All students of costuming need to learn basic sewing techniques to build costumes for theatrical performance. Basic Sewing for Costume Construction teaches just those fundamentals. Cunningham brings decades of classroom experience as she guides readers with clearly laid-out projects covering hand stitching, fasteners, pinning, sewing, and seams. Additional material on measurement, fabric selection, and use of commercial patterns, as well as three complete construction projects, round out the Second Edition. Each project builds on the previous one to develop a full understanding of the costume construction process.

Learn how to create historically accurate costumes for Elizabethan period productions with Elizabethan Costume Design and Construction! Extensive coverage of a variety of costumes for both men and women of all social classes will allow you to be prepared for any costuming need, and step-by-step instructions will ensure you have the know-how to design and construct your garments. Get inspired by stunning, hand-drawn renderings of costumes used in real life productions like Mary Stuart as you’re led through the design process. Detailed instructions will allow you to bring your designs to life and create a meticulously constructed costume.

Constructing costumes requires a diverse set of skills to successfully create magic on the stage. Knowledge of sewing is vital, but Katherine Strand-Evans shows how much more is involved. She walks readers step by step through setting up and supplying a costume workshop; choosing fabrics; draping, drafting, and manipulating patterns; dyeing and fabric modification; and constructing accessories such as historical undergarments, hats and headdresses, shoes and footwear, masks and armor, jewelry and crowns, and, new to this edition, wigs (written by James McGough). Throughout, the author considers not only the creative aspects of executing costume designs, but also the limitations of budgets and time. Costume Construction opens doors for each reader to find his or her own path to becoming an effective costume technician.

Successful costume design requires a solid foundation in general artistic principles and specific knowledge of how to apply those principles. Cunningham presents readers with just such a foundation and develops it to expose beginning costume designers to the myriad skills they need to develop in order to costume successful stage productions. She begins at the most basic conceptual level—reading plays from a costume designer's perspective. She then follows through with the practical considerations that must be considered at every stage of the costuming process—research, development, sketching, and costume construction. Cunningham has built on the long-standing success of the outstanding first edition with new figures and updates throughout the text, including 24 pages in full color. Examples have been selected from a wide range of stage productions representing a variety of designers, styles, and approaches. Interviews with award-winning designers from stage, film, and other media show the practical importance of the book's concepts. Every chapter incorporates material reflecting the ever-increasing impact of technology, especially computers, on costuming. New to this edition is an ancillary download package (available here), giving students a selection of basic figure drawings to serve as the base layer for digital renderings, ready-made forms and checklists for assembling and organizing costumes for shows, and a list of research and reference websites with easily clickable links.

Costume Close-up discusses the cut, fit, and construction of antique clothing of the second half of the eighteenth century. It will enable talented artisans with advanced skills to construct authentic garments and show curators, conservators, costumers, and reenactors new ways to look at such attire.

The Costume Designer's Handbook is the definitive guide for both aspiring and seasoned costume designers, blending the art and business of theatrical costume design since its inception in 1983. Rosemary Ingham and Liz Covey offer deep insights into play analysis, historical research, collaboration techniques, drafting, and setting up an effective workspace. The book addresses the practicalities of the industry, including job market navigation, freelancing, contracts, and taxes. With over 150 illustrations, an 8-page color insert, and a comprehensive reference section for resources, this handbook encapsulates the essence of costume design, making it an indispensable resource for professionals in the field.