FIRST CHAPTER The Ell and its fractions in feet, inches, and twelfths of an inch. The ell, the scissors, the needle, and the thimble are the only instruments of the lingère. The ell is an instrument only used to measure the quantity of linen required or judged necessary for this or that garment in any … Continue reading The Art of the Lingère – Chapter I: Measuring
Category: 18th century
Garsault: The Art of the Lingère – Introduction
François Alexandre Pierre de Garsault (1691-1778) was a sort of Renaissance man of the eighteenth century, interested in art, natural science, and technology. In the 1760s and 1770s, he published a number of books explaining the occupations of a number of different types of artisans, including those in trades related to sewing. Of these, I … Continue reading Garsault: The Art of the Lingère – Introduction
Book Review: Patterns of Fashion 5!
Patterns of Fashion 5: The content, cut, construction and context of bodies, stays, hoops and rumps c. 1595-1795 - Years in the making, and I think we're all very excited to have it out at last! A little background, if you're not familiar with it: Janet Arnold wrote the original two Patterns of Fashion books (1660-1860 and … Continue reading Book Review: Patterns of Fashion 5!
A New Kind of Transitional Stay
Hello! It's been a while - due to American politics, personal issues, and other factors, I just haven't had the energy to spend on historical sewing or writing about fashion (beyond what I do for AskHistorians; link to my profile if you'd like to read some short articles on a variety of social history topics) … Continue reading A New Kind of Transitional Stay
Magasin des Modes, 5e Cahier, Plate II
December 30, 1786 FRENCH FASHIONS. We said in the second Book of this second Year that women hardly go out in the morning but in night caps, when they aren't dressed; we should add here that many wear a chapeau-bonnette over the night cap. In this manner, they give an air of half-dress which saves them … Continue reading Magasin des Modes, 5e Cahier, Plate II
Mimic of Modes 