It all started when I was perusing ModCloth and saw a beautiful plaid circle skirt. I needed it. The problem was, it was $64. Yikes. But no fear! I can sew(ish)!

As a young teen obsessed with vintage clothing, I dearly wanted a circle skirt. I'd seen them in old magazines and thought the felt ones with appliques like poodles or the Eiffel Tower were just too cute for words. When my grandmother realized how much I loved vintage fashion, she gave me a beautiful ruffled petticoat she had made in the mid-1950s and two felted wool circle skirts she was still wearing as late as the 1970s (she kept her 23" waist until her death by doing nightly sit-ups on a slant board!). I was 14 at the time, and the clothes were a perfect fit. I was on cloud nine.

There are some days that opening my in-box leaves me with an especially huge smile on my face. I always love to hear from my customers, but I have a special place in my heart for the youngsters--the ones who discovered their love of sewing early on while using my patterns or while reading through helpful posts on the Message Forum, encouraged by fellow sewists all the way.

My friend Lorna McKenzie of The Tailor's Apprentice asked me in 2011 to review the Lilly Rose pattern she was developing from an original 1940s design. Unfortunately, I had just moved to Kenya and was expecting a new baby at the time, so I never did get around to sewing the dress. But I can't stand leaving a project undone, so five years later (!!!) I asked Lorna if I could still stitch up the pattern and provide feedback. She graciously sent me a review copy, and I got started!

Ladies, if you've ever struggled with what goes on before you put on your clothes, it's time to fix that. If you spend the day tugging up bra straps or end the day dying to be released from bra bondage, then, reader, this post is for you. We’re doing a first on my blog: going deep into the confusing world of bra-fitting (and, yes, this will have a historical connection and repercussions for at least one of my patterns!).

Customer Sharon E. wanted to make a "Caroline" dress for her daughter for Easter to match her doll from American Girl....

I was looking for a quick and simple project to make during 2 days off with my 3 meters of cotton. I've chosen the drawstring dress.

Next time this pattern is printed, the lines will be in place, but this should help the rest of you. I never cease to be amazed at what can go unremarked and unseen for such a long stretch of years. This is why I LOVE customer feedback.

I'm working on our practice dress before I make the real [first communion dress]. This is out of a table cloth my son decided to use scissors on. :)

I made a Regency day dress using the Sense and Sensibility Regency Gown Pattern. I used reproduction material that I had purchased at a Jane Austen festival at Locust Grove in Louisville.

Customer Sheri A. created her Regency ensemble from the skin out, beginning with a chemise and short (transitional) stays, then making the lovely gown of dotted Swiss to go over both.

After finishing the bodice base, it was time to make the sleeves. Because this material is so thin and delicate, I chose to make full long sleeves with short oversleeves instead of using removable under sleeves. The fantastic border of this beautiful sari fabric provided me with an instant border for the long sleeve hems and the sleeve bands of the short sleeves.

I decided last August to make a new apron-front gown, basing it upon several gowns I've handled in person, plus an extant garment in the National Museum of Australia that I found online with detailed photographs.This time, I've used my Elegant Lady's Closet pattern as the base, since it has no back opening to begin with and features the more fitted long sleeves I planned to use for my undersleeves and the short, puffed ballgown sleeves I'd use as the over sleeves.

In November 2014 I bought a pattern for a Regency Era Dress from you, with the intent of first sewing a toile and then my wedding dress from it. Which I did! I was very happy with the result, and wanted to show you some photos of me wearing it just a few weeks ago.

Here are some pictures of my Titanic dress. It was a pleasure to work with this pattern.

I needed a warm coat for a War of 1812 reenacting event in February. I've had this white wool plush coating in my stash for about 15 years, so I decided it would be perfect for a pelisse. This is made from the Regency Spencer pattern. I used the skirt pattern from the Regency Gown pattern to make the pelisse skirt as suggested in the instructions.

Thanks a lot for this great pattern. I have never before done anything from this period, but both the underwear and the crossover gown pattern went together like a dream. The dress looks so nice, you hardly notice that it is made from an old Ikea curtain and three old pillow cases ;-) Since I live in Germany I used your e-pattern option, which even work easily on my Linux.

I found your pattern (1940s Swing Dress) and it was the exact dress I was hoping to find in all the shops I had visited!

This maternity Regency gown was made with your pattern. It's entirely hand made and embroidered.

All of these regency gowns are made with the Elegant Lady's Closet pattern. This was during the First International Open for Historic Dances in Paris last year. We are French Irish dancers from Paris.