Questions about the Cassandra Stays: boning, lacing, tabs, five panels vs four, and more…
The Dreamstress
by The Dreamstress
4h ago
Today’s post is all about your questions about the Cassandra Stays. Can you use different types and widths of boning? Are stays or corsets more comfortable?  Why five panels instead of four? Can you tell us more about tab width and shape? Do the Augustas or the Cassandra Stays work better with a short torso?  And can the theatrical version be made without back lacing?   The Cassandra Stays Sew-Along is coming up in April!  Watch out for more info about that in just a few days.  For now, let’s answer your questions about the Cassandra Stays: The Cassandra Stays ca ..read more
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Rate the Dress: all about those sleeves, mid 1860s
The Dreamstress
by The Dreamstress
1w ago
It’s been a while since I managed to do a Rate the Dress.  Not since October! Last Rate the Dress:  a 1770s dress from 1708-10 bizarre silk lampas How much you liked this dress depended very much on how much you liked the very distinctive yellow-greens and bold ‘bizarre’ patterns of the silk.  Some of you loved them, some of you loved its distinctiveness even if the style wouldn’t usually be your taste, and some weren’t quite so sure about those hues and patterns.  However, even those of you not fond of the colours could still see the merit of the remake and the lustre of t ..read more
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Recipe: To make Ratafia Biscuits (aka, Ratafia Cakes)
The Dreamstress
by The Dreamstress
1w ago
Every couple of years this blog skips off on a little tangent, and I publish a recipe.  Back in 2022 I transcribed Roach’s famous 40 Orange Cake from Our Flag Means Death, and in previous years I’ve shared recipes for vegetarian ‘Kate Sheppard’s’ pie, and a gluten-free Plum Cake. I also share lots of posts with links to recipes which people tell me they have used. Today’s recipe is my most-requested recipe ever: ratafia biscuits.  It’s easy, it’s delicious, and it’s gluten and dairy free, so it fits a lot of dietary requirements.  Plus, it’s historical!  Ratafia biscuits we ..read more
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An interview on whakarongo – Der Neuseeland Podcast!
The Dreamstress
by The Dreamstress
3w ago
Perfectly timed as a follow-up to my post about pretty pink Schloss Benrath, here’s what I did after touring the palace! I was interviewed as a guest on Ripeka’s wonderful podcast about New Zealand! The first few minutes are in German, and then it switches to English* and me meandering through how I met Ripeka, how I ended up doing what I do, WWI from a New Zealand perspective, STDs, the Fortnight in 1916 experience, bad moustaches, the cultural universality of socks and sandals, where to shop in Wellington, and things I loved in Germany… So kind-of everything! Here’s the dress we tal ..read more
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The stunning Cassandra Stays tester makes!
The Dreamstress
by The Dreamstress
1M ago
It’s the absolute best part of a pattern launch: time to show off the tester makes! Pattern testers are super fabulous from our end, because they help us ensure we deliver you the best possible pattern.  They ask about instructions that are confusing.  They provide feedback on the fit on a whole range of bodies.  Based on their input we’re able to smooth off any final rough corners, and adjust the fit to make sure it will work for as many people as possible straight out of the packet – and that we have good fit and alteration guidance for when it doesn’t. Pattern testers are s ..read more
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The Augusta Stays & The Cassandra Stays – what’s the difference?
The Dreamstress
by The Dreamstress
1M ago
We’ve had so many questions about the difference between the Scroop + Virgils Fine Goods Augusta Stays and the Scroop + Virgil’s Fine Goods Cassandra Stays that I’m bumping the planned blog post about that up the queue and answering it before I even share the (absolutely amazing!) tester makes. Although the Augusta and Cassandra Stays are both 18th century stays, they are quite different patterns.  Here’s how, and which you should choose depending on what you want as a costumer! (pssst, don’t forget that the Cassandra Stays are 15% off until Thur 22 Feb, midnight NZDT) Silhouette & Da ..read more
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Meet the Cassandra Stays!
The Dreamstress
by The Dreamstress
1M ago
Four and a half years after launching our first collaboration pattern, the wildly popular Augusta Stays pattern,  Amber of Virgil’s Fine Goods and I are super excited to introduce you to our second stays pattern: The Cassandra Stays! So many of you have asked for an earlier 1760s-70s stays pattern,  and for front lacing stays.  Inspired by this, we’ve created a pattern based on a number of extant 1760s-70s stays with a fully historically accurate closed front option, and a front lacing theatrical option that still gives a beautiful shape. Buy the pattern here!  – and get 1 ..read more
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Schloss Benrath: The prettiest pink pleasure palace
The Dreamstress
by The Dreamstress
1M ago
When staying in Essen in Germany last August I mostly asked my hosts what they wanted to show me, and just trotted along after them, learning and enjoying the adventure.  It’s a wonderful way to travel, because you get to see things that mean something to the people who live there, and get introduced to amazing stuff you might never have assumed was interesting (like the German Mining Museum and the best table centrepiece ever!). But I did have one request.  Could we go see Schloss Benrath in Düsseldorf?  I’d seen pictures of the palace online, and it is so pretty!  (and I ..read more
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It’s Sale Time at Scroop Patterns
The Dreamstress
by The Dreamstress
4M ago
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Get 20% off all patterns at scrooppatterns.com from now until Midnight 1 Dec, NZDT. No need to enter a code: the discount is applied automatically at checkout. The post It’s Sale Time at Scroop Patterns appeared first on The Dreamstress ..read more
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Call for Pattern Testers for Stays suitable for 1760-80
The Dreamstress
by The Dreamstress
4M ago
UPDATE:  Thank you to all who applied!  Applications to test the pattern are now closed. Amber of Virgil’s Fine Goods and I are adding to the Scroop + Virgil’s Fine Goods Pattern offerings, and have another exciting 18th century pattern almost finished!   We’re looking for testers to help us check the final fit and instruction details. If you’d like to be one of them, keep reading to learn more, and how to apply! This testing round will run Sat 11 Nov-Wed 3 Jan, with a check in midway.  We know that’s a very busy time of year for some people, but a very slow time for other ..read more
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