This 1830s Workdress Pattern is a Past Patterns original design
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The 1830s Workdress Sewing Pattern was created from "A Full High Gown, To Open in Front" in the Workwoman's Guide. The cutting instructions and construction by the author were adequate for 1836 but would be difficult for today's sewer to understand. To make it easier to sew, we copied the construction and sewing techniques used in original nineteenth century work dresses found in private museum collections.
According to the author a full high gown that opens in front is "particularly suitable for house-maids, dairy or kitchen-maids, char and washerwomen; they should be made of the strongest print, . . . It is bad economy to buy a cheap poor material for a working dress, under the idea that it will do very well for common purposes, when they should stand a good deal of wear and tear."
The gathered bodice is secured by the lining. If you do not want a gathered bodice you may cut a bodice using the lining pattern pieces. The fashion fabric and lining are then sewn as one or as we say today the bodice is flat lined.
Accompanying the dress pattern are a large short sleeve, a smaller short sleeve, a long sleeve and collar patterns. All were described as appropriate to wear with the work dress.
A review of constructing the Workdress using our pattern can be viewed via https://maggiemayfashions.com/past-patterns-017/
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Order via size:
Our 08-14 is made for 32"-36" bust, 24"-28" waist and 34"-38" hips
Our 16-20 is made for 38"-42" bust, 30"-34" waist and 40"-44" hips
Our 22-26 is made for 44"-48" bust, 36"-40" waist and 46"-50" hips
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Materials required:
For the lining: 7/8 to 1 1/8 yards of 45”
For the 1836-1842 dress, 6 7/8 – 8 ¼ yards of 45”
For the 1843-1855 dress, 6 ½ - 7 7/8 yards of 45”
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The package comes with our original artwork on cover, a sizing chart and fabric requirements chart on back cover, historical notes about how we developed the pattern, 18 pages of explicit and well-tested notes on cutting fabric and constructing the garment plus notes on era-correct stitching, and our computer generated pages of patterns.
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Our patterns are printed on 20 lb. white paper and packaged in a reusable plastic. We always attempt to offer the most reasonable shipping rates for domestic and international orders. Multi item purchases are automatically adjusted for combined shipping.
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Past Patterns 2023. All rights reserved.
See sizing chart in images.
Item will be shipped USPS Media Mail
Contact us for expedited shipments
When multiple items are ordered and paid for on the same check,
shipping discounts will be applied
Expedited shipments are available
Pattern developed by Saundra Ros Altman
From the Past Patterns website:
Our first goal, at Past Patterns, is to make patterns of existing antique garments from which you can make reproductions.
We do this with the hope that people will start creating and wearing reproductions instead of antique originals.
The clothes we wear and that our grandparents wore are part of our cultural history.
Just as you would not abuse antiques furniture by cutting off decorative trim, so you should not abuse antique garments by wearing them.
Our second goal is that you pick up a little bit of history when you sew the garment.
The fit, the cut, the fasteners, the fabric design, just to mention a few things, are part to the technology of the time.
Our third goal, in sewing the patterns, is to spark an interest in genealogy and local history.
Researching local history is always a rewarding pursuit.
SKU 0017-22-26
Thanks for looking!