FREE convertible cycle wear PDF sewing pattern packs – available NOW
Victorian women's CONVERTIBLE CYCLE WEAR sewing patterns are here! Six PDF pattern packs (for a total of 9 garments) are FREE to download. Each is inspired by the research patents…
See the converting costumes in action
#1 Alice Bygrave's Pulley Cycling Skirt ------------ #2 Julia's Gill's cycling semi-skirt ------------ #3 Henrietta Muller's three piece cycling suit ------------ #4 Pease sisters' combined cycling skirt and cape -----------…
Converting Mary Ward’s side-button cycling skirt
Mary Ward's patent unusually did not come with illustrations - these are our illustrative interpretations for her side-button cycling skirt. And, this is our version of the convertible skirt inspired by…
Reflections on the V&A Design Culture Salon
The V&A Design Culture Salon on Friday was a terrific experience. It was sold out weeks in advance which was exciting and we had a full house on the night. I…
Cycling in Mary Ward’s side-button skirt
Some of the wonderful photos taken by Charlotte Barnes of the Mary Ward side-button skirt in action. It works very well on and off the bike.
Mary Ward – sewing the final
With the successful mock-up under our belt, we started the final version of the Mary Ward 'Hyde Park Safety Skirt'. The material chosen is Dashing Tweed's Raver Tweed. It features…
Mary ward – sewing the mockup
The main skirt is a very simple floor length A-line skirt made up of what Mary calls two aprons – effectively a separate front and back of the skirt, attached…
Mary Ward – mock-up in action
We trialled the mock-up of the Mary Ward convertible skirt on the developing automaton. Mary explains the aim of the ‘Hyde Park Safety’ skirt: ‘The danger of ladies wearing an…
#5 Mary Ward’s ‘Hyde Park Safety Skirt’ – Patent #9605
This patent does not include an illustration, which is unusual. Illustrations provide valuable data for researchers. We devised this, based on our toiles and mock-ups.
Understanding patents without drawings
Convertible garments with hidden elements are already hard to understand with drawings present. Patents without drawings pose further challenges. So, we started to make our own visuals. Mary Ward's patent…