Author Archives: avantgarbe
1790s / regency-ish painted shoes
After throwing my bodice mockup into the naughty corner (and also totally switching gears back to finish 1880s Captain America), I still needed a project that was a breather in between fitting. Enter shoes! Honestly, I would have been happy … Continue reading
1790s outfit (or I just want to be a fluffy sailing ship)
New era time! So I’ve said for years I don’t like regency. To my modern eye, it just wasn’t a flattering thing. (Not sure if it hurts or helps my view that you can literally hide a pregnancy there). Then … Continue reading
1890s Symington Corset – Construction
So last time, I drafted a corset pattern in September 2019. Then I got distracted by other projects, then a MOTHER FUCKING PANDEMIC. Daycare closed for 3 months, so I had a full time job (which thankfully gave me a … Continue reading
1890s Symington Corset – Fitting
Hooboy, so I started this corset a while ago. Back in July 2019 when pandemics didn’t exist, I thought I might have time to make a new corset to wear with my Captain America Bustle for Jordan Con in April … Continue reading
American Duchess Cape – Sewing it up
After the ridiculousness that was FOUR MOCKUPS FOR A FRIGGIN CAPE sewing it up was nice and straightforward. The outer fabric was an easy choice. I’ve had some dark gray wool satin in my stash since 2012 (sheesh both my … Continue reading
American Duchess Cape (Cult) – Fitting
Like most folks who do historical costuming (or any sewing) on the internet, you may have heard of the free American Duchess Cape pattern. I volunteered to host a sewalong on TarValon.net for this (as it crosses over to cosplay … Continue reading
Blackwork Elizabethan Coif
So 6 months ago the world fucking shut down (except the US didn’t actually shut down enough to prevent 200 thousand deaths. I have a lot of angry opinions right now. Anyways.). Daycare was closed, and my husband and I … Continue reading
Captain America Bustle bodice – construction
Usually construction is the easy part, but this bodice had finicky steps where order mattered. Everything is made out of the blue Joann cotton sateen, flatlined with polished cotton. First, the sleeve needed the white decorative cuff added. I thought … Continue reading
Captain America Bustle Bodice – Fitting
Where we last left off, I had finished the skirt in time to wear to an outing(!), and had a goal of finishing the bodice ASAP. Welp, it’s still not done yet, but let’s start talking about it – My … Continue reading
Bustle skirt at the Legion of Honor
My last pre-quarantine event with the Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild was in the beginning of February 😦 The theme was bustle dresses, while attending the Tissot exhibit at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco (as Tissot was known … Continue reading
Avant Garbe 