Perfect Little Parcel

Regency hairstyle test! Believe it or not, 90% of this hairstyle is hairpieces 😱
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I have very long hair (if you didn't know!) but when doing a lot of historical hairstyles (especially the 'fashionable' styles seen in portraits and illustrations) I still have to use a lot of hairpieces. In this style the curls are clipped on and I've hidden the clips with my own hair crossed over in two plaits, with an additional bun hairpiece.

New Regency stovepipe bonnet ✨ It's been a while since I've done any millinery work, but I'm very pleased with the result!

Turning Amazon mules into Georgian buckled shoes 💫
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I know the shoes would have suited the Georgian period before I altered them but I wanted a more working-class look for the pictures I was planning to take. It was a real shame to cover up the fun stripes- I might have to buy another pair 😅

I have a new tutorial up on my Etsy! 🥳
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“DRESS SHIELD TROUBLES ENDED”

Historical and hard-to-wash clothing can be difficult to protect against regular use. The solution? Dress shields!

Worn between the body and outer layer of clothing, they are perfect for preserving delicate fabrics and also reducing the size of your wash pile. By manufacturing them yourself you can ensure that they fit well and work best for however you intend to use them.
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Link in comments, or Perfect Little Parcel on Etsy 🎁

While searching for something else I was reminded of these rather delightful pictures taken by at Great Chalfield last year. Must go out and get more pictures while the flowers are in bloom 🌸

Upcycled lampshade inspired by American McGee's 'Alice' games 🔪🐛
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'Memory is more often a curse than a blessing.'

1. 'Fun' for the hosted by . Spring is definitely the time to wear capes and they are SO much fun to wear! You can bundle up if you're chilly, let it flow if you're warm and, as a bonus, capes look great in the wind! This cape is my favourite, (slightly modified) from the American Duchess free cape pattern- are you part of the ?

I thought I'd look up the definition of 'mouchoir' seeing as the much more common word nowadays is 'handkerchief', and according to Google it comes from the late Latin 'muccare' (to wipe one's nose) from the Latin 'mucus'. Not a terribly romantic origin, but trust the French to even make the word 'mucus' sound classy 🤣

Did you know the mouchoir case pattern up on my Etsy was designed to be a wedding present?
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'"WHAT shall I give her?” is the perplexing question so often asked when a lady hears a friend is going to be married. “I cannot afford silver or jewellery; the query is, what will look effective, and yet not encroach too heavily on my slender purse. Chairbacks, cosies, teacloths are all so common that she is sure to get dozens of them from others similarly situated.” Now, for anyone in this strait, I would recommend a mouchoir case, which combines the great advantage of being useful as well as ornamental.'
—Mrs. George Posnett in 'The Housewife', 1886

As lots of people have been taking advantage of my tutorial sale on Etsy this month, here's another one- a 'mouchoir case' (handkerchief holder) from 1886. This is another one from The Housewife, and it's such a fun unique project!
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‘I would recommend a mouchoir case, which combines the great advantage of being useful as well as ornamental. I do not allude to the ordinary old-fashioned affair with pockets, but something much newer and more stylish.’

I adore following historical tutorials as they suggest methods that I never would have thought of– I never would have made a vase out of fabric if I hadn't stumbled across the article in The Housewife(1886). In a world where we buy almost everything pre-made, it's nice to return to a time when we created things from scratch, using the resources we had to hand. Are there any historical tutorials that you've come across that you want to try out?
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'It must be borne in mind that whatever be size of the jar, it must not be placed in a room too near to the eyes, or where it can be too readily handled, as this destroys the illusion at once.'

Another version of 'The Ali Baba Jar' that I made (you may recognise this !). This is a slightly smaller one, the 1/3 scale, and made from a gorgeous brocade.
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'The main object in making it, is of course to give it as china-like an appearance as possible, but now-a-days there are many cretonnes and sateens that resemble porcelain so exactly that there can be no real difficulty in making a good selection.'

My pattern for 'The Ali Baba' jar comes in two sizes, full scale (as per the original instructions) and 1/3 scale. You can also make your own variations, like changing the number of panels– the original uses six, but I think it would also look very good with four– and the 1886 writer also encourages you to draw your own patterns to the shape of vases you like!
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'The size of this jar is a medium one; they look very well if the measurements are exactly doubled, and for small scraps and threads, or for toilet tidies, they may be made the same shape, but half the size of the measurements given, or even less. With a little practice, they may be contrived of different forms in various styles of colouring.'

My newest tutorial is 'The Ali Baba Jar', or, how to create a vase using fabric and card! The original instructions come from a periodical called 'The Housewife' which I have in my own personal collection, dated the year 1886.
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'This name has been given to a giant jar or vase intended to serve as a receptacle for large untidy pieces of work, for waste paper, or even soiled lingerie. It is an American notion, and at present possesses the much desired merit of being quite novel. It would therefore be sure to command a good price at bazaars.'
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Tutorial on my Etsy, link in description or search for Perfect Little Parcel 🎁

As you may or may not know, it's my birthday 🥳 In honour of my birthday month, all of my patterns and tutorials are 25% off until the end of Feb! I'm so proud of all of the tutorials that I've made, I can't believe I only started making them last year, it feels like I've been doing them forever. Link in comments or Perfect Little Parcel on Etsy 🎁
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There will also be a couple of new pattern drops before the end of the month, a 'mouchoir case' or handkerchief holder (available now on my Patreon) following the instructions from an 1886 periodical 'The Housewife', and a dress shield pattern following the style seen on an Edwardian advertisement. Follow my shop on Etsy to be notified when they come out!

Thank you to everyone who's giving my new listing lots of love 🥳 And to those who missed it, my Edwardian lace collar pattern and tutorial comes with:

~ Pattern suitable for neck sizes 32-40cm
~ 11 page step-by-step tutorial (with pictures for every step!)
~ Tips for sourcing lace
~ And a printer-friendly cheat sheet!

Link in comments or check out Perfect Little Parcel on Etsy 🎁

My Edwardian lace collar pattern and tutorial is now live!! This is such a fun project, especially if you're a fan of pretty lace and hand-sewing, like moi. A lace collar just instantly makes an outfit look more Edwardian and it can be used to jazz up so many different outfits! Perfect Little Parcel on Etsy or link in comments 🎁

This little treasure was gifted to me from a friend's relative (thank you random boxes of vaguely sewing-related junk!). The tag reads: '100% pure silk, hand woven in India.' All of the embroidery is hand sewn and the fabric is so wonderfully floaty. It also has a fascinating closure that I'll demonstrate in a video soon!

Don't forget about Valentine's day coming up early next month! My Victorian love tokens would make a perfect present for that special someone
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Fully customisable and personalised, I will draw a design based on your requirements and then hand-embroider the love token. Love tokens measure approximately 5cm in diameter, and have the option to come with a keychain attachment or with a watch (as they were originally used for watch papers!).
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Don't know what love tokens are? Check out the link in my description, or type into your browser: bit.ly/plplovetokens 🎁

I got a lot of information about Victorian callisthenics from 'Cassells Household Guide', published in the 1880s. Below is the introduction to the chapter and how to exercise with a 'chest expander', which I'm presuming to be some kind of elastic band. Illustration also from Cassells Household Guide.
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'The word "callisthenics" is derived from the Greek, "kallos," beautiful: and "sthenos," strength; the object of calisthenic exercises being to secure physical beauty by developing the limbs and muscles of the human frame, and making the joints flexible, thereby giving strength and power, and ensuring a graceful carriage, erect bearing, and freedom to the figure.'
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Exercises with Apparatus:
'Chest expanders aim at gradually extending and developing the muscles without any forcing. Care should be taken to select those of moderate strength.'

Is anyone's resolution this year to do more exercise? Ever thought about doing it the Victorian way?
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Before the Victorian era, it was believed that if women did too much exercise it would harm their insides and therefore their ability to procreate. At the end of the 19th century there was a push for young women to do more exercise to strengthen themselves. Gyms and public bathhouses weren't appropriate places for young women, so an alternative form of exercise gained traction– Callisthenics. Light stretching exercises that could be carried out in the privacy of your own room in loose-fitting clothing without a corset. As Ruth Goodman wrote in her book 'How to be a Victorian': 'callisthenics could really be described as prancing around in your underwear.'
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Debuting my new Victorian exercise outfit made from cotton, including one pair of mid-calf length bloomers (they're meant to be ankle length for modesty, but I didn't want to make myself look any shorter) and a combination shirt and skirt buttoned down the front. The coloured sash around the waist is added for a 'feminine touch' to an otherwise quite utilitarian outfit 🎀
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Videos coming soon of the outfit in action 😜 Also let me know if you want to know any more about callisthenics, it was quite tricky to condense it down into one insta post!

Victorian brocade bodice ✨
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I can't believe how long I've had this without taking any 'proper' pictures in it! I finally got around to doing some minor alterations– I wasn't happy with the sleeve decoration so I changed that around and I had to move the waist tape down slightly. Now it's definitely one of my favourite pieces 😍

It's been a while since I showed off my Chatelaine! There's always loads of individual Victorian pieces that used to be a part of a chatelaine available on eBay, but they're not much use until they're actually part of one. So using both genuine Victorian pieces and modern ones, I assembled my own chatelaine and it's so pretty 😍
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True Victorian:
- Spectacle case
- Button hook
- Propelling pencil
Modern:
- Lucky sixpence
- Penny whistle
- Peacock and other jewellery findings
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Psssst, it's available on my Etsy, link in comments 🤫

My new blazer in all its glory, I don't usually like alterations but I really enjoyed this one and how it came out. The skirt is an ol' faithful, I wear it near-constantly; I really need to make myself another black skirt!
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Outfit rundown:
(All items are made by me unless specified otherwise)
~Altered 'Le Soir' blazer
~Vintage net gloves
~100% Wool skirt
~Brooch from my great-grandmother

I had a lot of fun following instructions from books from the 1900s ('How to Make and How to Mend') and 1916 ('The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Everything') for tips on polishing shoes! Blog post on my website (link in comments) 🎁Now I really want to make my own shoe blacking, would anyone be interested in a blog post about that?

Cosy visiting outfit, my fur-trimmed Victorian dolman. Fur sourced from a vintage jacket that was handed down to me. A waist tape keeps the dolman tightly fitted to the back while still being allowed to drape nicely over the sides. I love the shape of the hat- I have some porcupine quills and pheasant feathers in my stash that I want to decorate it with at some point!
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Outfit rundown:
(All items are made by me unless specified otherwise)
~Vintage hat from eBay
~Plaid dolman
~Brushed cotton skirt
~Vintage gloves from a kilo sale
[Unseen]
~Cotton lawn combinations
~Cotton Petticoat
~Linen blouse from TKMaxx
~Stockings from Darcy Clothing

This very boxy 80s blazer was in a bundle of vintage clothing and I loved the fabric, so I altered it into a a jacket suitable for another 80s era: the 1880s!
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The blazer was size 12 so I had to make it quite a bit smaller for myself as well as altering the silhouette. I started by separating the lining, removing the shoulder pads (ah the 80s...) and the sleeves. I tapered the shoulders to bring the armholes up (Victorian clothing fits very closely to the underarm) then re-attached the sleeves with pleats to make them puffy.
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I took in the sides and back, leaving the excess in the back so I could put a small box pleat that would drape nicely over my skirt padding. When I finished the blazer was now nicely fitted but so long that it looked a bit lumpy, so I split either side up to the waistline and hid the raw edges as I re-attached the lining. As a final touch, I replaced the buttons with slightly more elaborate ones.

Released a blog post reviewing chemise patterns on my Patreon today, so that means I've finally taken pictures of my whole chemise collection!
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I wear chemises almost every day, under my period clothing and as 'casual wear' when working from home, so I have a lot to say about the comfort and practicality of certain styles! My collection spans a wide range of eras, from Georgian to Edwardian, most of them being Victorian as they have such pretty chemise designs. I always need more, so if anyone has any patterns to recommend do let me know!

Currently in the midst of writing a tutorial on how to make this lace collar so here are some of the 'final' pics I took to show it off🌹

Most recent commission, custom made Regency ling-line stays with decorative flossing 🌸