Costume Production Introduction
Studying Costume Production at Rose Bruford College in Sidcup, UK introduced me to many new skills such as stand pattern drafting, millinery, dyeing and breaking down and dancewear.
Below are images of a half-scale period dress which was made totally by hand sewing and using modern-day man-made fabric. The garment and dress pattern was selected from Patterns of Fashion (Arnold J., 1984, 22-23,70). A wrapping gown c. 1720-1750, originally made from silk brocade. The original dress is held in The Laing Museum in Tyne and Wear Newcastle.
Research into the Wrapping Dress making
The original gown was not pattern-matched. The pattern notes state that “The design of the silk is so flamboyant that the joins do not show nor the fact that the design runs up at the back and down at the front of the gown”. Following the same sewing method can be seen in the images above.