#Historical Patterns

[sewlastcentury]

I've been bad about updating this blog with new patterns, so as of October 2024, here is everything I offer! All are patterned directly from antique garments in my collection (or collections I was given permission to work with).

Most are sizes XL, XXL, and/or 1X, and I have a couple down to S and several up to 3X.

All patterns have detailed size info in the listing, but for general labels I use this size chart.

Available on Etsy here!

I also have several free corset and brassiere patterns from antiques, 1870s-1920s (graded sizes are available for purchase).

Next pattern up, currently in testing, is this stunning ensemble....

(Should be available by December.)

Happy sewing!!

[bygonethreadsstudio]

The 1922 edition of Bear Brand Blue Book is now available on my Etsy!

My copy of the book is extremely delicate and deteriorating, so I'm happy that I was able to scan and restore all 112 pages so it can be enjoyed by people for many years to come.

It is full of both knitting and crochet patterns ranging from women's and men's sweaters and cardigans, children's and babies' wear, blankets, scarves, hats, socks, and stockings.

(Clockwise from top: knitted jacket, crocheted pull-over, knitted jacket, crocheted "tuxedo" cardigan)

[theresilientphilosopher]

Expose how misinformation fuels division, weakens leadership, and repeats history. A leadership lesson from The Resilient Philosopher.

[dleondantes]

Expose how misinformation fuels division, weakens leadership, and repeats history. A leadership lesson from The Resilient Philosopher.

[themetaphorical]

The Prime Species: A Mathematical, Biological, and Philosophical Examination of the Inevitable Truth

Abstract Throughout history, humanity has sought to define itself through various lenses—science, philosophy, social constructs, and even identity politics. Yet, in the pursuit of complexity, we often overlook the simplest, most undeniable truths embedded in the very structure of existence. This thesis presents an argument rooted in mathematics, biology, and historical precedent, using prime…

[signode-blog]

Believing Past Patterns Will Always Repeat: Why Historical Patterns Are Not Foolproof Predictors

Humans are naturally drawn to patterns. From observing celestial movements to interpreting financial markets, we instinctively seek recurring themes to predict outcomes. The phrase “history repeats itself” encapsulates this belief. But while historical patterns provide valuable insights, relying on them as infallible predictors can lead to flawed decisions. Here, we delve into why past patterns…

[elodieunderglass]

And one amang, an Iyrysch man,

Uppone his hoby swyftly ran…

WAIT HANG ON - slamming the brakes on drawing this stupid picture - do you nerds even KNOW the etymology of the word “hobby”? The thing you do for pleasure? The thing you have too many of? The thing you spend too much money on and share with your friends? The thing tumblr probably is to you? Those hobbies?

It comes from a now-kind-of-extinct breed of Irish pony-horse. It was called the Irish Hobby. Supposedly the hobby got its name from the Gaelic word obann, or swift. They definitely were. They’d obann your pants clean off.

Fast tough little bastards, built for rough terrain and renowned for their speed and stamina, hobby horses belonged to the Celts, and their highly annoying style of mounted warfare. but their conquerors liked hobby horses a lot, kept them, used them for themselves, and found them useful enough, despite the fact that they also had famously useful things like mounted knights or horse archers. A lightweight Irish warrior, mounted on a hobby horse, was called a hobelar.

Reportedly and in depictions, hobelars rode without stirrups. Or saddles. Or bridles. Or - well - this is all sounding very improbable, because the hobelars COULDNT have just been charging around basically bare-assed on naked ponies, screaming, and somehow in the process undoing the composure of actual mounted armoured knights. Knights who, I remind you, had stirrups. Stirrups are useful! It’s quite likely the hobelars had some gear. And clothes. and weapons. And the ponies probably had some tack - I am picturing a bellyband that you could at least hang a saddlebag on, and a neck rope for catching the bloody thing, even if not a saddle. But the overall impression, somehow created by people on darling little ponies, was apparently quite striking and fearful.

I mean. God Forbid People Have Hobbies.

Anyway after a while, whatever people became the British had eventually conquered all of the rough terrain that hobbies were best at, and horse archers just got sexier, and mounted knights became aristos, and all the bog and forest people had been subdued, so it was time to sunset the hobelars. but WAIT! Hobby horses are still tremendously fun and appealing! They’re so fast! and you can ride them without a saddle! Sure, they’re not up to the weight of a mounted knight, or indeed a lot of guys… but surely we can still find a use for a hobby or two? In the back garden? Somewhere?

At which point an English king decided to keep hobby horses just for fun. No military application. No further development of the technology. Not for fun. Just as expensive, pleasurable, pets. Just for the joy of the thing.

And that is how hobby (activity done purely for pleasure) comes from hobby horse (small horse) possibly from obann (swift.) they’re very interesting and you should look all this up for yourself! because it sure sounds like Elodie doing a bit, doesn’t it?

Today, Irish Hobbies are functionally nonexistent. References for drawing include the Kerry Bog Pony, the Connemara, and (I personally think) Dartmoors and Exmoors. They’re said to have lent their speed to the Irish Hunter/Sport Horse and from there to the Thoroughbred, but every damn horse in the world claims relation to the Thoroughbred, and they can’t be THAT thoroughly bred.

At any rate - you can never have enough hobbies. Just be glad that yours aren’t expensive beasts with minds of their own, eating their heads off in the pasture! …Unless they are. In which case, you’re part of a proud tradition.

[badassindistress]

Sometimes you gotta look back to see how much you've improved:

On the left is my first lacy on a whim petticoat, made in 2021. On the right the one I made this year.

Three years can make such a difference in creating the level of lacy floofiness I want in my life!

[sewlastcentury]

Newest pattern in testing is from a pair of fabulous 1790s stays from the Maryland Center for History & Culture (1951.28.11) that have a 38.5” (99cm) bust.

I made a mockup and my 42” bust is about an inch too big, so they’re firmly size large and have some leeway for XL.

Bottom photos are the original garment and top photos are my mockup. ❤️

Pattern should be up on Etsy by late June 2025. 🫡

[kat-cant-draw]

Minoan lady with a snake no correlation to the snake goddess at all

[fashion-from-the-past]

1895

[peekofhistory]

Hii! I love your blog and especially the artwork you make for the explanation of the various types of clothing. I was wondering, seeing your last Tang dynasty posts - for the patterns on clothing, do you use your personal made brushes and would you be willing to share? If not, that's perfectly fine! I just found them really nice ^^

Hi!! :D

I found the patterns on Red Note (Chinese app) and enlarged them ^-^ I'll post them here, along with the original sources:

Sources: User: 服饰文化资料库 【古代服饰|敦煌盛唐时期世俗人物服饰图案】

User: 视觉控 【《捣练图》服饰纹样】

User: 東方美學｜藝術静静 【不得不跟唐朝美女学的穿搭！唐代花纹图样】

[antiquatedsimmer]

Rowans Dress should be work BG. Vert: 3547 Poly: 5636

Babies first CC AAA, finally after weeks of blender I managed to get this working.

TOU: please do not repost/edit or claim as your own. Recolors are perfectly fine, feel free to include the mesh just please link back to the original thank you :)

DO NOT put this, edits or any recolors behind a paywall.

Please keep in mind this is my first CAS CC, so it will not be perfect, but if there any big issues please let me know and I'll do my best to fix. Thank you Surely for being so kind to help me fix it & give me lots of wonderful tips <3

Download on Patreon(Public) OR SFS

[historical-fashion-polls]

submitted by @dewdropsongrasss 🖤💙

[frostedmagnolias]

Dress

c. 1900

Grand Rapids Public Museum

[wildwood-faun]

Patternmaking, both basic and creative: The Shapes of Fabric

Once upon a time I used to follow the blog of someone who worked in the fashion industry who would write irate posts on fitting and quality issues, teaching me in the process why ready to wear trousers never fit properly, exactly how to set a sleeve, and why T-shirts sometimes start to turn themselves into corkscrews once you've washed them. I'm pretty sure this is not that blog, but I think I found it when I was trying to find the aforementioned one again.

The Shapes of Fabric is a really cool blog with a mix of basic guides like drafting pattern blocks (a base pattern you can use to create more complex garments) and really fun patternmaking experiments that are basically practical geometry.

If you're going to use older sewing sources, it's often really helpful to have at least a basic grasp of what pattern drafting is and how it works, so I'll be linking to some tutorials on how to draft some basic pattern blocks (bearing in mind that I've probably not used this source in particular, but the idea is more or less the same however you explain it):

pattern making basics

how to use basic pattern blocks

bodice block

dartless bodice block

pants block

The site also has a bunch of helpful guides, like these ones:

welt pockets

fitting bodices

fitting pants and skirts

sewing plackets and collars

more on collars

jacket sewing

sewing sleeves

sewing pants

There's also some really cool posts on dart manipulation, flounces, ruffles, "patterns that create patterns" (if you want to go off in a retro futurist way this kind of thing would be neat to incorporate), funky things you can do with sleeves, tucks (v useful if you're into Victorian stuff), detachable collars. Basically, go have a look around and get inspired!