1983.31.1a-b; pattern available at link The tag on the hanger and the electronic records tell of this dress's difficult road to dating: the wide sleeves, the fringe, and the little peplum play havoc with some of the traditional standards. Fringe, as well as the simple construction of the skirt, points to 1860 or earlier. Wide, … Continue reading Day Dress, early 1860s
Category: pattern
Patterns: Chapman Historical Museum
A little while ago I reported to you that I'd posted thousands of Victorian and early 20th century photographs at the Chapman, where I was working. And they are lovely sources, especially since I gradually added more and more portraits, plus a batch of pattern envelopes from the 1900s and 1910s. Just try out the … Continue reading Patterns: Chapman Historical Museum
Pattern Time: 1860s Chemise
For my 150th post ( \o/ ), a quick little pattern someone might find useful. When I was working my way through a box a few weeks ago, I came across a chemise that didn't quite want to lay flat. I took a closer look at it to figure out why, and noticed that it … Continue reading Pattern Time: 1860s Chemise
Late 18th Century Shift Pattern
Since I recently posted that rough draft of rather a complicated pattern, I thought I'd share my first attempt at taking a pattern. Unfortunately, it's not as detailed and I didn't look at stitches or construction methods - but I kind of like that it's not as good, it shows my progress! (open in a … Continue reading Late 18th Century Shift Pattern
Mimic of Modes 