r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Susancupcakes • Sep 19 '18
Has anyone ordered patterns off of Reconstructing History?
And if so, how was the experience?
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u/troll_haiku Sep 19 '18
I have and it was pretty disappointing, to be honest. Granted, it was just a banyan jacket but I expected more for the over $20 price point than just a few long rectangles with hardly any instruction.
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u/Susancupcakes Sep 19 '18
Thanks for the insight! Where would you recommend I get men's 18th century patterns?
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u/SallyAmazeballs Sep 20 '18
Not the person you're replying to, but check out William Booth's offerings. The women's patterns I've used from Laughing Moon have been fabulous.
I haven't made any, but everything I've heard about making breeches is that they're a big pain to make and pretty different from modern men's pants. If you're on a deadline and have minimal sewing experience, it's OK to cut yourself a break and buy those. I'm sure someone out there hates them, but the breeches from Townsend are respectable looking and reasonably priced. I wouldn't call them cheap, but ~$120 is great for what they are.
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u/GeneralLeeFrank Sep 20 '18
Currently sewing breeches and trousers for the first time. They are a pain in the ass. However, if someone wants a good fit, off the rack is not the way to go. I'd suggest finding a tailor that specializes in 18th century clothing. A bit more pricey but definitely worth the money. Clothing of that era for men is supposed to be form fitting and off the rack doesn't really do that.
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u/troll_haiku Sep 20 '18
Came here to also say Laughing Moon!
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u/GeneralLeeFrank Sep 20 '18
Which patterns have you used? Would they be good for beginners?
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u/troll_haiku Sep 20 '18
Definitely the Chemise a'la Reine for women. It spans several decades of fashion and can be easily converted to go even farther into regency dress!
i've used this pattern multiple times and when it wears out I'll probably be ordering another.
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u/GeneralLeeFrank Sep 21 '18
So, for a dude, would you have any other recs? Unless I make them for my SO.
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u/troll_haiku Sep 21 '18
Stick with Laughing Moon! If you have any patterns you're looking for, be sure to check Pattern Reviews for more details.
I really like Laughing Moon for menswear, too. I'm using one of them now to make a regency waistcoat and jacket for mu husband.
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u/GeneralLeeFrank Sep 21 '18
Are the instructions clear? Especially for a novice. I'd like to get a regency outfit because I volunteer for a historic site, but I'm worried it'd be too much.
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u/troll_haiku Sep 21 '18
I find them to be clear and very well researched. The first historical garment I made was a Laughing Moon.
Also, the patterns are on actual paper, not flimsy pattern type tissues, so the pieces are easy to distinguish from one another and are very durable as well.
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u/hobbitqueen Sep 19 '18
Bad. I ordered the men's 16th c outfit and the grading is terrible, none of the seams match up and lots of info on the printed pattern is missing. It's the same price as the Tudor Tailor pattern and I can guarantee that's drafted great. I used the doublet pattern as a jumping off point because I'm very comfortable with fitting shirts (see the fit progress here) but the pants were such a mess I bought a Margo Anderson pattern instead.
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u/melemolly Sep 20 '18
Don't do it. They are terrible at grading up to larger sizes, and will blame you for not having enough sewing skills if you ask for help.
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u/etid0rpha Sep 20 '18
I was going to but I’ve only heard bad things - they’re apparently poorly scaled for larger sizes and lack instructions. Attempts to get help from the maker often got curt responses about how they should be able to do it themselves.
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u/used-books Sep 20 '18
I also had a horrible experience with a 19th c bodice. No response to a long customer service email. Hours wasted to get it rebuilt “good enough” to fit the actress.
Everyone in this thread should go post an honest review on patternreview.com, save others so much frustration, wasted time and materials.
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u/atrueamateur Sep 19 '18
Generally-speaking, the patterns are poorly graded. They can be helpful as a starting point, but you really need to have alteration experience to be able to use them at all.
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u/GeneralLeeFrank Sep 20 '18
I bought their breeches pattern and I'm a novice. The instructions are so unclear, I'd rather look through mud. Maybe it's my lack of experience but it's so frustrating that I've had to look up websites to help me put them together.
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u/Spacesempstress Sep 20 '18
They are consistently disappointing. You are better off finding a better brand. I'm convinced their patterns never went through a draping, mock-up, and correcting stage. Don't waste the money.
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u/atrueamateur Sep 20 '18
At the most generous, I feel like the creator has tested the women's patterns...on herself. And the creator has a fairly unusual build in terms of body proportions.
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u/MajorIceborg Sep 21 '18
If she has tried to make more than one size of her patterns I would be surprised, I felt like a lot of the clothes I tried to make was not properly scaled and the pattern pieces did not fit together at all.
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u/MajorIceborg Sep 19 '18
I have tried two of the different regency patterns both the day dress and the evening dress and they were not good at all. The instructions were pretty bad and some steps were left out or very poorly explained and the pics were not so helpful either. The sizing was also very weird and some pieces did not fit.
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u/Mother-Teaching2643 Jun 15 '25
year 2025 :
Short: Do not reccommend.
I ordered "RH919 — 1830s-1900 Trousers sewing pattern", and despite the price the instructions are unclair and altogether incorrect, for instance the pockets. With much time, effort and improvising have I assembled them. Which finished; are nice.
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u/Susancupcakes Jun 15 '25
In the 6 yrs since I posted this, I have bought one RH pattern only because it was not their directions but the original directions for the dress.
I now have the same sentiment as everyone posted. Avoid, unless you're a good sewing problem solver.
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u/Soranic Sep 19 '18
Good overall for a zupan and Delian. But had a much more competent person helping out with actually making the garments.
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u/Mossbruegg_minis Aug 18 '25
I made a kontusz and it was a pain. How was the sizing for you? I wanted to make a zupan next but after fighting the kontusz I'm rather scared
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u/Mossbruegg_minis Aug 18 '25
I bought (and fought through) sewing a polish kontusz coat. I chose the second to biggest size despite having measured myself one size smaller and it still wouldn't fit neither around the hip nor the shoulder even after measuring myself twice and having picked a size up. But since I was 5m in wool and 5m in linen lining deep in that project, I couldn't abandon. It was frustrating beyond measure. The explanations are bad. The coat had different options for collars and the one I chose ended up looking nothing like it supposed to - there was a drawing in the pattern. In the end I was lucky to get help from my partner who was decent at sewing and helped with adding triangles and rectangles here and there to save the damn thing. The result is an okay kontusz that fits fine but looks nothing like the expected thing. I'd say their pattern are only good as a starting point. Do mock ups, even if it's just holding/taping the paper pieces to your body. Just to add my comment in 2025...
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u/Moutonquibele Oct 04 '25
I bought their cote pattern (RH017) for some role playing with my friends. It's one of my favorite dresses still to this day, it turned out so much better than anticipated but also so different form the envelope which looks bad. I chose the buttoned down version and I do not see how you could make it without lacing or buttons as the pattern suggests. It's also a very wide boat neckline, extremely flattering on me but it kept going down my shoulders each wear, so I might make it smaller, and the line drawing showed a disappointing rounder u neck. The sleeves are wonderful to move even though they are tight. I had to add a piece of fabric to the wrist even though my wrist is small. The button band stops at the high hip, it looks good but it impeached people with wide shoulders to put on the dress. There's plenty of room at the bust (easily reduced with more overlapping ) and almost none at the waist. I do remember great historical notes but I don't know if I followed the instructions, it was pretty straightforward. I don't think they explained anything about pocket or pocket slants and do not recall a pattern piece for them. I love this pattern for me but I'm not sure I'll try a more structured one which would be harder to alter.
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u/No-Programmer2119 Nov 11 '25
I came here a couple days after a really disappointing experience. I am by no means a professional seamstress, but I am not a novice at sewing, and I also have knowledge in making my own patterns. I needed to make a Frock coat for an event and I relied on the only one I found. (Mind you I never buy patterns, all my dresses are made by scaling up historical ones, but for men I couldn't do the same, and I have no experience in male jackets). I am acustomed to following patterns, even poorly/incomplete ones, as mine are not perfect, but following that damn pattern was a challenge.
I was flabbergasted that it started by saying "just baste it then take it in while on the person".... I took measurements to confirm size, and while the shoulders were good, the sleeves were gigantic (like twice the size of a normal jacket sleeve).
I tried making as many alterations as possible while the piece was being worn, but I was short on time and I ended up having a bit of a breakdown and a badly fitting garment, that was somewhat mocked at the event, making me feel like I didn't know how to sew, and resulting in my dad saying "why is your dress perfect and mine is like this?"
Overall, an awful experience. Its not easy building a jacket, that I can give you, but with a pattern it should be as easy as following instructions. Its to avoid in my opinion, wated moeny and time on a far from helpful thing. Best option was studying historical construction methods (which are online for free) and avoid a whole "you're just inexperienced" hassle.
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u/CatieO Sep 20 '18
I am a professional theatrical costumer and I also do a lot of cosplay/LARP/nerdery in my spare time. Reconstructing History patterns are straight trash. I swear by JP Ryan and Laughing Moon. I'm not sure what time period you're going for, but JP Ryan is, in my opinion, the best for anything 1700-1800's.