instructions for dressmaking and pattern alterations that is suitable for the Civil War and, judging from the (many) ...

The Edwardian Modiste: 85 Authentic Patterns With Instructions, Fashion Plates, and Period Sewing Techniques

11 reviews

Lavolta Press, 1997

well up to Frances Grimble's high standards
This book features patterns for dresses, skirts, shirts, jackets, underclothing (etc.) for the years 1905 and 1907-1909. It contains: 20 (patterns) from 1905 22 from 1907 21 from 1908 23 from 1909 This is a good book, well up to Frances Grimble's high standards. It contains many patterns but can also double as a sourcebook, since it contains many pictures of clothes from fashion plates. I ...

After a Fashion: How to Reproduce, Restore, and Wear Vintage Styles

7 reviews
Frances Grimble, Deborah Kuhn

Lavolta Press, 1998

A book for use in real life
I'm a swing dancer and I love this book because it tells how to deal with vintage clothes you actually WEAR! Some books seem to think everybody who buys vintage clothes is some kind of museum. Or that they're rich and only buy perfect clothes in fancy boutiques. This book gives instructions for real-life cleaning, mending, and altering to fit you (for men's clothes too). And how to work with ...

Fashions of the Gilded Age, Volume 2: Evening, Bridal, Sports, Outerwear, Accessories, and Dressmaking ...

3 reviews

Lavolta Press, 2004

Wow! Continued
I just reviewed Volume 1, where I said the book contains a huge selection of patterns. Volume 2 focuses on patterns for evening dresses, bridal wear, sports wear, and outer wear. The chapters on accessories and trimmings contain some needlework patterns, embroidery and so on. I figure if I don't do the handwork I'll still have learned a lot about buying appropriate materials. I bought both ...

Fashions of the Gilded Age, Volume 1: Undergarments, Bodices, Skirts, Overskirts, Polonaises, and Day ...

6 reviews

Lavolta Press, 2004

as good as all the other Frances Grimble books
This book contains patterns for the following: corsets, hoopskirts and bustles (some) underclothing and negligee wear (quite a few) day and evening skirts (only about four) day bodices (quite a few) evening bodices (some) overskirts (some) polonaises (some) day dresses (quite a few) some = around ten quite a few = over 20 I would recommend this book for anyone who likes victorian ...

The Voice of Fashion: 79 Turn-Of-The Century Patterns With Instructions and Fashion Plates

7 reviews

Lavolta Press, 1998

A treasure for living history, but not for the faint of heart
Between this book and Grimble's "Edwardian Modiste", I'll never have to buy another antique "Gibson girl" pattern again. The illustrations in my opinion don't do the dresses justice; the garments themselves are just stunning when you actually make them. Having said that, these patterns are not beginner-friendly. If you want a quick-and-easy Edwardian ensemble you'll be very disappointed because ...