Hi Everyone, I'm Shari Fuller from Thimbles and Acorns. In this series we are going to look at how to turn a simple ordinary garment into a bespoke masterpiece! What in the world is “bespoke” you may ask? Well, to put it simply, it is an elegant way of saying “custom made”.
The first time I came across the term was when I read the book “The Coat Route: Craft, Luxury, and Obsession on the Trail of a $50,000 Coat”. It is a fascinating read if you have ever wondered how true luxury garments are sourced and crafted.
To be perfectly honest, I could never justify making a coat that is worth $50,000, but I do appreciate the efforts put in to all the little bespoke details, visible and hidden, that make a garment a notch above.
Bespoke was at it's height during the Victorian Era, so it seems only fitting that we take a little trip back in time and try our hand at some historical sewing details and techniques.
It wasn't until the Victorian Era that undergarments became a very private and personal part of a persons wardrobe. Until that time, undergarments were simply a layer of clothing that were worn to protect one's skin from irritating fabrics and to protect clothing from being soiled by body oils and wear and tear along the open edges.
Often, the undergarments would become part of the decorative layering of an
outfit. Modesty hit a low point during the Regency Period and when Queen Victoria began her reign, she determined to bring back modest dress. It was no longer fashionable for undergarments to be talked about in polite society, let alone be seen!
Interestingly, Victorian Undergarments are historically the most beautiful. Part of the reason for that is the Industrial Revolution took off in the Victorian Era and suddenly fine fabrics and trims were cheap and plentiful.
This was also a time where the development of inner beauty was encouraged and it was only natural to see this idea play itself out in the fashion of the time.
In this series, we are going to add some bespoke details to a few pieces from my Victorian Unmentionables pattern.
In the first video, we will be adding a series of tucks and decorative stitching to the neckline of the chemise and then finishing the side seams with a teeny tiny French seam.
In the second video, I will be demonstrating how to finish the hemline with a delicate lace edge, the Victorian way and then finish up the chemise with a hand stitched buttonhole.
In the third video, I'm going to show you how to add a functional and decorative embroidery detail to the boning of the corset called flossing and then finish it up with hand stitched eyelets.
In the fourth video, I will show you a new way to layer ruffles on the petticoat.
These little details add a delightful elegance to my Unmentionables and can be
used to make many of your favorite pattern designs bespoke. Use your imagination, I'd love to see what you come up with!
Now, let's get started on those tucks! Follow along in the video posted above.
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Jackie
June 14, 2022
This month will be so much fun learning new things