All posts filed under: Miscellenia

Tips and tricks for hand-sewing (historical and otherwise)

A lot of people are astonished when the hear that I sew entire 18th century garments by hand, and mention that they find handsewing hard and intimidating. Here are 5 quick tricks to make it a lot easier – whether you are hand-sewing your own elaborate historical garment, or just sewing on a button or mending a tiny seam. 1. Use good needles (and the right kind). There are different qualities of needles, and different types of needles, and it’s important to have the best quality needles you can afford, and to use the right type the type of sewing and the type of thread you are using. Yes, a packet of good, high-quality needles can cost you up to $9, whereas the bargain store have them for $1, but the last time a student brought in bargain needles to a class of mine we ended up tossing the whole packet because they were all blunt (really blunt. The tip of each was FLAT). You may spend more money initially to buy really good …

Crab Attack!

Published by The Dreamstress

So, apparently getting attacked and bitten by random not-particularly-threatening beasties whilst on holiday is my thing. Last September it was the duck in Hawaii, and a decade ago I was bitten by an eel while feeding it. This latest one takes the cake though. We were in Golden Bay. We were determined to go swimming. Fabulous Parapara beach – the massive curve of sand stretching away into the distance. Endless blue sky, the sun beaming down, seagulls circling, waves crashing. The picture was perfect, except for one minor detail – the tide was out, and the water was a bit shallow and murky. As someone who grew up by the ocean, that’s not the best time to be in the water, but I kept my doubts to myself and we raced into the water. It was warm for once, which is always exciting and unusual in New Zealand. So we forged out, walking metres and metres out into the water towards the deep water line. And then I screwed up. I opened my mouth. “You …

Rate the Oscars 2013

Published by The Dreamstress

Every year for the Oscars instead of doing my usual ‘Rate the Dress’ post I turn the tables and give my rating of all the best and the worst of the Oscars fashions. This year is no exception. So you’ll have to wait one more week for the final rating on Mister Embellishment. As always, I’ll start with my favourite dress of the year. I think you may be a bit surprised. Yes, Fan Bingbing, I have no idea who you are, and I’d never in a million years wear your dress, and technically by all my rules that is a hideous frock, but it was the perfect dress for you. Right colour for you, right makeup, right hair, you’ve got the figure to pull off the ‘just shove a bunch of fabric on her, pin it wherever you can and call it good‘ school of haute couture, and something about your smile makes me think you have a sense of humour about the dress. It’s so right, and so not boring, that it is …