| INDEX | 1300-1599 | 1600s | 1700s | 1800s | 1900s | CROSS-ERA | ETHNO | |
| MISCELLANY | CONTACT | SEARCH | 
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| MISCELLANY |
Red stars are for books I own, white for books I know from library or friends. The number of stars (max. 5) shows how much I recommend them.
I either own or have perused the books in this section. Enclosed critiques reflect my personal opinion of them.
| Alcega, Juan de. Tailor's pattern book 1589. Carlton: Ruth Bean, 1999 |
 Facsimile
edition of a Spanish pattern book, with English translation. The patterns
are pretty rough and come with unusual (period, Spanish) measurements, so
they're definitely unsuitable for the novice tailor. Still, if you're interested
in the era, this is where you get info on virtually all kinds of garments.
 |
| Andersen, Ellen. Danske dragter. Moden i 1700-årene. Nationalmuseet: København, 1977 |
| 18th century garments from Danish museums, along with
pattern diagrams. Text in Danish and English. |
| Arnold, Janet: Patterns of Fashion:
The cut and construction of clothes for men and women
c1560-1620. London: Macmillan, 1985. |
| Arnold, Janet: Patterns of Fashion 1: Englishwomen's
dresses and their construction c. 1660-1860. London: Macmillan, 1972. |
| Arnold, Janet: Patterns of Fashion 2: Englishwomen's
dresses and their construction c. 1860-1940. London: Macmillan, 1972. |
 Ms
Arnold had access to some very rare garments in costume collections from
which she re-constructed flat patterns. The most valuable and easiest to
use resource for authentic patterns. Note that only the first covers men's
garments. Although the other two focus on "Englishwomen", some
(not all) dress styles were pretty much international. |
| Baumgarten, Linda, and John Watson, Florine Carr. Costume Close Up : Clothing Construction and Pattern, 1750-1790. Costume and Fashion Press, 2000 |
 Apart
from patterns taken from North American surviving garments, it contains
detailed pictures, notes on the fabric used, construction and provenance,
if known. I've never seen any book that examined each garment as thoroughly
as this, even mentioning how the fabric was pieced, whether the garment
was mended or altered later. Colonial re-enactors will love it. |
| Davis, R. I. Men's Garments 1830-1900 : A Guide to Pattern Cutting and Tailoring. |
| There are extremely few resources for historical men's garments. This is one, Waugh is another. |
| Harris, Kristina, ed. Authentic Victorian Dressmaking Techniques. Maneola: Dover, 1999 |
 Reprint
of Butterick's "Dressmaking, Up to Date", 1905. The title is therefore
a lie: This is Edwardian. Instructions for shirtwaists, draped waists, skirts,
evening and wedding gowns, jackets and coats, maternity wear, underwear,
children's. |
| Hill, Margot Hamilton, and Peter A. Bucknell. The Evolution of Fashion : Pattern and Cut from 1066 to 1930 |
 If
I remember correctly, this one contains rather crude pattern diagrams without
measurements, but I may be mixing it up with another book I have seen. |
| Hunnisett, Jean. Period Costume for Stage & Screen
: Patterns for women's dress Medieval-1500. Studio City: Players Press, 1991(?). |
| Hunnisett, Jean. Period Costume for Stage & Screen
: Patterns for women's dress 1500-1800. Studio City: Players Press, 1991. |
| Hunnisett, Jean. Period Costume for Stage & Screen
: Patterns for women's dress 1800-1909. Studio City: Players Press, 1991. |
 Being
meant for theatrical costume designers, the book has largely authentic patterns,
but pragmatically cuts ends where technique is concerned. Still, if taken
with a grain of salt, it does answer some "how-to" questions that
others do not. Wonderfully complimenting the Arnold books. If you're not
overly concerned with authenticity, all three Hunnisett books is all you
need to sew away from the middle ages to the early 20th century. |
| Köhler, Carl, ed. by Emma Sichart. A History of Costume. Maneola: Dover, 1983 |
 English
translation of a German book published in the 1920s, which again was a revised
edition of an 1860s book. Contains patterns from Pharaonic times onwards,
many of them probably only obtained by conjecture from pictorial sources.
For anything before, say, 1500, that's probably acceptable. For anything
after, there are better resources available today (just remember, all this
stuff is 160 years out of date). As a source for serious research, this
book should not just be taken with a grain, but with a chunk of rock salt:
Like most of his contemporaries, Köhler failed to question his sources.. |
| Thursfield, Sarah. Medieval Tailor's Assistant: Making
Common Garments 1200-1500. Quite Specific Media Group, 2001 |
| Waugh, Norah. The Cut of Men's Clothes : 1600-1900. London: Faber & Faber, 1994. |
| Waugh, Norah. The Cut of Women's Clothes : 1600-1930. London: Faber & Faber, 1968. |
 The
patterns are not easy to use, but there are lots of them - plus interesting
background information on period technique, fabric, garment costs etc. The
by-period coverage is more extensive than Arnold's, i.e. there are hardly
any decades/styles not covered. Unfortunately they're pretty expensive,
but still a very good investment. I can't imagine my bookshelf without
them. |
| Waugh, Norah. Corsets and Crinolines. New York: Routledge, 1996. |
 Apart
from valuable background info, this book also has patterns for virtually
all eras in which corsets, crinolines, paniers or bustles were worn. The
source for making the "below" |
| Wright, Merideth. Everyday Dress of Rural America 1783-1800: With Instructions and Patterns. Dover, 1992 |
| An introductory book, covers female, male and children's dress. |
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