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I did a search on the subject of women's nightgowns, and although informative, no one discussed nightgown patterns or the style of cut. Can anyone suggest a good nightgown pattern? I have heard that the garibaldi is a decent pattern for a shortgown, if you dress it up a bit, however how far should the placket go in length? Also, it doesn't seem like a good enough pattern in width for use of full length nightgowns. Has anyone any suggestions? I'd like to cut a few gowns out today or tomorrow.
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Mfr,
Judith Peebles.
No Wooden Nutmegs Sold Here.
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Re: women's nightgown
I found this too, it's worth a look, and maybe a comment or two.
Mfr,
Judith Peebles.
No Wooden Nutmegs Sold Here.
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Re: women's nightgown
Love the short night-gown! Thanks
Miss Leslie's book has a great section on night-gowns. :D
Miss Leslie's Lady's House-book 1850
Pg 398
Miss Leslie states "For winter, they are most comfortable of fine, thick American muslin, the widest you can get; but it rarely exceeds a full yard in width."
Pg. 399 - "The length of the slit downwards may be something less than half a yard."
A little late in the season but interesting...short sleeves for the summer.
Pg. 401 - "For a very arm weather, it is well to have some-cross-barred muslin night-gowns, with short full sleeves, gathered on a band; and, instead of a collar, the neck also to be gathered on a narrow band. They will be found very cool and pleasant in nights of extreme heat." ;)
A few other sources...
The sampler: a system of teaching plain needlework in schools 1855
By Elizabeth Finch (Lady.)
The Young Lady's Friend 1857
The Workwoman's Guide also has info on night-gowns. Hope this helps.
Susan ArmstrongComment
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Re: women's nightgown
Thank you Mrs. Armstrong for the comments about the nightgowns. These new sources help to document the other photographs that I have, plus also agree with other things that I've read. Still, isn't it a wonder that when reading the cut length of these nighties, the measurement is 27 inches!!??
Mfr,
Judith Peebles.
No Wooden Nutmegs Sold Here.
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Re: women's nightgown
Judith:
Gowns of the description/design of the photo Susan posted were very common. I own two originals that are long and one that is the short bed jacket. The difference in terminoledgey is deceiving...their use of the word "gown" is the garment I'm calling a bed jacket :) I believe the long gown was called a robe???
. I would have to do a bit of digging to find the documentation, but believe they would open with a placket to just above the waist or open the entire front.
The originals I own all are open the entire front with small shell buttons.
As for a pattern, as per the info. posted, they are all cut very common, wide front and back, with a full cuffed sleeve. You could use the PP sack/petticoat pattern and change the sleeve and you would have it :)
Regards
Vivian Murphy
Approved VendorComment
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Re: women's nightgown
[QUOTE=MrsArmstrong;156359]Love the short night-gown! Thanks
Miss Leslie's book has a great section on night-gowns. :D
A few other sources...
The sampler: a system of teaching plain needlework in schools 1855
By Elizabeth Finch (Lady.)
Sorry wrong directions that was for an infant :o
No wonder your butt would stick out
It should have been this one...Woman's night-shift
Susan ArmstrongComment
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Re: women's nightgown
Whew! This thread is getting a bit too steamy for me.I would have to do a bit of digging to find the documentation, but believe they would open with a placket to just above the waist or open the entire front.
The originals I own all are open the entire front with small shell buttons.
Michael Comer
one of the moderator guysComment
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Re: women's nightgown
OK, so nightgown term would be wrong then. So what about a woman's nightdress or nightrobe? What would be the length do you suppose? Below the knee, midcalf, ankle length? For the sake of confusion, OK, suppose the others to be "bedjackets" worn over a nightdress, it still leaves a bit of wonder as to how the placket would be placed, the narrow sleeves, (it would have to be less than the wide jacket), and length.
Another thought, as a bed jacket wouldn't it have been a bit too lightweight? I think of bedjackets, I think of something quilted, warm, comfy, perhaps something a person might wear as an invalid.
It sure would be nice if someone produced a nice combination pattern of the gown and robe/dress. Still on the other hand, I've yet to find documentation that some didn't simply wear the short gown and drawers. I've got two hours until I have to cut cloth and get these made up by Saturday, so I sure hope that folks chime in with answers.:D
Many kind thanks to all thus far who have replied.Mfr,
Judith Peebles.
No Wooden Nutmegs Sold Here.
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Re: women's nightgown
I just found this on ruby lane, but when looking at it, it seems more of what I'd consider a robe, and am not sure that it fits into CW era
I've an hour to go till the cloth is dry, so am thinking of cutting the short robe followed with a nightie with likewise cut (high collar, cuffs, and say 14 inch placket, possibly back yoke with many tucks/gathers underneath) Sound good? I'll cut the nightie tonight so any last minute comments would be FANTASTIC and APPRECIATED!;)
You know, as a hint, it might be a nice idea if one of those writers to CitzComp would write an article about men's and women's night attire! And yes I mean you.Mfr,
Judith Peebles.
No Wooden Nutmegs Sold Here.
[B]Books![B][/B][/B] The Original Search Engine.Comment
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Re: women's nightgown
On a more serious note - I would be interested in comments about the article on the ebay site. I run an 1860's historic site and we interpret many aspects of daily life including clothing of course. I would be interested in adding an item like that to our collection to help with interpretation. That price certainly seems more than reasonable.
Any comments?Michael Comer
one of the moderator guysComment
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Re: women's nightgown
Have you seen the gown on the Museum of Fine Arts?;)
The first two pages have some nice examples.
I didn't find any in OSV collections.
Susan ArmstrongComment
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Re: women's nightgown
Hopefully this will work trying to insert image links
These are of a gown that the DAR Museum in Washington DC had described as a Civil War era lady's nightgownKimberly Schwatka
Independent MessComment
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Re: women's nightgown
Godey's Magazine 1861 has a number of night-dresses illustrated.
1861 Night-dress, the illustration is on page 296
It also has others
The "Elsie" Night-Dress (short) page 13
The "Alice" Night-Dress (short) page 13
Night-Dress with Plaited Yoke page 166
Night-Dress "This is a long night-dress" Page 73
Long Night-Dress For a Lady. New Pattern page 162
Night-Dress page 249
Susan ArmstrongComment
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Re: women's nightgown
Mrs. Armstrong, well with your links to the BFA, I was able to get enough from the pictures and details of nightgowns from 1840-70 that I was headed in the right direction. I'm going with the same style, yoked front and back, multiple tucks, neckband with collar, and sleeves with cuffs, and will likely do the placket of 18 inches. I have some fine cotton lace almost identical to the first link that I posted and so shall use it for the collar, cuffs, and the same for the short-nightgown. I'm not sure if I will use thread buttons or china, but I have some time to figure that out while still researching. I think that the whole thing should look very nice, and accurate when compared to your pictures!:D:D:D
Thanks to everyone!:wink_smilMfr,
Judith Peebles.
No Wooden Nutmegs Sold Here.
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Re: women's nightgown
Well, I finished my long nightgown, and the short nightgown last week. I have yet to put buttons on them, and the reason that I've not done so is because I'm torn over which style to use, and since nobody will see them but me, it's of little consequence. I have 16 isinglass mound buttons of 1/4 inch which I thought to possibly use. Since I saved them for my daughter, I thought them the ideal ones for her since she lost her garibaldi shirt 4 years ago and it was missing 13 buttons....guess what she just found.:tounge_sm
The other style of button that I am considering is a glass rectangle, same size of 1/4 inch which looks fine, but like I said, I still can't decide so it's either the glass, isinglass mound, or white china round.
I followed the piping of the short nightgown like that in the ebay auction (original post), but trimmed it like the one from Godeys (pg 42 of Stella Blum's book of Godey prints) with the same thread-cotton lace. It looks identical. I cut the back fold on a bit of a pivot so that I'd have a bit more room about the hip, and it wears well.
The long nightgown turned out well too. I used the same fine cotton-thread lace as in the original auction nightgown, and cut it a foot too long for me, so gave it a generous 3 inch, 3 fold hem which I found is good for weight.
Apart from the advice of the buttons, which I hope that I'll hear soon as I leave tomorrow and intend to finish the handwork next week, all turned out lovely. Many kind thanks to all who helped me with the authentic details.Mfr,
Judith Peebles.
No Wooden Nutmegs Sold Here.
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