Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-09-29
Little Girls Dresses.


guimpe (or belted waist of muslin), with
the low-necked full dress put on over it,
or eise there may be yoke and sleeves
of white muslin and embroidery, with
the full dress sewed to these permanent
ly. and producing precisely the same ef-
feet as that of the separate garments.
The dress all in one piece is best for
very active little girls, who would be
apt to drop the low neck and short
sleeve off the shoulder, but there is an
effort being made to revive for the sum-
mer the fashion of having the neck and
| arms of these little folks bare-hence
many mothers prefer the separate dress
and under-waist or guimpe. as these
may be worn either way. For the pres
ent spring season the quaintest little
old-fashioned Dutch dresses of cashmere
are made with full low square-necked
belted waist. pulled short sleeves, and
full gathered skirt of a width and half
of cashmere simply hemmed, and per-
haps two or three tucks above the hem.
Sometimes this baby waist has nd sleeves,
but merely a strap across the shoulders,
and sometimes it has very short high
puff sleeve; the neck is usually bound
narrowly, and there are two rows
of shirring below the binding. In
some such dresses this shirring is re-
peated at the waist. in others there Is
an inch-wido belt stitched on all around,
and still more prevalent fashion has
the belt or shirring only in front, with
a sash beginning in the under-arm seam
and tied behind in a large bow; this
sash is of the cashmere, two-eights of q
yard wide, hemmed all around. An
other similar dress has the full front
shirred at the neck only, falling straight
thence to the end of the skirt, while the
back Is gathered in at the waist line,
and has the cashmere sash Just men,
toned. All these styles. it will be seen,
initiate the dresses worn by German
peasant children, and are made of deep
blue or violet plum-colored cashmere,
or else sky-blue or rose. Sometimes a
row of white Hamburg open embroid-
cry edges the neck, sleeves and the ends
of the sash of the cashmere dresses,
but this is more appropriate on the baby
waists of the colored percales and mulls
with figures in them now used for the
same purpose, such as the blue or pink
percales with birds or roses all over
them, or cream white mulls with great
mammoth pansies, or else plain colored
lawns, ginghams, or Chamberys are
used in navy blue, or raspberry pink, or
perhaps Turkey red calico. The square
low neck seems to be preferred for all
these dresses.
BOy-plaited dresses are made up in
similar fashions, and are preferred for
plump children, who would look too
stout in the gathered dresses. These
plated dresses have waist and skirt in
one, with three box plaits the entire
length of the back and front, finished at
the foot by two gathered raffles OF the
gingham, or else of white embroidery.
The two outside box plaits back and
front pass over the shoulders, forming
the strap. which is the only sleeve, and
the dress is fastened behind by false
flap under the middle plait There may
be many rows of Russian lace or en-
broidery across the front between the
outside plaits. The light blue linen
gingham is very pretty for such dresses.
The guimpe is of tucked white muslin.
or else has tucked or embroidered
yoke and sleeves, while the lower part
of the waist is plain muslin passing
down to the hips, with drawing string
or belt at the waist line; if a belt is
used, 1t should be stitched on the outside,
SO that when the child grows the waist
can be heightened by placing it lower.
All these styles, with many others
besides, are made up with high-necked
poke and long sleeves of white en-
broidery and muslin sewed permanently
into the square neck Of colOred dresses.
thus giving tho effect Of guimpe and
separate dress. Sometimes q Mother
Hubbard effect Is given by putting clus-
tiers of shirring in the front and back of
these dresses; for instance, there are
two punches of shirring just below the
yoke, and two similar clusters at the
waist line of little dresses that have the
waist and skirt in one. Deep yokes of
white Hamburg embroidery that have
the lower edges scalloped are pretty for
pink and baby blue gingham dresses.
A gathered bias frill is sewed to the
edge of the dress skirt. and an embroi-
dered edging is sewed upon it. The frill
at the neck of yokes should be turned
down and bound at the top to prevent
the scalloped edges pricking the child's
tender skin. The white sleeves repre-
sent guimpe sleeves, and are slightly
full. with little band to hold the gath
ers at the wrist, on which are two rows
OF edging, with their straight sides
stitched together.
While colored dresses are preferred
for the morning and for the country,
white dresses are still chosen for tbs
best. These have the full gathered
skirt nearly covered with embroidery,
being made of flounce of Irish point
embroidery, or the Open-worked HAM
burg. or else the more serviceable close
patterns. There are only two or three
inches of the plain muslin at the top.
just enough to gather well to the belt of
insertion which is stitched on low
necked baby waist of muslin that has
pulled sleeves high on the shoulders,
giving square effect. The sleeves are
tied with ribbons. and there is sash.
narrower than those lately worn, tied
around the waist. There are also high
necked white lawn and pique dresses,
made to give the appearance of
a low waist by being trimmed
with turned-down embroidered
frill low around the neck and
shoulders, and having caps of cmbroid-
cry representing short sleeves sewed in
the armholes above full gathered long
sleeves of the muslin. These dresses
have five narrow box plaits from the
high neck down back and front below
the hips, where sort Of panier frill is
added. deeper and fuller than the frill
outlining the low neck, and below this
the skirt is laid in kilt plaits. On pique
dresses mock basque is sewed on the
hips instead of frill. A cravat bow of
four loops and ends is set trifle to the
left in the full ruches of embroidery and
lace seen on the necks of little girls
white dresses. Tiny little girls Of two
years wear their skirts almost to their
ankles. while larger girls wear them
shorter, but always reaching well below