The Victorian Dressmaker book

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The Victorian Dressmaker book
  • The Victorian Dressmaker book
  • The Victorian Dressmaker book
  • The Victorian Dressmaker book
  • The Victorian Dressmaker book
  • The Victorian Dressmaker book
  • The Victorian Dressmaker book
  • The Victorian Dressmaker book
  • The Victorian Dressmaker book
  • The Victorian Dressmaker book

  • The Victorian Dressmaker book

  • Making Victorian Clothes for Women
  • £58.00

:  at  £58.00  each

  This is 6th Edition - with a new, sturdier cover :-) 

 Postage:   - please choose The Victorian Dressmaker Book option! 

 All the items are shipped tracked and insured.

 If purchasing 2 or three copies, please make sure you choose option 2 or 3 shipping.

If the book is damaged in the post, take photos of the damage, even if you intend to refuse the parcel - this should speed up the insurance and replacement proccess - though hopefully it won't be needed :-).

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 The book is designed to serve as a help, guidance and instruction to all those who would like to venture into the marvellous world of Victorian dressmaking.   I hope it will be useful to a theatre costumier, TV costume drama technician, fashion student, historical reenactor, a steampunk, a cosplayer or a home sewer with a passion for history. In short – to all people who would like to create a quality fashion garment form the Victorian era.

 The  richly illustrated book covers the patterns, cut and asssembly of a variety of  women's clothing from 1838 to 1902. Both modern and historical sewing techniques, tools and materials are discussed and shown step by step  through clear instructions and  illustrations.  

 

 Please note, this book will not teach you how to sew -  you already need to be able to use a sewing machine, to cut a pattern etc.  Techniques  are explained in the book, both basic and more advanced ones, but  you will need some fundamental sewing/fitting patterning experience to make the best use of it.

 

 CONTENTS

 Acknowledgements

 Foreword

1.Introduction

                 Fabrics

                 Tools

                Techniques

                Fitting

                Basic bodice construction

                Basic skirt construction

2.Foundations

                Notes  on underwear and support garments

                Corsets

                Basic corset construction

 3. Early Victorian (1838-1850)

                 Underwear: chemise, pantaloons, corded corset, corded petticoat, plain petticoat

                1838 redingote

                1841 visiting dress

                1845 evening gown

                1845 day gown with smocking

4. The crinoline years (1850-68)

                Underwear – chemise, drawers, corded corset, gored corset,    petticoats, crinoline cage,

                 1852 summer day dress

                1858 day dress

                 1859 evening gown

                1860 day dress

                 1865 ballgown

                 1865 Spanish jacket and swiss waist

 

5. The First bustle style (1868- 1876)

Undergarments – crinolette, petticoats, bustle cage

             1860-73 polonaise

             1872 visiting gown

            1873 day summer gown

            1874 ball gown with day bodice

6.Natural Form 1877-1882

                Undergarments – bustle pad, petticoat, chemises, corset cover

                1876 Visiting gown

                1877 polonaise

                1879 ball gown

                1880 walking outfit

                1881 day dress

                 1882 –3 wedding dress with 2 bodices and a detachable train

7. Second Bustle Era (1883-1890)

                Undergarments: combinations

                1883 walking dress

                1884 evening dress

                1887 yachting ensemble

                1888 bathing costume

                1889 tea gown

8. Late Victorian (1890-1902)

 Undergarments – corset, petticoats

                1890 day dress

                 1893 winter braided jacket and skirt

                 1894 ball gown

                 1987 day dress

                 1898 day suit

                 1903 day dress - bonus Edwardian material...

9.  Suppliers

 index

bibliography

 

  What our reviewers say....

 

The Victorian Dressmaker makes a hugely important addition to 19th century scholarship in one beautifully illustrated volume. Pitcher offers an overview of dress practices in the 19th century through fashion illustrations and original garments, with skilful instructional photographs and text. The greater part of the book is devoted to the construction of more than 30 complete garments, accurate in every detail based on extensive research by the author. It is a book that will appeal to makers from across the spectrum. If Janet Arnold was the creator of the first Patterns of Fashion concept, this is a wonderful successor and deserves to become a classic in the field of fashion history.

Dr Kate Strasdin

Fashion Historian

***

 

“A brilliant resource! The Victorian Dressmaker is packed with goodies, instructions, and wonderful photos to give the reader an exciting look at clothing construction techniques in the 19th Century as well as guide for use in their own projects. The first full section covers all sorts of various sewing methods needed to make Victorian garments from chemise and corsets to final bodice with trims. Then comes dozens of graph patterns covering dress ensemble pieces from the 1830s through early 1900s with sewing steps that will instill the reader with creativity for years to come. I will be opening this book often for inspiration in my own Victorian sewing projects.”
 
Jennifer Rosbrugh, Owner
Historical Sewing Blog & Online School
***
 
This is an incredibly comprehensive ‘how to’ book but it is also a journey through time covering every decade of Victorian Dress from 1837-1902 with an astounding number of projects designed to ensure that every modern Victorian has the right clothes for the right occasion in the right decade. With exceptional attention to detail, there are xx projects illustrated by clear diagrams and over xxx colour photographs which demonstrate every step of every process from underpinnings to trims and everything in between. This essential volume is prefaced by all the critical information required to understand the psyche of the Victorian Dressmaker and ends with a glossary and an index of where to acquire all of the necessary supplies and tools to get started. A truly remarkable and unrivalled work which is sure to become a new classic on the bookshelf of every professional and aspiring costumier"
 
Julia Bremble
Corsetiere,Sew Curvy Couture, Oxford School of Corsetry

 

 

 

The Victorian Dressmaker in numbers....

 

1062 images
80 pattern diagrams
31 full ensembles
23 underpinnings 
254 pages
8 people featured
3 reviewers
2 photographers (including me)
1 copyeditor
3 proofreaders
1 Indesign coach

 

Countless friend and follower supporters!!!!!! :-))

Roughly 400 m of silks, 20 of wool, and 250 of linen and cotton were used to make the garments for the book...

Roughly well over a 1500 hours of stitching was involved.....

Almost 3 years in the making (longer if you include some garments made before)
250 hours to put it all together in Indesign ( a very steep learning curve!)

 

 

Overseas customers : please note that you will be responsible for any custom fees/vat your country levvies on imported items.