1840s Reproduction Fan Front Navy Daydress
After misadventures with the light beige plaid very lightweight wool blend reproduction 1840s fan-front Victorian day dress, I tried, again, with a cotton navy print that used hook and eyes up the back. I made most of the dress in a rush on a Saturday to wear to Dickens Fair on Sunday in November 2016. Most of it was finished, but I did substitute potholders for the missing bust pads.
We had a small mini theme of fanfront dresses and blue bonnets except that I hadn't finished my blue bonnet.
Since Elizabeth had stayed up late doing her dress, we did a small bit/gig that she was very ill so in many of the
photos she looks very ghastly.
Fan Front Navy Day Dress
Navy blue with beige stripe and wreath cotton print and white cotton bodice lining
has front smocking/pleating to create a fan front. Hook & eye tape back closure,
hidden deep side pockets, self piping, bust/underarm hollow pads. Hem facing was sewn to bottom
and machine hemmed. Skirt was unlined with cartridge pleats.
Pattern: Laughing Moon #114 View B with adjustments to move arms/sleeves slightly forward. The bodice
sizing may have been a size larger than I should have selected, but gave me more range of motion on the
shoulders/arms.
Historically accurate has arms/shoulders roll in a back and down position so that they hang
slightly behind torso midline. Modern shoulders tend to roll forward which pull on the dress without
the alterations.
Inside look with the lining and pleating
Cartridge pleating skirt to bodice
First wearing used potholders as substitute for unfinished bust pads.
Dress in progress. Many parts started; sew as many pieces as one can before ironing.
Bodice pattern alteration adds more bust hollow and sleeve/armhole room.
Completed: Mostly in one day in November 2016 with bustpads added later.