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Heather,
I just got married over the holiday weekend. We choose a Victorian theme for our wedding and my sister-in-law and myself found your website months ago and made our outfits from your patterns.
I wanted to send you a note and a few pictures to thank you for your wonderful patterns. They were fun and easy to use and I am so happy with the way my dress turned out. I hand-made all of the trim on my dress in beaded crochet and silk-ribbon embroidery.
Thank you again, and I look forward to making more dresses from your patterns in the future!
S.
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I used some of your patterns for my prom dress. All the patterns were amazing, and so easy to use, and explained soooo well! I had so much fun making and wearing it, and it was all the talk at my school. Here are some of my pictures that you can use! Thanks again so much!
-G.
P.S. I used patterns:
-TV416 for the bodice without the sleeves and buttons in the front, but lacing in the back instead
-TV363 for the overskirt without using the large bows on the side, but pearls
-TV361 for the train (using the longest length)
-TV221 for the underskirt with pleating and tied back
Thanks again!!
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Thank you so much for issuing such wonderful patterns. I am a theatrical costumer and enjoy using your patterns over and over again. I have attached a few photos from some of the costumes I have made this year.
I used the 4 Gore underskirt each time. The Paisley is the Tail Bodice made in a fine wool trimmed in black velvet. The Blue and Cream is the French Vest Bodice made in cotton and silk. The Blue with gold trim and the light Calico are versions of the Jacket Bodice. I added a linen and lace chemisette to the calico for modesty. I inserted a golden brown silk vest to the Blue cotton and trimmed it in velvet.
Thanks again.
S. C.
Dear Heather,
It's been a while now since I completed these patterns for a wedding I attended in May and I thought I had better send you a pic or two as I promised. Even with the serious time constraint (only 3 weeks) for completing my polonaise TV410 I can't begin to tell you how pleased I am with the outcome, everyone was astonished that I made it myself. My grandmothers Jacket TV 428 was the first pattern of yours I had ever used, she couldn't believe how well it fit because she is VERY short waisted and can't seem to ever get anything to fit right, making the adjustments were so easy using your instructions. The adjustments on mine were slightly more difficult but it came out beautifully all the same. I love that you include ideas for trimming the patterns as it makes such a difference in the look of the dress. I wish you could see the back of the dresses, they looked so fabulous. Perhaps when we see the pictures from the wedding there may be a pic or two of the backs as the photographers were just mezmerized by the details and we think they got a few shots of the back. Otherwise, I am hoping to don them again next year for the Banning Museum Weekend and will for sure get more photos then. Time to start halloween costumes soon...can't wait!! Until next time...happy sewing!
A.
Dear Heather,
I keep telling you that I sew and I make clothing. This is the costume for the Hard Times program that I did. It is Louisa Bounderby and she is wearing Truly Victorian patterns Nos. 101, 303, 400 and the underskirt is also a Truly Victorian Number.
Thanks for all of your help.
R. C.
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Hello Heither!
I had bought you a few months ago 3 patterns to make my wedding dress : a butterfly train (TV 361), a 1865 elliptical skirt (TV 247) and an elliptical cage crinoline (TV 103). Now back from my honeymoon, I send you a few pics of what I did knowing that it is really not historically accurate ! ;-) In fact I choose not to use the elliptical cage under the skirt, using a less voluminous and more classical wedding conical underskirt, in order to have a lighter look. The fabric of the skirt (a gorgeous cream raw silk) was, that way, pleated all the long and quite free instead of being tensed behind. But that way, of course, it doesn’t show the true look of the skirt behind. And I entirely lined it with cream satin, while it is supposed to be only one layer of fabric.
Nevertheless, I well intend to use the elliptical crinoline for other projects ! And I slightly altered the butterfly train by cutting it in the middle, more like real butterfly wings. The corset I completely made by myself, pattern from scratch included ; it features a 1750 top (with straps and square décolleté) and a more 1850 or so look from waist to hips. What a terriby shoking historical mix it was !! ;-) I don’t know if you will use picture not really showing the true original look of your patterns! ;-) But I give you in case you think you could.
Thanks again for your great patterns, it was really well made, well explained and easy as a pie you deserve your very good reputation ! ;-) I think you’ll here again from me more or less soon, because I’m very tempted by the 1873 Polonaise, Cuirasse bodice and Tail bodice. See you soon !
Yours,
C. B.
Hey Heather,
I think that I will finally send you a dress to post!!! After all these years of making dresses, I think it is time to send you a picture, don't you? Anyway, the first is a dress of peach faille and ivory dupioni silk. The bodice is the 1879 cuirass bodice with some modifications and the skirt started out as the TV 221 with lots of trimming! The overskirt is a highly modified Pannier overskirt, TV 328. I think it turned out nice!
The second dress is another variation of the same bodice and skirt pattern made of silk dupioni. This was my Luna Moth masquerade gown for the S2003 SASS Convention. This is a couple of the dresses I have made with your patterns. As you well know I tell EVERYONE that your patterns are absolutely the best! Thank you so much!
Tornado Alli,
Heather and Laura,
Here’s my latest, your new pannier add-on skirt and the 1870’s ballgown bodice. I still can’t get over how easily it fell together. I usually need at least three muslins, but yours fit the first time. The plaid dress is the early bustle skirt, side drape overskirt, and 1870’s vest bodice – again, just no trouble to put together. (That’s also your Murrillo hat form) I’ve already ordered the patterns for my next gown. Thank you so much for the great patterns, assistance, and that incredible fitting system.
C.J.S.
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Dear Heather,
I wanted to present you my new bustle dress. This time, I decided to sew an early bustle dress. I bougth the patterns for the polonaise and the Tail Bodice and made a new pattern out of them for a Polonaise. I made the bodice in a style I saw on a fashionplate from 1872. For the Skirt I used the the 1870's underskirt. The dress is made of cream and green cotton satin. I added lots of lace and soutache. This time I tryed to make a little hat to complete the costume.
And like the last time I had to say, your patterns are wunderful!
Yours B. from Germany
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Dear Heather,
I would like to send you a picture of the first costume I made with your patterns. It was really great to work with, thanks a lot
It's the 1873 Polonaise, with the TV201 Underskirt and the TV101 Petticoat with wire bustle underneath. It is made of violet cotton with pink stripes (rather narrow ones, you can't see them on the picture), underskirt in black.
The picture was taken in the "Gründerzeitmuseum" in Berlin, where they exhibit interiors of Wilhelminian times. We added the sepia to make it look more period
More dresses will follow, as I must confess I'm totally addicted to victorian clothing now...
Best wishes,
J. from Berlin
Hello,
I just wanted to email you with some pictures I have of a version of your 1830s dress I made. I did some changes but used your pattern and didn't need to alter the pattern pieces to do it, maybe some alternatives for a future version? I was going for a mid to later '30s look. I pleated and stitched down the top of the sleeve and pleated the front and back instead of gathering them. I love the way your patterns fit and go together, this is one of many dresses I've made using them. Thanks!
Cheers,
L. D.
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Dear Heather,
Well after several weeks of hard sewing I finally finished the dresses I was working on. These pictures are from Rhode Island Royal Court Coronation 13, a local chapter of a national drag orginization that hosts events to raise money for charity (and to dress up, of course!). This year's theme was Springtime in Paris, so of course I (the drag-hag seamstress) thought "Victorian!" Little did I know what I was getting myself into. Actually, it was not hard at all, just time consuming.
I am in the blue/purple dress on the right, I used TV 290 for the skirt and found a jacket at TJ Maxx that I tried to dye to match. Only the background dyed but I liked the effect and added light blue trim and jewelry to pull the look together. You can't really see but under the skirt is a petticoat salvaged from a horrible green lamee parade dress at the local thrift shop... it was the find of the year! The thrift shop attendant thought I was crazy for buying the dress but I am the self-appointed queen of second-hand salvage so I was psyched.
The pink and marroon dress is on my friend Kevin ("Kevynia") who is a Viscountess in the RI Royal Court. The overskirt is the Wash Overskirt pattern. The rest of the dress I made up as I went along... the underskirt is just about 6 yards of fabric gathered in rolled pleats to a waistband. The top I made out of an old velour bathrobe (from the same trip to the thrift shop) by painstaikingly pinning darts around my Kevin as he stood still with lots of corseting on, and adding a peplum from the leftover fabric. I added lots of trimmings including silk flowers and the effect was fabulous.
Anyway thank you sooooo much for your awesome patterns. The dress "Kevynia" is wearing won the Best in Rhode Island prize this year! How excited am I?!?!?!
Hi, Heather!
I love your patterns. I've already amassed a collection of several of the natural form, early, and late bustle patterns, and I keep a running wishlist of others that I wish to procure in the future.
Attached is a photo of a 'suit' I made using several of your patterns. The outer fabric is a black & white (reads grey from a distance) all wool italian suiting fabric, flatlined throughout with black & white polka dot and/or b&w striped cotton fabric. For the bodice, I actually combined three of your patterns, the 1881 Dinner bodice (TV422) the 1879 cuirasse bodice (collar and sleeves) and the 1880 Jacket bodice (for the sleeve cuffs). I used black velveteen for the collar, cuffs, skirt trimmings, and also to cover the bodice buttons. I lined the entire bodice in bright red silk charmeuse. The underskirt is the 1878 Fantail Skirt, (TV225). This skirt is AWESOME. I love the adjustable gathering behind the knees. As you can see, I opted to make the trained version. The overskirt is TV324, the 1878 Long Draped Overskirt. In the photo I am wearing the outfit over the 1879 Petticoat. I made the petticoat in scandalous red taffeta, with red cancan netting to hold out the back portion. I found the hat in a lucky search on Ebay. I think it suits the whole outfit perfectly. Sorry about the silly background, I was heading out to Easter Vigil Mass (yes, I wear this stuff to church!) and hubby stopped me to snap a few photos. I have a few ideas in the works using your patterns as a base. I have a book of reproduced illustrations from La Mode Illustree, and there's an 1887 evening toilette featured in the book that is calling my name. The original is made with red satin, black chantilly lace, and red beads. I will be using purple and black for my interpretation. I truly love your patterns, and do not hesitate to sing their praises to anyone who will listen.
D.S.
Dear Heather--
The dress is done, and I"m attaching a photo. Remember, I still haven't competed it yet--that'll be the last weekend of April at Costume Con. I'm thrilled with it, and I look forward to doing this pattern again, this time with the "party" bodice.
Yours in costuming,
L. A.
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Hi Heather,
This was one of the shooting costumes that I wore to Plainfield Raid 2005. I won Best Shooting Costume, Ladies.
It is:
* TV410, 1873 Polonaise, which I modified to have a round neck and front hem. (I had to fold the sleeve up after catching my long guns in them.)
* TV261, 1885 4-Gore Underskirt, which I modified to have box pleats around the hem.
Thanks for making such great patterns!
A. M.
Hi Heather!
I'm at it again! I made my daughter a day dress using your patterns, just scaled them down to fit her. It's the TV 221 Underskirt, the TV 303 1873 Side Drape Overskirt, and the TV 462 1883 Tail Bodice. I shortened the tails on both the bodice top and the overskirt, and lengthened the front apron on the overskirt. I kept all of the overskirt pieces the same width, but I pleated them to fit the tiny waistband. I modified the front bodice so that it appears that there is a vest or a shirt underneath and made a huge hidden cuff on both the sleeves. And that's the best part------as she grows, I can lengthen the sleeves and widened the front "vest", I can undo the pleats in the overskirt, and I can add a box pleated ruffle to the underskirt-------there's always ivory cotton fabric! She is wearing her petticoats and pantaloons (that I made previously to go with her ball gown) underneath, and a small bustle pillow that I purchased online.
B.C.
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Hi Heather and All,
Here are a few photos I thought you would like to see....finally after years of making dresses with your patterns.
One is at Gathering of the Gunfighters in Yuma, AZ in 2004, the other was at Old Tucson during the filming of "Ghost Rock" in August of 2003 in which I was an extra. It was 115 degrees and we filmed for 18 days! It turned out to be a terrible movie, rated B for really BAD, ha ha! Dru
D.
Thanks!
I believe it is coming out to look just like the photo. Here is a photo of the mock-up I made for practice and fitting--it will make me a very nice "day" outfit, but I don't have enough of an idea of how to trim it. I have LOADS AND LOADS of black braid and trim left over.
Anyway, I am making up the skirt now, your pattern TV 221, and it should work well. Although it doesn't say, I"m adding an "interlining" to increase the wieght of the fabric (a fairly thin wool crepe) and make it drape better.
I will be competing this outfit at Costume Con 23 in Salt Lake City over the weekend of April 29-May 2.
Yours in costuming, L. A.
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