Recently, I’ve come into a large collection of French Pattern magazines from the 1890s (La Mode Pratique). They include many many pattern drafts. Unfortunately, many of the drafts refer to previous issues, which tend to be both rare and expensive. In an effort to reconstruct the missing information, I’ve taken to reading french pattern books– a process that sorely tests my rather poor understanding of the language. Luckily, pattern books the world over tend to use a rather constricted vocabulary and syntax.
From Rhein Schéfer, Ève. Méthode de coupe et d’assemblage pour robes de femmes et vêtements d’enfants : trousseau et layette Paris. 1891 (pp 113-122) comes this ball gown bodice (Corsage de Bal). It is based on 7 measurements. The measurements given here, are in large part, derived from measuring the original pattern plates, a inexact process that gives far too much credit to the engraver…
| French | English translation | default value |
|---|---|---|
| Longueur du dos | back length | 38 cm |
| Larguer du dos | back width | 33 cm |
| Longueur du devant | front length | 42 cm |
| Tour de poitrine | bust circumferance | 92 cm |
| Tour de taille | waist circumference | 60 cm |
Click on the picture for an interactive version of this pattern. Use the sliders to change the measurements
