Dull Green 1830's Cotton Day Dress
This dress is made from a dull green cotton print that I found at Wal Mart. The base color is a lighter dull green with tiny dark green rectangles printed on it. I made the dress up in an early 1830’s style, with puff sleeves gathered to a fitted under sleeve, a V-neck and a full, evenly gathered skirt. The dress lining is fitted with darts and the outer fabric tucked down over the top of that into several pleats. I tacked the pleats to the lining a few inches above the waistband to give a neater, trimmer appearance to the bodice.
All the bodice seams and the sleeve seams are piped with self fabric piping. The front closes with hook and eyes and the skirt is set with a dogleg closure. Dresses of this period usually closed in the back but I have chosen this method of closing because it is much easier to put on oneself (I find it hard to hook up back-fastening dresses on myself!) and I need a front opening to nurse my baby. It is a historical way of closing a dress but not necessarily correct to the 1830’s era.In these pictures I am wearing it with my long romantic era stays, a chemise and two petticoats.
Drawers were usually not worn in this period but since I feel a bit indecent without them I am wearing modern knit leggings in place of drawers. I ought to be wearing a collar or chemisette but usually do not use these for every day wear. The pin is an antique copper brooch, given to be my aunt, set with a green stone. I don’t know how old it is or what kind of stone it is but I like how it looks. I love green. 
2 comments:
Did you use a pattern for this because it is exactly the kind of dress I have been looking for!
Pardon my ignorance, but what is a dogleg closure? And the style is really cute, you pulled of the gathered waist and sash/band very well, I'm on my 4th try with making gathered empire waist look good.... :p
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