The Workwoman's Guide Part 1
- Details
- Written by Ava Trimble
An outstanding primary source for the history nerd and dressmaking masochist. Ava begins to translate the directions for 21st c sewers!
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Ava, You are a person after my own heart. We approach historical work from the historical perspective and want to know what and how "a lady" accomplished garment construction in that time period. I adore researching and as a result feel it takes me so long to accomplish my project but have such excitement on the journey it justifies being so slow.
Currently I am involved in the VPLL 1912 Titanic Project and have spent five months researching the 1912 period as well as working on quarter scale garments. Frances Grimble has been a wonderful source for me.
I have tailoring and home economics books from the 1930's and 1940's and they still were teaching organization and tidiness. Your earlier period included Dickensian conditions for seamstresses who had hovels to live in and few tools with which to work. Considering the squalor, the emphasis of "a lady" on tidiness would have been a revelation to many young persons.
I look forward to your additional articles. Thank you.
Such a wonderful series of articles! I can't wait to see what comes next.
Regarding the difference between "cotton" and "thread"... "thread" in this period is sewing thread made of linen, both more durable than cotton and less likely to hold colour than silk -- both characteristics mentioned by A Lady in the original work.
You're inspiring me to take my hand-sewing to the next level! Thank you so much!!
