Thinking about this old book I read, "How to make over old dresses" by Augusta Prescott, 1892.
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Thinking about this old book I read, "How to make over old dresses" by Augusta Prescott, 1892. In it she tells us how to take apart, wash, possibly re-dye and then make a new dress out of an old one... And past the whole of "a good housewife simply must properly clothe her legion of children" it's fascinating. How much effort went into it, because if you weren't rich, that was good fabric and you had to make do!
https://archive.org/details/how-to-make-over-old-dresses/mode/2up
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Thinking about this old book I read, "How to make over old dresses" by Augusta Prescott, 1892. In it she tells us how to take apart, wash, possibly re-dye and then make a new dress out of an old one... And past the whole of "a good housewife simply must properly clothe her legion of children" it's fascinating. How much effort went into it, because if you weren't rich, that was good fabric and you had to make do!
https://archive.org/details/how-to-make-over-old-dresses/mode/2up
Excerpt, foreword: "It is not the most cheerful thing in the world to look over a wardrobe full of old dresses, and to decide how they can be made over so as to do duty for another season.
There are those that are so torn and worn that it seems impossible to do anything with them. There are others so soiled that they must be, either cleaned or dyed, and still others that seem hopeless cases, because they are so cut up into ruffles and trimmings, that to make them over in anything like the present style is discouraging from the very thought of the managing and the piecing that must be done.
Yet one must take hold of the matter boldly and look the situation right in the face."
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Excerpt, foreword: "It is not the most cheerful thing in the world to look over a wardrobe full of old dresses, and to decide how they can be made over so as to do duty for another season.
There are those that are so torn and worn that it seems impossible to do anything with them. There are others so soiled that they must be, either cleaned or dyed, and still others that seem hopeless cases, because they are so cut up into ruffles and trimmings, that to make them over in anything like the present style is discouraging from the very thought of the managing and the piecing that must be done.
Yet one must take hold of the matter boldly and look the situation right in the face."
And, at the end, quite sweet despite the patina of the era: "WHEN you have completed your dress, it may not be perfect in every respect, but if you have been careful, it will surely be very nice, and something of which you may be very proud, because it represents much care and thought.
Finish it well to the last loop, and sew in the dress shields. Take out the basting threads, be sure that the seams are finished, and that it is all in “‘apple-pie order.”
Don’t point out to people any defects that may exist.
Do not lift up the overskirt to show that the underskirt is pieced down with goods of a different kind.
Do not show that the under-arm pieces are faded.
Do not tell anybody that the full front covers buttonholes that are torn out.
Do not say that the beautiful bias band around the bottom of the skirt hides a ghastly muslin gap. --"
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And, at the end, quite sweet despite the patina of the era: "WHEN you have completed your dress, it may not be perfect in every respect, but if you have been careful, it will surely be very nice, and something of which you may be very proud, because it represents much care and thought.
Finish it well to the last loop, and sew in the dress shields. Take out the basting threads, be sure that the seams are finished, and that it is all in “‘apple-pie order.”
Don’t point out to people any defects that may exist.
Do not lift up the overskirt to show that the underskirt is pieced down with goods of a different kind.
Do not show that the under-arm pieces are faded.
Do not tell anybody that the full front covers buttonholes that are torn out.
Do not say that the beautiful bias band around the bottom of the skirt hides a ghastly muslin gap. --"
"--Do not tell anybody that the dress was originally bought before Jamie died, and that it has been laid away three years while you were in mourning.
Don’t let the good-man of the family—who always takes your word for such things—believe that the dress is a poor, miserable makeshift, but tell him that it is a beauty, the best one you ever made, and the prettiest one he could find if he were to look over all the congregation next Sunday at church.
Put on the dress as carefully as though it were the costliest silk or satin. Fasten your prettiest pin at the neck. Bestow upon yourself all the loving little taps and pats which give the finishing touches to a woman’s toilet. And then wear your dress proudly, feeling that you have achieved a triumph, in that you have made something out of nothing."
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"--Do not tell anybody that the dress was originally bought before Jamie died, and that it has been laid away three years while you were in mourning.
Don’t let the good-man of the family—who always takes your word for such things—believe that the dress is a poor, miserable makeshift, but tell him that it is a beauty, the best one you ever made, and the prettiest one he could find if he were to look over all the congregation next Sunday at church.
Put on the dress as carefully as though it were the costliest silk or satin. Fasten your prettiest pin at the neck. Bestow upon yourself all the loving little taps and pats which give the finishing touches to a woman’s toilet. And then wear your dress proudly, feeling that you have achieved a triumph, in that you have made something out of nothing."
You have achieved a triumph, in that you have made something out of nothing! Amazing! Wonderful!
I mean. For sure not many of will have the time these days, but I do know that feeling. Am currently sitting here in The Skirt of Theseus, this one old skirt I've repaired and changed the hem ruffle to and put so much mending in, and I love it.
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