Additional information
by Frances Grimble (Editor)
Bustle Fashions 1885-1887 contains patterns for a complete middle-class Victorian woman's wardrobe, from undergarments, through multi-part ensembles, to outerwear. The patterns are to be enlarged with apportioning scales-- special rulers that enable dressmakers to easily create custom sizes, from queen size to doll size. Printed apportioning scales and instructions are included.
Each pattern is accompanied by a fashion illustration and instructions. The patterns are drawn from The Voice of Fashion and The National Garment Cutter. Because these patterns are highly similar to those published by Butterick, most are supplemented by illustrations and construction information from Butterick's Delineator. Readers can use the Delineator material to vary The Voice of Fashion styles by substituting parts from other patterns in the same book, or by altering them with minimal flat pattern work. Separate chapters contain instructions for trimmings, neckwear, and hats.
Front Jacket
Bustle Fashions 1885-1887 contains a wide selection of high-quality women's clothing patterns from the height of the bustle era. This book contains practical patterns for undergarments and nightgowns; wrappers and tea gowns; bodices, skirts, and overskirts; complete ensembles for street and house wear; and outer jackets, coats, dolmans, and cloaks. The patterns are drawn from rare original issues of the magazine The Voice of Fashion and 1885 to 1887 editions of the pattern book The National Garment Cutter. They were used by both amateur and professional dressmakers to make up the mainstream styles of the day, and are very similar to patterns published by Butterick. These patterns are enlarged with apportioning scales, printed versions of which are provided in this book, along with step-by-step instructions. Apportioning scales are special rulers that enable you to draft custom sizes, from queen size to doll size, without doing arithmetic.
Most patterns in this book are accompanied by supplementary illustrations with detailed descriptions, drawn from Butterick's Delineator magazine. Each supplement shows optional style variations that can be produced by using flat pattern alteration techniques, or merely by substituting a garment section from a different pattern in this book or draping an overskirt pattern differently. The descriptions include information on construction and fabrics. Edited selections from fashion columns in The Delineator, Harper's Bazar, and other publications add information on style trends. Also drawn from The Delineator are instructions and illustrations for 208 trimmings and 91 accessories. In addition, a substantial chapter on dressmaking, assembled from articles in Godey's Lady's Book, gives detailed information on making garments for the second half of the 1880s. The book's glossary explains period fabric names and dressmaking terms.
