Redthreaded Blog

Are you working on an Edwardian- or teens-inspired outfit? Perhaps you’ve made or purchased one of our s-bend or underbust corsets and are now wondering what to pair with it to build the perfect historical silhouette. Ender the bust bodice. Or the bust improver. Or the brassiere. Whatever the advertisements called them (and, wow, did they love naming them), the goal was the same: create an ideal figure while supporting and shaping the bust.

This month’s featured business is perfect if you are looking to accessorize your latest Regency costume creation. With everything from patterns to finished bonnets, Timely Tresses is a great place to find all your millinery needs! They have styles spanning the late 18^th century to the mid-19^th century, and to date, they have published 22 patterns, 28 fashion plate collections, and 4 millinery guides. They have over 100 extant bonnets and 1,000 original fashion plates in their collection, and they use these period resources in combination to design historically accurate patterns.

Like we mentioned in our article exploring the Victorian belly curve, corsetry throughout the second half of the 19^th century emphasized a nipped waist with a rounded bust and hips, but there was a significant amount of variation over the span of 50 years. Fashions changed rapidly, and a typical corset from the 1850s did not look like a typical corset of the 1890s. There was a wide variety of styles and shapes in the period, with contemporary patents and advertisements often touting the last corset innovation.

But if you are looking to make or buy your own 19^th century corset from Redthreaded, what is the difference between our 1860s Victorian Corset and our 1880s Victorian Corset, and how do you choose the best one for your project?

It’s time for the first Feature Friday of 2021! Are you looking for some sewing inspiration for the new year? Then this week’s feature has you covered.

Revival Designed Patterns is the latest endeavor from Janyce Hill, founder of the Vintage Pattern Lending Library. Janyce has been reproducing patterns since the mid-1990s, and she has an archive of over 50,000 patterns from the 1860s to the 1950s to use as a source for her new releases.

A certain Netflix series, *cough* Bridgerton *cough*, has been generating a lot of interesting discussion lately, and has inspired a new wave of regency costume enthusiasts. Perhaps the brightly colored costumes have you wanting to make your own regency confection, but you don’t know where to start? Or maybe you loved the detailed stays they wore in the show and want a pair for yourself?

December’s featured business is perfect if you are looking for a little treat for yourself or someone else this festive season. (Or any time of year, really!) LBCC Historical Apothecary makes natural and organic apothecary and beauty products using original historical recipes.

It’s time for another Feature Friday! This month the spotlight is on New Vintage Lady and her fantastic line of plus-sized sewing patterns.

Inspired by her love of wearing and sewing vintage clothing but frustrated by the lack patterns in her size, Shelly started New Vintage Lady in 2007 with the aim of creating period correct vintage patterns for lager sizes.

Let’s talk bodies, shall we? Specifically, Victorian bellies. Body image is a sensitive topic that can’t be adequately covered in a simple blog post, but the goal of this article is to challenge the myth that Victorian corsetry flattens the stomach while cinching the waist. 

If you are part of the costume community and haven’t seen any of Sewstine’s incredible creations yet, prepare for your jaw to drop! Christine (aka Sewstine) is a talented costumer, who specializes in recreating gorgeous elaborately embroidered historic clothing using digital embroidery machines. With projects from the 18^th century to the Edwardian era, her work is the perfect mix of historical inspiration blended with modern technology!