Author Archives: avantgarbe
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
Captain America bustle skirt drapery
Welp, you are now going to have to wait a year to find out how this costume ends, because obviously Jordan Con, scheduled for April, has been cancelled. I am mostly done with the bodice, but can’t be arsed to … Continue reading
Captain America bustle underskirt
I’m sure you are bored by now of me saying things like “the whole skirt was supposed to take 2 months and instead is taking 3+!”. Sigh, why is sewing so hard? I’m going to split the skirt posts into … Continue reading
A late bustle era petticoat
No shocker to anyone that undergarments have to be done before you can start the main costume! I hate drafting skirt patterns (my cutting table isn’t really big enough for it) so I decided to just throw money at the … Continue reading
1880s hat
So, that Captain America bustle gown. For once, I decided to start with the accessories, because that’s what takes this from a perfectly nice bustle gown to the cosplay concept. I wanted a quick and easy win, so I decided … Continue reading
Avant Garbe 