Redthreaded Blog

Some time ago I was antiquing with my mom in New England when I spied a large book that made my heart beat a little faster. It was flipped open to a random page of what looked like Charles Dana Gibson artwork, and it looked old. Well, it is old! And it's signed by the man himself. There's something special about owning something with the signature of the artist who invented the "Gibson Girl." Charles Dana Gibson was an American graphic artist. His pen and ink work was published in magazines, books, and other media, and covered genres from humor...

We've been seeing more and more buzz about the fashions from the turn of the 18th Century, partially due to the popularity of the 2018 film The Favourite (we loooved it!). The new Patterns of Fashion 5 volume also contains heaps of information about the stays for this period. The fashions are...weird...to a modern eye, but that's part of what we love about them! Prior to this period, bodices generally consisted of smooth-covered stitched stays, with sleeves. The structure and the outer layer were built as one. The Mantua gowns of the 1680's changed this, with soft, draped gowns pinned...

Folks. Wow. When I began Redthreaded in my college apartment in early 2009, I never dreamed that it would become a business with employees, studio space, and an international reach. It's been a long, sometimes hard decade, but I'm happy to be here. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 30% of small businesses make it to (and through) their 10th year. So I want to take a minute to celebrate YOU, our amazing customers, supporters, and fans, for believing in us and our products. Below, we've shared some photos from our clients over the years. From the individual...

Hi all! I realized I never properly blogged about this dress I made back in the spring of last year. So what better time than the middle of winter, right? In April, I visited American Duchess HQ in Reno, NV. Abby took me to Mill End Fabrics while I was there, where I proceeded to buy a bunch of really garish cotton print including a rather psychedelic paisley (I blame jet lag? Or something?).  I was invited to a Victorian tea at my friend the Modern Mantua Maker's house in DC in May, and thought it was a great excuse...

One of the highlights of 2018 was my trip to the Structuring Fashion conference in Munich, Germany. An optional side trip to the Miedermuseum in Heubach was offered, and since I'd vowed to do All The Things offered as part of this trip, I took it. And I'm so glad I did! The tour started with a long bus ride--2 or 3 hrs--I don't remember exactly. But we were on a very nice double decker bus with good visibility. Since this was my first trip to Germany, it was a pleasant way to see a bit more of the country....