Many pockets
I asked fb and twitter for the collective noun of many pockets. Suggestions so far: a confusion of pockets a mess of pockets a trouser of pockets a misplaced of…
‘master copies’ or ‘mistress copies’
The irony of the traced, re-drawn, copied and re-copied 'master' copy. And yet again Kat point out another ridiculous gendering which goes unnoticed.
Bloomer pattern packs
Rachel's magnificent pattern packs in progress! And a mail out to Nikki who is making her pair at home.
Dressmaking dummy
I spotted a much needed (second hand) dressmaking dummy for the project on gumtree recently. We already have one but it is not enough with the growing number of garments…
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…
Working with inter-century technologies
I threaded this 1897 machine with blue thread and the new electric machine with black so I could work between the two devices. Though my foot kept tapping about for the…
#1 Bygrave Convertible Skirt – Patent #17,145
The first cycle outfit we have chosen to make is from a patent by Alice Louisa Bygrave, of No. 113 Cantebury Road, Brixton in the County of Surrey. It was…
Preparing for a Bloomer making workshop
We are preparing for an experimental DiY Bloomer Making workshop with the new MA Fashion students at Goldsmiths. It is a great opportunity to work with the fascinating materials emerging…
A visit to the stitch lab and digital fabric printing labs
As Rachel and I get stuck into sewing we have been talking about exploring the resources potentially available to us in the spirit of ‘interdisciplinary collaboration’ at Goldsmiths. So, recenlty we have…
Archival visit – Manchester Gallery of Costume
I recently made an appointment and visited the Manchester Gallery of Costume at Platt Hall. I contacted the curator with my request to specifically see women’s cycle wear from 1886…