OT: Laura Ingles-Wilder costume

On 4th July. #1's Rainbow (guiding) unit is having an American event where
they're meant to be wearing American costume. #1 wants to dress up like
Laura Ingles-Wilder. (who's her experience of America ) :-)
I've got some calico to make the apron and pantaloons, and a lovely print to
do the dress. What I was trying to find out is whether the sunbonnet should
be in the same print as the dress, white, or if plain pink would be right.

L....

Any color. Laura's bonnet often did not match the dress in the TV
series. (We have them all on DVD and watch them a lot. It's something
I noticed. ;)

Also are short sleeves right as all the photos I've seen have long sleeves,
but some of the pictures in the book had short puff sleeves. (Short sleeves
would be better as it could be hot, but #1 does like to be accurate!!!)
Debbie

L....

IIRC they were always long-sleeved. That being said, I don't think
anyone will think twice if you make it short-sleeved. I sure would if
you live in a hot climate.

LAdezio...

Calico is fine for the dress. Depending on your daughter's age, if

enigma...

just as a note for American readers, calico in Britain is
unbleached muslin here.
what we call calico, the British call sprigged muslin (i
think Welches called it a lovely print).
ok, now we're all on the same page, right? ;)

LAdezio...

Right. In that case, yes...calico (UK) would be fine for the
pinafore, bloomers and chemise...and the printed fabric - calico
(US)/sprigged muslin (UK) - is fine for the dress and even for the
bonnet. the muslin would also work for the bonnet, too.

lee

she's under 12 or so, her dress would most likely have been the 'smock'
type, without a waistline. Sleeves should be at least 3/4 (if the
calico's cotton, long sleeves really aren't going to be hot, per se,
because the cotton will breathe -- I do Renaissance Era reinactment

Welches...

LOL. I've never heard of the term "sprigged muslin"-and I've done a lot of
sewing :-D
Maybe I'm on the page behind...?
Debbie

type events in the summer months and usually wear a long-sleeved
chemise but because the fabrics are 100% natural (no poly blends), I'm
pretty comfortable -- and that's with a bodice or corset, over and
underskirt, hoops and bloomers (not period for what I do, but necessary
for comfort).

The bloomers and apron (or pinafore) would most likely have been a
solid color because families, especially those in the Ingalls' economic
bracket, would not have owned a lot of clothing, so these items had to
'go' with more than one color of dress. Using the show as reference
(and the show's costuming is pretty accurate historically), the Ingalls
girls' bloomers and pinafores were always solids, usually white or
off-white. The pinafores buttoned in the back or had ties that would
be tied in a bow, btw. The dress' length would have been between
mid-calf to above the ankle. She should, if she's really into being
accurate, would also wear a sleeveless or short-sleeved chemise under
her dress, and this can be made out of the lightest cotton you can find
(cotton lawn or even gauze, if it's not 'crinkle gauze'). The chemise
helped keep the dress clean and was also used as a nightgown.

The bonnet, for the same reason, would most likely not have matched the
dress at all -- and may vary wildly in being mis-matched because
bonnets were often made of fabric leftover from dressmaking.

Now, if your daughter's over 12 or so (or has pretty much hit adult
height or close to it), her dress would have a fitted waistband (at her
natural waistline) and be longer, much closer to ankle length, but
dresses going to the floor at this time are for adult women (and seen
as a sign of becoming an adult). Same goes for hair -- young girls did
not 'put their hair up' -- braids, pulling half the hair back and
letting the rest of it fall, or for fancier occasions, making two
braids and wrapping them around the head are all appropriate for
'frontier girls'.

For shoes, ankle high or slightly higher boots -- probably the closest
equivalent available commercially today is a paddock boot. 'Granny
boots', although they'd do for this occasion, are slightly later period
and for an adult woman. I've found boots close to the paddock boot
style at Wal-Mart type stores for under 15.00 (US), and they fall under
the category of 'close enough'. :)

McCall's pattern 9424 is a good commercial pattern for a young girl's
prairie dress, and 9424 for an older prairie girl.

Welches...

Thanks really helpful. #1's 5yo. I've got a pattern (from ebay) which is a
Butterick pattern (B4569), which I got for the basic bonnet pattern. I don't
really use patterns much for dresses/pinnys because it's easier to do my
own, so I can use the McCall as a good picture. Would the pinafores be
waisted or fall from a high yoke? The pattern I'd got is just the simple tie
round the waist half-apron, which looked more suitable for older ones.
The pictures in the book I was looking at (I think it's "little house in the
prairie") obviously aren't very accurate. they looked to be waisted and some
had short sleeves, and they buttoned in front.
Debbie

Welches...

I don't think you'd call England (even South) a hot climate!!!
I think I might go for 3/4 length.
Thanks everyone.
Debbie