Costume Construction and Pattern Cutting

18th Century Male Puppet Suit - I based my garment on Elizabeth Friendship's 'Pattern Cutting for Men's Costume'. Anything visible needed to be lined. To sew the seams, I glued and pressed with an iron before top stitching on 1.5 for security.

1890 - 1900 Silk Corset - I altered the pattern to fit my measurements. With an industrial sewing machine, I created channels for steel boning. For the back, I used an eyelet machine.

I bulked out the maquette to take a pattern from the body with tissue paper and tape. To create the skin, I dyed scrap fabric with terracotta and salt. Afterwards, I pieced together the pattern with a domestic sewing machine.

I began with a structure made from newspapers. The sculpt had to be thin due to the thickness of faux fur. With tissue paper and tape I took a pattern and transfered it to tracing paper.

Waitcoat - I cut the pattern out of wool tweed and hourse hair for support. I then hand sewed along the outer edge of the tape. For the bean, I pad stitched for ease and tightness.