Finding this dress and pinafore made me so happy. I had long since thought the fall Liberty print dropped yoke dress was lost. As it turns out, I had forgotten that my friend Suzanne Sawko had made another pinafore to go over the dress for a Sew Beautiful photo shoot some time ago. Both garments were recently retrieved from the bottom of my antique blanket chest where specially sewn items are stored.
The dress was originally made to go under the Little Fawn Pinafore.
The picture lace pinafore shown above is made of a medium weight champagne Swiss batiste and edged with ivory lace tape and antique picture lace or AEsop’s Fables lace. It’s unique characteristics include the colored cordonnet that outlines a figure and is worked into the lace edge. It is an antique Binche lace, made some time prior to 1926, though the exact year is unknown.Â
This particular pattern illustrates The Fox and the Pheasant fable. The Nile green cordonnet in the lace coordinates well with the green in the Liberty print. Embroidery floss in the same color was woven through the hemstitching holes on the shoulder ruffles and peripheral holes of the machine made needle entredeux on the bodice front.
Instead of a wing needle, Suzanne used a 100 sharp. This made a smaller hole, both in the center of the pattern and for the surrounding penetrations.
The pinafore pattern is Suzanne’s own creation–a combination of heirloom patterns and her own adaptations and additions. I especially like the way the bodice front is lined on either side but not in the middle. The embellished machine made entredeux secured the partial lining. The single layer center front allows the Liberty print to shadow through.
At them hem is a deep growth tuck. This also adds interest to the plain skirt.
As has happened with so many other classic garments made many years ago, these two garments will be worn by another generation. Laurel Cade will wear the dress under both pinafores and Suzanne’s older granddaughter Alee will wear it as soon as she grows into it.
It has been said that heirloom clothing is expensive. But how many other genres of clothing are not only stylish but in excellent condition 25 years after they were made? I’m sure this will last through little Laurel Cade, Alee and perhaps even a few more size 6 granddaughters.
Don’t you just love classic children’s clothing?
