Things I’ve learnt since I made my first pair of bodies with a busk.

Several years ago I decided to make the best pair of bodies possible in terms of accurate period construction etc.  – avoiding real whale bone and hand spun hand woven fabric but using the most appropriate modern materials.

Being a member of the UK Costume Society and also The Costume and Textile Society of Wales . . . → Read More: Things I’ve learnt since I made my first pair of bodies with a busk.

Sewing Tips and Techniques for 17th Century Costume

These articles originally appeared in “Orders of the Daye”, the magazine of the The Sealed Knot

Index Decorating Unconfined Breeches Tacking How to make Small Slashes in fine fabric Making Stays Organ or Cartridge Pleating Types of Boning Stiffening a Doublet Making a Toile I have tried to aim the tips at inexperienced sewers so . . . → Read More: Sewing Tips and Techniques for 17th Century Costume

Historic Knitting and making the Gunnister purse

Historic Knitting

Whilst knitting has had something of resurgence in 21st century there has been a great deal of debate in the re-enactment world about the availability of knitted goods in the 17th century. Although hats (e.g. the Monmouth cap) and stockings have long been accepted by re-enactors as contempory wear other items have . . . → Read More: Historic Knitting and making the Gunnister purse

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions sent to Caroline

Compiled by Caroline Vincent

I find that I spend a lot of time answering the same basic questions – so, before putting fingers to keyboard, please look through the questions that have already been asked and see if there is an answer to your question.

In general you should . . . → Read More: Frequently asked questions

Straw Hats in the 17th Century

REFERENCES TO STRAW HATS IN THE 17th CENTURY compiled by Caroline Vincent

Book: A Visual History of Costume in the Sixteenth Century.

Illustration of a pamphlet dated 1592 shows countryman weaving a hat of shape which author Jane Ashelford believes to be made of straw – “The Countryman’s hat , probably made of . . . → Read More: Straw Hats in the 17th Century

Useful Book List

Useful Book List for making 17th Century Clothes

Compiled by Caroline Vincent

Period Costume for Stage & Screen – Patterns for Women’s Dress 1500-1800

By Jean Hunnisett

Published by Players Press, Inc.

ISBN 0-88734-610-3

Handbook of English Costume in the 17th Century

By C.W. Cunnington and P. Cunnington

Published by Plays Inc Boston

ISBN 0 . . . → Read More: Useful Book List

Working class costume of 17th century women

Foreign visitors to England would often remark how well dressed the English* women were, one traveller has been quoted to say that English women would wear velvet on her back when she had not a crust of bread in her house. It shows that England did not have the ragged poor of Europe. Britain had . . . → Read More: Working class costume of 17th century women