V . 1/28/22 V . 1/28/22

A “transformation” day bodice for a Victorian dress

I'm transforming a Victorian dress from a ball gown to a day dress by sewing a second Victorian dress bodice. Watch me make a Victorian dress bodice to finish off the outfit I’ve designed for Mirah Lapidoth, the heroine of the Victorian novel Daniel Deronda by George Eliot.

V . 1/7/22 V . 1/7/22

Can I sew a corset in under 14 hours?

How long does it take to sew a corset, and can I make a new Victorian corset in time for a party? Join me for a corset making speed run vlog and we’ll find out.

V . 12/24/21 V . 12/24/21

A Victorian ball gown bodice for Mirah Lapidoth

I finished the Victorian ball gown for Mirah Lapidoth from Daniel Deronda! It was so much fun to make a Victorian bodice for this evening gown, and then wear it to a Victorian Christmas party with my friends from the on-strike cast and crew of Dickens Fair.

V . 12/24/21 V . 12/24/21

Sewing a Victorian evening gown skirt from 1865

Daniel Deronda by George Eliot is a remarkable work of Victorian literature, and the BBC's Daniel Deronda 2002 adaptation is a classic source of inspiration for historical costumers interested in Victorian dress. This Victorian skirt is the first part of making a Victorian gown for one of the characters.

V . 11/19/21 V . 11/19/21

A Victorian hoop skirt with no hoops?!

A Victorian hoop skirt isn't impossible to move in, but this corded petticoat will be much easier! I’ve worn more traditional hoopskirts before and they’re not as bad as they’re made out to be. But even a steel crinoline petticoat is too much for me (my back problems have serious hoop skirt trouble), so I decided to sew a corded petticoat to take the place of a crinoline under my Victorian crinoline dress.

V . 10/22/21 V . 10/22/21

I made an Edwardian Morticia Addams costume

I love the Addams Family, and Morticia's iconic look translates perfectly to a historical Edwardian skirt. Since I already owned a goth Edwardian Gibson Girl blouse, this easy Edwardian skirt was all I needed to make my Morticia Addams Halloween costume complete!

V . 10/8/21 V . 10/8/21

What did Vikings wear, really? A historically accurate womens’ Viking costume

What DID Vikings wear? Not the History Channel show costumes, but real, authentic, historically accurate Viking age womens clothing. The Viking age clothing we have is literally scraps, so the answer is . . . we don't know. But I'm gonna sew a Viking dress anyways, and talk about why historically accurate Viking clothing is a myth-- because there's so much we don't know about what the Vikings really wore.

V . 8/9/21 V . 8/9/21

Watch this when you need a sewing pep talk

Sewing is hard! Whether you're a historical costumer, cosplayer, modern sewist, or any other kind, let us cheer you on. Then join us for CoSy 2021, short for CosTube Symposium, from August 19th through August 22nd!

V . 7/9/21 V . 7/9/21

A Victorian corset for scoliosis and back pain

While sewing a historical corset for my scoliosis, I dove into how corset myths connect to Victorian medical history, sexism, and disability justice. Spoiler alert : it's a familiar web of ableism, corsetry health scares, questionable Victorian medicine, and so much more. Oh, and in the meantime I drafted, adjusted, and franken-patterned an asymmetrical corset pattern to fit around my scoliosis curvature, avoid back spasms or aggravating my fibromyalgia, and support my shoulders and posture.

V . 5/21/21 V . 5/21/21

I sewed lacy Edwardian underwear without getting out of bed

I'm on partial bed rest, so I made hand-sewn Edwardian combination underwear with tons of lace insertion. Combinations were a Victorian underwear fashion, but this style is from the 1900s, covered with frothy ruffles and lace trim everywhere! I cut out and sewed these combinations entirely from bed, so I could take care of my disabled self and still create beautiful things.

V . 2/19/21 V . 2/19/21

The SWEETEST Irish Cob horse convinced me to sew a Victorian riding habit

What's a bored historical costumer to do when introduced to an adorable Irish Cob horse? Sew a Victorian riding habit, of course!

V . 1/15/21 V . 1/15/21

Sewing Wonder for the Wondersmith

Making art with a chronic illness is hard, whether it's historical costuming and sewing, ceramics, cooking, or anything else. My dear friend the Wondersmith knows better than most what it's like to create while living with chronic pain.