Another day, another garment (and more learning how to get the best images of these… this is definitely a learning experience)
Today’s item is a mid-1860s Swiss Waist, of very tiny size, thus, no form for her. She is made of silk blue and white gingham check, lined in cotton, and trimmed with self fabric.
In the reverse, she has three tails, trimmed in self fabric. So cute!
The waist laid out flat. A waist of this style was likely worn with a very fashionable silk skirt (possible of the same material, or more likely, a coordinating fabric), and a fine white bodice. These were primarily worn by the fashionable and more well-off persons. The size of this one would indicate it was likely worn by a teenager.
She is made of a combination of machine and hand sewing. The top and bottom edges are piped, which the tails being finished with a self-fabric facing. The darts and side seams are boned, and the center front is strengthened with reed.
The edges of the trim are pinked. The back seams appear to be piped, but it actually a fold of the fabric stitched to resemble piping. The resulting fold is the same thickness as the piping elsewhere on the waist.
The eyelets are hand stitched. This little garment would have a 19″ waist and a 28″ bust if laced fully shut.
The bodice has it’s original lacing with it. It is made of a silk cord with a cotton core, and is blue. The aglets are 1″ long and taper at the ends.
On a side note, another project down the line for me somewhere is to start taking patterns off of some of my originals. This has always been one I’d like to make up!
