Hi! There is another alternative pattern, the Sense and Sensibility one. I'm not a huge fan of her adult patterns, but I also do know there are some challenges with the Kannik's Korner child's one, so perhaps someone with experience with the S & S one can weigh in. I think a pastel print would be charming. You don't want anything too detailed or modern looking, but you should be able to find something in the quilt prints section--what was called a sprig was a small dot or simple shape or maybe a simple small flower. White also works for little girls, too, although as Mary Boardman Crowninshield observed, you can't get a day's wear from a white dress. Girls were starting to wear pantaloons by now--in fact, girls seemed to wear them before ladies did, but I don't believe they were universal. Here is one of my favorite images of sisters--a bit older than your two. I think even young girls would have bonnets to wear outdoors, although I understand if you were at an event all day they might not stay on. https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.45883.html
When will you be attending events? I know it is hot in the summer down there! (I spend 3 years in Gulfport, MS). But if weather allows, you could make a spencer for your dress with some of the Gothic-type influence that would make it look more towards the late 1810s. Look at the lady in the center right in this image--white dress with blue spencer. If you have a way to put embellishments on the hem of your dress, that could also change the look a bit. Think flounces of white eyelet, perhaps. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:4th-of-July-1819-Philadelphia-John-Lewis-Krimmel.JPG Ann Wass -----Original Message----- From: Lydia F <[email protected]> To: h-costume <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, Jun 3, 2019 2:47 pm Subject: [h-cost] Dresses and fabric for young girls in 1819 Alabama Hello, My almost five year old twin daughters are excited about dressing up for the Alabama bicentennial this year. 1. Are there options for 1819 for five year olds other than the Kannik’s Korner pattern? 2. They’re thinking that they want print dresses, one in blue and one in pink. Any suggested sources for fabric? I’m looking at Indian block prints, but don’t want to spend a fortune. (I’m thinking the simplest prints, with the white design on color, like some examples we found.) 3. Most of the pictures I found show girls with bare heads and simple buns. Is that a formal look or would it be normal for young girls? 4. Other than chemises and dresses, what else would they wear? I’m not seeing trowsers/pantalettes visible on little girls. And bonus: 5. I have a handsewn 1805 dress, chemise, and long line stays, all in white. What is the fastest and cheapest thing I could do to make it look like 1819? It has no train. I have a Pinterest board with inspiration images for this, mixed with some 1840s and 1850s images for a 175th anniversary and dressing up as a local authoress from the 1850s. (I know the difference among the eras; everything is just stored there.) https://pin.it/ymt3757afrgwko Thank you. Lydia _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] https://indra.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] https://indra.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
