Corsets and  Cravats
Virtual Library

Pre-recorded session available for two weeks after registration. Registration is not automated.  You will be sent a PayPal invoice.  MP4 link will be sent after payment is received.

Sheer Pleasure: Transparent Accessories, 1830-1870

by Carolann Schmitt
$15

Transparent accessories add grace, elegance, and delicacy to a garment. They can greatly change the appearance of a dress, taking it from plain to fancy, from simple to refined. Sheer fabrics from the mid-19th century are glorious: finely woven, light, airy. They have body, a smooth hand, and lovely drape. They were available in a variety of fibers -cotton, silk, linen, wool, pina; and a variety of fabrics - organdy, organza, lawn, batiste, mull, cambric, clear muslin, Swiss dot, net, point d'esprit, lace. From these fabrics, period seamstresses and needleworkers created a variety of light and airy accessories including caps, headdresses, mantles, collars, cuffs, undersleeves, tuckers, chemisettes, fichus, pelerines, canezous, overbodices, shawls, mantles and cloaks. Profusely illustrated, this class will use primary sources including images, written descriptions and original garments as we discuss styles, fabrics, construction techniques, and when and where these accessories were worn.

What Were Mothers Thinking? Tales from the Breeching Zone

by Juanita Leisch Jensen
$10
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​In this well-illustrated talk, Juanita will present some results of her ‘Who Wore What’ style analysis of children’s clothing as seen in Civil War period cartes de visite. After child development professional, Meg DeAngelis, analyzed thousands of photographs to determine the age of the children, Juanita recorded the styles of clothing worn by children of different ages, and of boys versus girls.  She identified the age at which most boys were ‘breeched’ (switched from skirts to trousers), and the differences in the clothing of boys prior to breeching and girls of the same age. Spoiler – They were not dressed alike! Juanita has identified and will reveal the one consistent factor that seems to best explain the mothers’ motivation behind the most common styles of clothing or, ‘what were they thinking?’ 
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Re-creating Landscapes of the Mid-19th Century

by Jim Johnson
$10
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Most likely, many of us who are intrigued by the material culture of the past will often seek out all sorts of objects and information that can give a glimpse into what day to day life was like in any given period of history.  One of the more fascinating connections is that of the living links to the past, namely plants.  There has been a huge movement in the preservation and propagation of historic plant material in the past several years and right along with it, an increasing interest in how they were used in our ancestor’s landscapes.

In the mid-19th century, much like today, the everyday landscape ranged from sublime private and public gardens, to nothing more than a simple geranium in a clay pot, sitting on a stoop.  Learn about the landscape styles and plant materials popular during the mid-19th century, and where these plans and plants can still be found today.

​FASHION BUILDING BLOCKS: A WELL DRESSED Man FOR 1860-1865

by Kara Bocek
​$10

In this new recurring series, we will take a look at the little details that add up to a larger picture of a man’s wardrobe in the past. Use it to perfect your own impression or learn about new eras.
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Printed Textiles

by Carolann Schmitt
$10

​Learning how to select appropriate printed fabrics for reproduction clothing can be  challenging. Pattern designs changed with the prevailing fashion, with improvements in  dyes and dyeing, and with advancements in fabric printing technology. Understanding the  mid-nineteenth century methods used to print fabric for men’s and women’s clothing and  the patterns that are characteristic of the technology used to print them can be a useful  tool to help date and select appropriate fabrics for reproduction clothing.  
The technology used to create the complicated and intriguing designs in some of  the patterns is and was amazing. Unfortunately we have lost much of this technology, and  only a few very specialized print houses still survive.

When This You See, Remember Me

by Colleen Formby
$10

Whether educated in the home, at a formal school, or even in an orphanage, learning to stitch and embroider was an integral part of the education of girls of all classes. One of the standards in this education was the creation of a needlework sampler, often following the basic pattern created by a teacher, but also infused with the creativity of the child and her surroundings. We’ll look at a variety of sampler types and embroidered pictures, their history, and their influence and place in the lives of adult women.
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Fashion Building Blocks: A well Dressed Woman for 1860-1865

by Carolann Schmitt & Maggie Koenig
$10

​In this new recurring series, we will take a look at some of the details in a wardrobe of a woman in the past. This session focuses on the foundations c.1855-1865: how undergarments fit and work together to provide a system of support; how the details of fit and construction help create the overall look; and how the same dress can work in multiple settings for functional and dressier occasions. Whether you are a new participant or a long-time veteran in wearing historic clothing, you may find information in the presentation to perfect your own impression or learn how women dressed in a different era.

Prepare Your Hair

by Courtney Read
​$10

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1842 Stays

by Mackenzie Anderson Sholtz
​$10

​Join pattern-maker Mackenzie Anderson Sholtz for an in-depth look at these marvelous stays from 1842.