If you can get on top of them now, they won't be secretly beavering away, creating a worse infestation. Check your whole house as soon as you can, plus anything you have stored away. And then keep checking regularly.

Good luck!

My sympathies - we've had an outbreak as well. They are a curse. Our whole house and loft are full of stuff and I had to check everything. Nightmare. My top tips - Know your enemy Hoover, hoover, hoover. Then hoover again. Keep hoovering. Buy HEPA filter hoover bags (try Espares for bargains), and t...

All for less than two quid at the moment - but not for long. Worth a look if you use one of those infernal devices....... http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Quarter-Given-Charles-ebook/dp/B007TV0R3I/ref=br_lf_m_1000694023_3_53_img?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&pf_rd_p=358942107&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_...

Medicus Matt wrote:

Oh thank you very much..]

I had to look and found those nice boots and .............. Leather cycle shoes! < swoon >

PMd you Pete.

For an event next year, I'm looking for companies to sell items related to history to the general public - ie, wooden/plastic swords, kids' dressing-up stuff, toys, etc etc - anything really. This would need to be a company who would actually sell stuff on a stall, not just a supplier. If anyone has...

John Waller wrote:I can't remember the name but there was someone at TORM with a superb ruff and lace cuffs on their stall.

That was
http://www.white-rabbit-lynens.co.uk/
Beautiful work.

ladydetemps wrote:having trouble sourcing a busk.

http://www.venacavadesign.co.uk/Product ... tml?q=busk

You can do a quick search here:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/maney/cos

Frustratingly the text isn't available unless you pay or have a sub, but it might help to be able to see the contents of each volume easily.

Also many of the patterns in the Tudor Tailor can be used for posh or basic clothing, depending on what fabric you choose. It's an excellent resource which will give you a lot of well-researched background info on the period as well.

foamcow wrote:

I'm a large fella with a beard )

You're in!

It is indeed - thanks again!

Thanks hon - I'll pass the info on and PM you if necessary.

Posting this for a friend - she needs WW1 'biscuit' mattresses for a stage play. Any ideas where such things (repro, probably) may be sourced from?

Texere is also good for various linen and woolen threads (their Galway is quite fine):
http://www.texere-yarns.co.uk/texeresho ... pools.html

You say you don't want commercial patterns (yes, these are expensive) and Nigel has recommended The Cut of Men's Clothes, but that book, although excellent, isn't that easy to use if you are new to all this. Instead, get hold of HMA's little booklet, "Clothes of the Common Man part 2: Making th...

Theotherone wrote:I lived in Bethnal Green for a few years and I knew about the tube stataion disaster there.

There's quite a lot of background info here if you are interested in that one:
http://www.stairwaytoheavenmemorial.org/gpage5.html

Thanks, both! :D

A friend of mine would like a repro of the officer's sash (aka scarf)on the right in this portrait. I'm considering doing it for him myself but I've not worked much with silk - any clues as to what type I should be looking to get and who would be a good supplier? Thanks. Also, we can't decide if the...

I've done quite a few shirts in unbleached linen from Ikea, which is about £3 a metre. Wears well and stands up to lots of washings, but is not posh wear!

Thanks Sally for trawling this up for me. I knew it had to be there somewhere...........

Does anyone know who does proper metal spangles? These will be for a piece of lace.

Should there be anyone who will be at TORM, that would be excellent.

Thanks!

Izabela Zebrowska wrote:It is not as difficult as it looks at first, it is simply time consuming.

Agreed! An inch or so of lace can take a hour, depending on how complicated it is, and how wide. I love doing it, but it'll be a while before my collar edging is finished............:D

That John Lilburne had a lovely mullet! :D

Nice one Izabela!

I've done quite a bit of a similar pattern myself so I know it can get a bit tedious when you are making yards of the stuff.

Finally managed to visit on the way back from somewhere else last week. It certainly is in the middle of nowhere. Very interesting, despite p*ssing rain and mud.

Still can't quite believe that demolition is really proposed. OK, it's obscure, but surely it's worth hanging on to somehow?

I used to work here: http://www.moda.mdx.ac.uk/ and one of the collections includes a huge range of designs for fabrics, including dress prints from the 20s to the 50s. You can search the collections on a database here: http://monet.mdx.ac.uk/ Digitisation is ongoing (considerably slower since they ...

Put them on in the house for a bit each evening and it helps break them in a bit and scuff up the soles Why go to the length of getitng decent footwear then wang black plastic soles on them? *shudder* Seconded. Get them comfy on your feet by wearing them a lot (latchets are weird and shapeless unti...

ViscontesseD'Asbeau wrote:I like the second one down - the lovely peach confection.

Mmm - classy. You need sunglasses on though!
:shock: