Handbound Costumes

23/09/2026

Q.L vs 130 - The Battle Continues...
Though this may feel slow moving, a lot of work has happened between the last few posts. After boning the panels, all the inner boning had to be put in and then the panels wrapped.........
And yesterday and today saw me taking it one stage further to make it ready for joining - and that was sewing in the CB eyelets.
I have NO idea at what point of construction the original makers sewed their eyelets in. I can only imagine it was when they were readying for the fitting but I find it easier to sew them in when the back panel is still all lonesome and seperate = especially as I'm copying and not creating = as in, I already know where the eyelets are meant to be going.

17/09/2026

Q.L vs 130 - The Battle of the Stays

I'm am at the stage now of wrapping the seams of the each of the panels, and then to start joining them all up, which feels rather exciting.

As I'm away, I've bought my sewing with me and in this video, am just going over the pile of panels and stays that I'm currently working on.
I am VERY much hoping to be able to share more 'together' pics soon!

Hello to all of you lovely followers 😍. For those who have been following for a while may know that I occasionally disappear up into the hil

04/09/2026

Q.L vs 130 - Battle of the Stays continues......
Here's a link to what I've just shared on my Patreon page and thought I would share it here on Facebook too as, let's be honest, it's been a while.
https://www.patreon.com/handboundcostumes/posts/q-l-vs-130-just-168587768
But it's a free link so you should be able to click on it and watch where the project is up to in the recreating of these two BEAUTIFUL pairs of stays.

Between my uncle visiting, work and other mild interuptions, i'm somehow still sewing the centre front panels of 130. I don't think i'll get

10/08/2026

21/07/2026

Welcome to this project on the recreation of these two pair of stays. Meet 1949.130 - (image courtesy of the Manchester Costume Gallery) and Q.L.1965.35.
The battle is down to the striking similarities of these two stays - but also the intruiging differences. The project will be looking at the boning methods, comparing the construction techinques and the pattern shaping, and all else that went into the original making of these two GORGEOUS pair of stays!
I'll be trying to share the project here on Instagram/ Facebook but making images (for me atleast) infamously don't do well and there's a lot more chat and discussion on Patreon so if you would like to know more then please feel free to join us on there.
But for now - take a glance at these two stays and prep for the battle.

18/06/2026

Classification : Dense & Curvy
Date : 1740 - 1760
Museum : Manchester Costume Galleries
Key Details:
- Oh so beautifully fully b***d
- CB opening
- 8 x panels plus 2 x straps
- Patterned wool damask
- This is the pair I based my own pair of Blue Stays on.
These images that I've shared here, I don't know if you've noticed but they are a lot better quality than my normal pics lol. This is because they've come straight from the Manchester Costume Galleries website where you can see and save the photos for yourself.
This pair is S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G and has been a complete blessing to the project. Enjoy!

02/06/2026

This must have passed me by but Patreon now offers nice little shareable clip for the socials.
Though this video has been listed up as the basic paid tier, there are other bits on our patreon page if you'd like to join as a free member.
I love doing these kind of videos (though if I'm honest I felt this one needed a bit more doodling) but the theme of this video is our 'Quotes for Keeps' range which features on useful quotes from our bibliography. This video shares the introduction by Amanda Foreman that heads up the novel 'The Sylph' by the Duchess of Devonshire.
There'll hopefully be other doodly videos to come....and if you'd like to join us on Patreon then please do as it supports the research and shares what's going on in the world of HandBound costumes.

Quotes for Keeps - The Sylph Intro by HandBound Costumes on Patreon. Join HandBound Costumes's community for exclusive content and updates.

26/05/2026

This gown is now finished 😃.
And I'm so pleased that it doesn't look like a bed sheet which was my initial fear.
This gown has been based on the Oberkampf gown that has recently been on display at the V&A's Marie Antoinette's exhibition.

07/05/2026

Pudding Project!
My attempt at the Oberkampf's Chemise a la Reine
I always call little side projects like this as 'pudding' projects. Most of my days is just stuck in front of the computer going over stays and their details, but a friend wants to have a picnic and has made herself one of these, and I thought I'd take up the challenge and have a little break from stays. :)
Plan is:
- two layers of white linen to make up the main gown.
- long clsoe fitting sleeves
- pleated back (facing CB direction)
- gathered fronts
- Frill at bottom of hem

29/04/2026

Stays #21 in our Stays Study series.
So...here we go:
CLASSIFICATION : Short 'n' Brown, Fully B***d Stays with partial boning on bust
DATE : 'Late 18th Century'
MUSEUM: Manchester Costume Galleries
Key Details:
- CB Opening
- Fully B***d
- 8 x panels
- Herringbone straps
- Cf partial lacing.
- Though mostly fully b***d there is a slim section of a half b***d area on the CF panel. This contains backing bones running horizontally between the vertical bones.
- Underarm leather strip.
- Inner bones at neckline
Apologies for NOT the greatest photos but it's all I have. The sun was clearly shining strongly that day lol and at this particular study session I was down in Dr Lambert's office where the windows were larger. In other sessions I was up in the loft where it was a bit of a softer light.

But - overall a lovely, gorgeous pair of stays and featuring many good details, ideal for the comparative element of this research.

Images are courtesy of the Manchester Costume Galleries and from my own personal collection :)