Shift pattern

I’m starting on a new historical project, which means it’s time for another set of foundation garments! I’m going to be making an ensemble inspired by this painting, which means I…

Mara Riley's Costume Site

. If you want this pattern please e-mail me and I will send it to you. .

Some of the methods I've come up with concerning how to draft a shift pattern from your own measurements, and how different shapes will effect the resulting ...

I created a simple shift dress pattern to raise money and awareness for Dressember. Women wear dresses for the month of December and people sponsor them. The money raised goes to fight human trafficking. Since the garment industry is such a huge contributor to the exploitation of women and children, this fits really well. A person is behind every seam of the clothes we wear, and it's usually a woman. Our care in purchasing clothes responsibly is a way to show that we value that person. It's…

“ladies used to wear shifts; they now are called chemises: shoes are turned into sandals, stays are corsets, a girdle is a zone, a band for ...

“ladies used to wear shifts; they now are called chemises: shoes are turned into sandals, stays are corsets, a girdle is a zone, a band for the head is a diadem, a gown is a robe,” quote by Althea Fanshawe in 1806 Well I made my pattern and I made a mock up and now it is ready to share with you! First off this is not a pattern fro the Historical Accuracy snobs. If you want complete historical accuracy, go buy a pattern from one of the well known pattern companies. This pattern is one that I…

This project required a little guesswork. All the surviving shifts I've seen are from an earlier or later date and neither seem to fit the shifts seen in artwork of the era. I can only hope the garments in the paintings have true likeness for the shifts they wore and are not just something artistic designed for the portrait. Full body, slit in front, narrow neckband or drawstring. Nell Gwyn by Simon Verelst c. 1680 Full body, body and sleeves gathered in to a neckband, slit in front. Nell…

The wonderful Australian pattern maker, Tessuti, offers a free pattern that has become a tried-and-true for many sewists in the community. It is the Athina Top pattern and I hacked it to make the cozy layering piece of my dreams...