Technical Design Solutions for Theatre Volume 3

Costumes

Taking a Pattern from an 18th-Century Clothing Piece	Linda Kelley-Dodd
Deriving a Pattern for 18th-Century American Men’s Fall-Front Breeches	Linda Kelley-Dodd

Taking a Pattern from an 18th-Century Clothing Piece

This article describes a method for deriving an “as-built” pattern from an existing garment: an 18th century waistcoat. This method, which, though simple, requires careful observation and meticulous documentation, can help you manage your time well, and will give you the best pattern possible.

Background: Getting Started

Most of the few remaining 18th-century garments are held by museums. Finding the right museum for your purposes and getting and keeping the willing cooperation of museum staff requires that you treat ...