This past weekend, I attended another interesting talk hosted by the Jane Austen Society of North American (Minnesota chapter). For this month’s meeting, we met in a dressmaking studio in St. Paul. The topic: The Art of Regency-Inspired Dressmaking: Tips and Tricks from a London-Trained Dressmaker.
Our speaker was master seamstress, Colleen Kahn. Colleen talked about dress design and how (and why) silhouettes changed over the eras, as well as pattern design and modification, fabric selection, “surface design,” (a new term to me) and trim. She also talked about undergarments like corsets (or stays) and petticoats, and outer garments like pelisses and redingotes.
She was an engaging speaker and obviously very talented. I found it interesting to visit her studio, see samples of her work, and learn a little about her sewing school (I didn’t even know that was a thing). She offers introductory sewing classes all the way to advanced classes in costume design.
Listening to her talk using a vocabulary unfamiliar to me (“stiff coutil, hand piping, tambour beading, rouleaux trim…”) I felt like a fish out of water (or one that ventured into JoAnn Fabrics). I also wondered if the experience was similar to what it might feel like for someone else to, say, find themselves at a writing class and not understand the lingo.
Anyhoo, even though I don’t sew (and that one awful elastic-waist shirt I made in high-school Home Ec class does not count), I enjoyed the presentation, and who knows, some of it might prove helpful the next time I have to describe a gown my Regency-era character is wearing.
What about you? Do you sew?
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I do sew, though I haven’t made garments for a number of years (and now I want to move to St. Paul so I can attend some of those classes!). During the pandemic, when nobody could get masks and everybody needed them–politics aside–my joy in creating things from fabric was revived and I made over 900 masks.
This post was fascinating to me.
Not a stitch. That second dress is exquisite. If only our clothes today were as beautiful. Thx for sharing.
I haven’t sewn for years, but I did advance in home-ec class to making a midi-length, lined wool coat with bound buttonholes—and still, I hadn’t heard most of those Regency era sewing terms.
P.S. That teal colored gown is STUNNING!
Oh, I thoroughly enjoy sewing and do it regularly. But I’ve only done one item of clothing (successfully) and decided that was enough for me on that front. LOL However, I think taking her beginner class would be fascinating. (I “cheated” in Home Ec by making a tote bag. So while I watched the rest of my classmates struggle to finish their clothing, I was happily making snickerdoodles)
I taught myself to sew making Barbie Doll clothes when I was about 10. When I was in my 20s and 30s, I made my own clothes and my daughters’ clothes. Even made myself a coat one year. But by the time I turned 40, I put away the sewing machine and haven’t used it since, other than to mend something. Maybe that’s because I quit working a 9 to 5 job and got to work/write at home in comfy clothes (t-shirts and sweatpants which eventually became t-shirts and yoga pants). LOL!!
Yes! I do sew and embroider and quilt too! I’ve even made costumes for my children and grandkids And for others too. Nothing as elaborate as the speaker. And my costumes would not qualify as worthy of her school! But I enjoy it and find it relaxing. Especially when my grandkids ask if I can make a stuffy like their drawing, or an 18 inch stuffed ant to illustrate their science report!!
I don’t sew, but I think I would have found it fascinating to learn about it. (I’m a learner, not a doer. 😂) What a cool experience!
Beautiful stitching. Those gowns are gorgeous!! I love vintage.
I can mend small holes in my socks but that’s as far it goes.
Yes, I am getting back to sewing. Nothing fancy, mind you, but lots of straight seams as I do whatever is required for our church sewing circle. We make quilts for Lutheran World Relief, and some go overseas (ex: to sailors stranded on boats in the Baltimore harbor after the bridge accident) and others go to local nursing homes. At some point, I will try clothing again! I wear mid-20th century outfits to writer events and would love to make something for myself!
I’ve actually been sewing since I was five years old. My grandmother had an old treadle sewing machine and that’s what I learned on! Although I haven’t sewn garments in a long time, I’d love to make a Regency dress just for the fun of it.
Great post!
Yes I do sew. Not as often as I did when I was younger and sewed for myself and children.
I admit that even I would be confused with some of her terminology. 😂
Interesting!