Sources
for hard-to-find items:
- Buttons-Buttons
of the period ranged from shell to covered. Shell
buttons are available at HomeSew in two
sizes and at reasonable prices. For more "'interesting"
buttons of the period, online sources like eBay (www.ebay.com)
are a good resource as well as rummage sales and
flea markets.
- Lace-Lace
is used quite a bit in late Victorian and
Edwardian garments. Fortunately for the modern
seamstress, many of the styles of lace available
then are still available today. Heirloom sewing
suppliers sell many kinds of laces perfect for
shirtwaists or trimming a skirt. Pricey, but well
worth it for the "antique" look. Keep
your eyes open at flea markets and rummage sales
too-you never know what you may find! Handle
antique and vintage laces with care, and soak in
Woolite prior to using. Garments made with
antique lace should never be thrown into the
washing machine; hand-washing is most likely the
safest bet. Another option is to "harvest"
lace off of vintage garments that are too far
gone to salvage. But please, don't destroy a
beautiful piece of antique clothing unless it's
beyond repair!
- Twill
Tape-Available at finer sewing stores and online
at merchants like Wooded
Hamlet (please note I've never ordered
from them). Twill tape has a myriad of uses, the
most common being used in the waistlines of
shirtwaists.
- Sheer Fabrics-Sheer
fabrics used in shirtwaists were usually voile, batiste, a sheer
silk, or sometimes even a wool gauze. These are available at most
better sewing stores, heirloom sewing merchants,
and even places like Wal-Mart (the batiste they carry is a polyester/cotton
blend, but is still very nice). Most cotton batiste sells for around
$10-$15/ per yard with voile in the same or slightly lower price
range. Silks and wools are more expensive, but suitable for use
in special occasion garments for weddings, graduations, etc. For
an even more luxurious look, dotted Swiss, a fine imported fabric,
is perfect for sheer garments of this period. But be prepared to
shell out a lot of dough, as the high-quality nature of the fabric
jacks its price up.
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