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The Front Closing Gown pattern was pulled, with permission, from the existing garment in the Wayne County Historical Museum in Richmond, Indiana. The gown has no history. It is a day dress. The threads are hand spun and the fabric is hand woven of linen warp and cotton weft. The background is white, interrupted every 7/8 inch by alternate threads of madder red and indigo blue. Unlike today's fabric, the stripes are at a right angle to the salvage.
Illustrated instructions for sewing the garment by hand are included, however, this is an easy garment to sew by machine.
The bodice is conservatively cut, yet it has the fashionable small back of the period. As a result of the small back, the sleeves form the shoulders, creating a very comfortable fit. Drawstrings closed the center front at the neck and waist. The bodice is lined. The front lining is loose from the armholes to center front. It crosses over and fastens at center front with straight pins. This front lining does not support the bust. It is to help hold the front closed. A corset is worn with this garment.
The pleated skirt is fullest in the back and flat in the front. A 1-1/2 inch crescent-shaped tuck at center front raises the skirt over the toes.
The mob cap, bonnet, and mitts illustrated are Kannik's Korner patterns. Order them, as well as the chemise, stockings and pockets at www.kannikskorner.com
A review of making the gown can be viewed at http://aliebert.blogspot.com/2018/08/past-patterns-031-experiences-and.html
Appropriate printed gown fabrics can be ordered from: www.reproductionfabrics.com
Appropriate late 18th and early 19th century buttons, tapes and laces can be ordered from: Wm. Booth, Draper, 2115 Ramada Dr., Racine, WI 53406. Phone: (262) 886-9133, http://www.wmboothdraper.com.
A few books which document clothing fabrics from 1790 to 1820 and beyond: Textiles in America 1650-1870 by Florence M. Montgomery, ISBN 0-393-01703-6; A Lady of Fashion, Barbara Johnson's Album of Styles and Fabrics edited by Natalie Rothstein, 1987 and Textile Designs, Two Hundred Years of European and American Patterns . . . . by Susan Meller and Joost Elffers, ISBN 0-8109-3853-7.
Acknowledgments: Special thanks to Jan Livingston at the Wayne County Historical Museum, Fritz and Kathleen Kannik, Ericka Mason and the ladies who tested the pattern.
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Bust 44" - 48"
Waist 36" - 40"
Hips 46" - 50"
Designs are included for B, C & D cups
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This pattern is sized 08-14, 16-20, 22-26
Use 45 inch wide fabric
Sizes 08 through 14 require 4-1/2 Yds.
Sizes 16 through 20 require 5 Yds.
Sizes 22 through 26 require 5-1/2 Yds.
Suggested fabrics: Bordered batiste or thin cotton, silk, and lace beading or lace insert.
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The package comes a copy of the original artwork on the cover, a sizing chart and alternate views on the back cover, information on Weft Striped Fabric and how to construct a neck kerchief, 15 pages of extensive notes on fabric cutting and instructions for making the garment, 1 pages of paper dolls plus two computer generated sheets of patterns, 1 36”x55” and 1 36”x44”.
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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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