18th century Archives - Sew What Happens

A Blonde Silk Gauze Mantelet

by: tabubilgirlPosted on: 1 May 20251 May 2025

One of my favorite 18th Century costume references is a portrait by Sir Nathanial Dance-Tolland. I love the puffy blue stomacher bows. I love the enormous pearls worn high on her neck. I love her pet squirrel. But mostly I love the lace mantelet that she is wearing over the top of all of it. While less heavily textured, this embroidered silk gauze from FabricGuru has such a similar scale and vibe to the fabric in the portrait that I reckoned it was MEANT. I would make the blonde silk gauze mantelet from the portrait!

1750s , 18th century , Blog , tutorial , Wrapping Gown

A Midnight Silk Sultana:

by: tabubilgirlPosted on: 19 April 20251 May 2025

Last spring at a workshop, I came across a silk sultana hanging on a peg. I tried it on – and I wanted it. I didn’t NEED one, so of course I immediately went fabric shopping and found a piece of suitable-enough silk shantung – just enough of it for a midnight purple silk sultana.

18th century , Accessories , jewellery , tutorial

18th Century Girandole Earrings: a Tutorial

by: tabubilgirlPosted on: 14 February 202517 April 2025

Remember when I made a rhinestone 18th Century Stomacher Brooch? Here is a tutorial for making a pair of 18th Century Girandole Earrings to match!

18th century , Accessories , Blog , jewellery , non-sewing posts , tutorial

18th Century Stomacher Brooch: Tutorial

by: tabubilgirlPosted on: 16 January 20251 May 2025

In the collection of the Victoria & Albert museum in London, there is a stunning antique Portuguese brooch. Thanks to an aliexpress seller who likes the piece as much as I do, today we’re going to make our very own 18th Century Stomacher Brooch!

1750s , 18th century , Blog , caps , garment construction , Playing Dress Up , Wrapping Gown

An 18th Century Short Gown

by: tabubilgirlPosted on: 11 November 202431 March 2025

An 18th Century short-gown is the same sort of garment as a bed gown, except, well… shorter.
Sort of. Mostly. Sometimes.

1780s , Hat , millinery , total chaos , tutorial

An 18th Century Brain Hat: Tutorial

by: tabubilgirlPosted on: 22 June 20231 May 2025

It’s a bergere, and it’s got pleated trim, and puffs of silk, and loops of ribbon all OVER the place.
Here’s a tutorial for an 18th Century Brain Hat!

18th century , Hat , millinery , ruffleruffleruffle , tutorial

Tutorial for an 18th Century Trimmed Bergere Hat:

by: tabubilgirlPosted on: 26 April 202331 January 2025

The short version: I bought a straw hat blank and I fell in love. The long version: here’s a tutorial for an 18th Century trimmed hat!

1780s , 18th century , Accessories , ruffleruffleruffle

Those Frenchies Seek My Ruffles Everywhere: Tutorial for a Swashbuckling 1780s Ruffled Fichu

by: tabubilgirlPosted on: 6 April 202317 April 2025

They seek it here, they seek it there – those Frenchies seek really good dotted Swiss cotton everywhere! Sheer, spotted, and crisp with body for DAYS – there’s only one reasonable thing to do with a fabric like this – make a tutorial for a really swashbuckling 1780s ruffled fichu!