Historical
clothing patterns for
the
modern seamstress
Welcome to my website!
The Mantua-Maker
is a historical clothing sewing pattern company, specializing in women's clothing. All patterns are multi-sized, and are based
on actual garments, pattern drawings, or engravings and photographs made during the time the garment was worn.
Each pattern
is carefully researched and tested, so that any garment made from a Mantua-Maker pattern will be historically accurate, but
with allowance made for the changes in women's physical build between the time the garment was originally worn and modern
times.
Sewing should
be fun! I try to simplify my pattern pieces to the most basic - but historically accurate - shapes. No fussy details
- unless they are unavoidable to create an authentic costume. No bizarre concoctions - unless a period woman really
wore it. Lots of options, variations, and decoration ideas.
I personally
draft and describe my patterns: corset patterns, general underclothing and underpinning patterns, skirt patterns and bodice
patterns. I work hard on creating instructions that are interesting, as well as useful. The instructions are geared
toward someone who knows a little about sewing, but not necessarily a lot. Corsets need a little advanced sewing knowledge,
but even there, with persistance and patience even a beginner can make a corset.