Dear friend,

You probably already know I was homeschooled. And if you didn’t, well, now you do.

The one of the history projects of my senior year, I decided to make a historical colonial-era costume. It took so much work, but I had a lot of fun researching and making the project.

During my research, I came across the YouTube channel of Bernadette Banner, a seamstress and historian. She primarily recreates 19th-century Victorian and Edwardian patterns. However, she also uses many historical sewing techniques and I’ve learned a lot about clothing construction from her.

Someone who does it well

Bernadette Banner started out as a Broadway costume designer and then later moved into studying historical dress and reconstruction. She started her YouTube channel in 2018, which I found not long after.

In the most recent of her videos that I’ve watched (watch it here), Bernadette was creating more of a historically inspired project, instead of her usual recreations. At one point during the project she said something interesting.

“So, I work in textiles, but I do think it is important to find inspiration outside your medium.”

She said that she not only goes to fashion shows and reads books on clothing, but she looks at furniture, architecture, nature, and little things she finds in her everyday life for inspiration in her creative projects.

When you are involved in a craft that has been around for centuries, like sewing clothes, it is important to understand the history. The techniques and the experimentation from people who have mastered the craft before you can both really help you understand the craft and help you avoid needless mistakes.

Use the wisdom and the knowledge from the past.

Sincerely,

R. J. Catlin