I’m Amanda, designer and sewist behind Blue Hours Atelier patterns and handmade lingerie. My atelier is named for the blue hour, my favorite time of the day, suspended between day and night, dream and awake, the time when “night has not yet found its star,” as Guerlain put it so beautifully a century ago.

I make sewing patterns, historically inspired lingerie, and reproduce antique ephemera related to sewing and domestic arts. Old paper, ink, lace and silk are some of my favorite things. I began sewing lingerie because, like so many people, my body proportions didn’t fit the standards that the garment industry uses, so it was almost impossible for me to find pieces that were comfortable and flattering. Being able to make bras and lingerie that fit my body and my aesthetic made me fall completely in love with the craft. I love to make things for people that make them feel good in their own skin.  I create all of my projects in my home studio based outside of Saint Louis, Missouri using my collection of restored vintage sewing machines. I design my own fabric prints for printing in the US and UK, and enjoy hand dyeing laces and natural fibers as well.

I attended university for philosophy and creative writing, and my romantic, nostalgic design sensibility draws inspiration from these disciplines. Visually, my aesthetic is informed by my longstanding love of old paper, attic treasures, and all things Victorian, Art Deco and gothic. I strive to create pieces that are subtly inspired by historical fashion, but are sensual and comfortable enough for the modern wardrobe.

I enjoy writing, calligraphy and visual arts in my spare time. I call the heartland of the US home, where I live with my beloved husband and children, a cat who is kind of a jerk, and some backyard possums I continue to try to befriend.