I am so excited to announce that Scroop Patterns is going to be collaborating with Amber of Virgil’s Fine Goods to create historically accurate 18th century (and, if those go well, Regency) patterns!
Historically accurate print-at-home PDF 18th century patterns have long been top of my costuming wish-list. Out here in NZ, ordering any of the ones from overseas takes weeks, and is extremely expensive. Even if you’re not so far-flung, PDF patterns means that you can buy, print, and get working on your item all within the same hour. (and yes, we’ll be doing paper patterns too!)
I’ve considered doing 18th century patterns for Scroop Patterns, but I don’t feel I have the depth of experience needed to make really amazing Georgian patterns: there aren’t enough 18th c garments in NZ for me to study, or experts to learn from. And I really wouldn’t want to do them unless I could be sure they were really, really good.
I thought about who did have the experience, and Amber was the obvious choice. She combines mantua-makers training with exquisite fit, beautifully made garments, and, most importantly, exceptional teaching skills.
I have learned so much from her blog and IG and Virgil’s Fine Goods & Lady of the Wilderness Facebook (her videos on draping sleeves for a 1778 Italian gown and then setting the sleeves on yourself were a total revelation – and her Letter to Costuming/Living History Newbies is super helpful).
So we’re combining Amber’s knowledge, and all the quality you’ve come to expect from Scroop Patterns, to make detailed, historically accurate, size-inclusive 18th century patterns! We think they’re going to be wonderful – and we hope you think so too!
We’re starting with an 1780s stays pattern, so that you have the foundation to build the rest of your wardrobe over. And then we’ve got so many more exciting plans!
Keep a watch out later today for our call for testers!
Please remember us plus size girls with your new patterns! I’m always looking for 18th century patterns, and there are so few for me (I’m a 3x). Can’t wait to see what pretty patterns you come up with!
It’s always the goal to be as inclusive as possible with Scroop Patterns! We haven’t finalised the size range for the first pattern yet, but we’ll try our best to make it cover as many sizes as possible.
Exciting news! I can’t wait to see what patterns you design!
Thank you! We’ll be showing a sneak-peek of a our first one with our call for testers.
Hooray! This is something I have struggled with. I have made one pair of stays, which almost worked, and a shift, under petticoat, dress or show petticoat and a robe to go over it all. It was fun to wear, but the stays collapsed and slid under my ‘girls’ and the stomacher threatened to slip and slide away too.
So please include notes on how to gauge whether the fit is right, and how to stabilise !!!! things……
Can’t wait….
Yay!
We’re definitely including lots of fit information, and very detailed instructions on the materials and techniques, all of which should help keep things from slipping and sliding and slouching and slumping and other things that generally aren’t what stays are supposed to do!
This is such fantastic news! I can’t think of two pros who are better suited to such a partnership. Congratulations! I look forward to your future releases!
Awww, thank you! I’m so excited about or partnership and this project: it’s really a dream come true!
Oh! I’m super excited to hear this! This Kiwi has similar problems with finding patterns (usually Spotlight seems to have run out of even normal patterns I want when I’m flicking through the catalogues …) and is even more excited to hear about the future Regency possibilities. Who doesn’t want to look a little bit like Elizabeth Bennet? (Or is that just me?) I’m certainly a novice when it comes to historical sewing (as in, one medieval dress …) but would love to find out more. Good to hear you’re starting with the foundations – it’s all very well to have historical garments, but they certainly never hang correctly without suitable undergarments!
Can’t wait for the updates!
Yay! Thank you! We’re so pleased you’re excited!
It is so hard finding patterns here isn’t it?
We’re doing very comprehensive instructions, so hopefully that will make them accessible even to people who are new to historical sewing.
And material! Struggled to find nice wools a few months back …
Maybe in a few months when I have time (uni exams …) I might be able to have a (probably high stressful but nonetheless rather enjoyable) go at these. I assume you’d be looking at 1780s/90s ensemble overall?
Second the request for plus sizes. I am also hoping that you might consider doing some earlier styles.. I am trying to find anything for 1740s that I can reproduce. But new patterns sounds wonderful! Can’t wait!
Carole
We’re definitely going to try to have the patterns in the widest possible size range! We haven’t finalised the range for the first pattern yet, but it will at least go up to a 50″ bust.
We’ll keep the demand earlier eras in mind! It’s not going to happen super quickly though: I still want to do modern and other eras for Scroop, and Amber has her own business with Virgil’s Fine Goods to run. And our focus is very much on quality, which demands time.
What fabulous news! I am looking forward to seeing what TWO SWELL ARTISTS get up to! Congratulations on your new endeavor, and it will be neat to see the results.
Thank you! <3
This is exciting! I am looking forward to seeing ya’ll’s work.