This innovative and breathtakingly detailed book from the V&A presents dress patterns, construction details, embroidery, and making instructions (including a knitting pattern and lacemaking) for 15 garments and accessories from a 17th-century British woman's wardrobe. Step-by-step drawings of the construction sequence and scale patterns for each garment enable readers to accurately reconstruct them. There are scale diagrams for making linen and metal thread laces, silk braids, and embroidery designs. Multiple photographs, close-up construction details, and X-ray photography reveal the hidden elements of the clothes, the number of layers, and the stitches used inside. This first book in a new series takes the physical examination and study of historical clothing to a new depth and degree of detail, using the expertise of designers, tailors, and makers from London's Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
Introduction and Acknowledgements -- The tools and techniques of the
tailor and seamstress -- Embroidery tools and techniques -- Knitting stitches
-- Sewing stitches -- Embroidery stitches -- How to use this book -- THE
PATTERNS -- Margaret Layton's waistcoat, 1610-15 -- Pink silk waistcoat,
1610-20 -- Blackwork waistcoat, 1620-25 -- Fustian waistcoat, 1630s --
Slashed satin bodice, 1630s -- Knitted silk waistcoat, 1630-1700 --
Embroidered lined mantle, 1590-1610 -- Linen smock, 1620-40 -- Lined hood,
1600-1640 -- Embroidered coif and forehead cloth, 1600-1650 -- Linen band and
cuffs, 1630-35 -- Embroidered partlet and sleeve panels, 1615-25 -- Linen
kerchief, 1600s -- Embroidered linen gloves, 1600-1625 -- Embroidered kid
gloves, 1610-30 -- Bibliography
Susan North is Curator in the V&A Fashion, Textiles and Furniture Department. Jenny Tiramani, Luca Costigliolo, Claire Thornton and Armelle Lucas, who produced the patterns for the book, were all members of the wardrobe team at Shakespeare's Globe between 1999 and 2005.
