Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-02-14
MAKING OVER DRESSES.

MAKING OVER DRESSES.
The following suggestions respecting
alterations, necessary to allow the
growth, in wardrobes of girls of s, or
whereabouts, may be of use to mothers
of large families with small means.
Surprising there are some dark navy
blue serge frocks cut in one from last
year, with gagged bodices and sleeves,
which naturally look too short, and
probably too scanty in the skirt, pro-
ceed as follows: Take off the gathered
founce round the edge of the skirt,
damp it well, and press with 4 hot
iron. Cut the tiOunce in two, make it
up into killing about two inches deep,
to trim all around. Open the skirt a
little way at the side, and introduce q
small gore or three-cornered piece of
material. so as to allow little more
width. Lengthen the sleeves, which
are probably found to be too short,
either with gathered piece of serge
put on as cuff, or with q puff at the
top, if the length requires it, both at
the wrist and shoulder. Plat up the
little bit of drapery, that before hung
nearly plain, as kind of tunic with
even folds, and tack it round the skirt,
just above the knees, quite straight to
the back, where it should finish off with
loops and ends. The skirt at the sides
must be drawn up with p,aits, in order
to give the serge top the appearance of
polonaise. 70 modernize the dress
still further, and to make it lone
enough, arrange Killed or box-plaited
crimson cashmere skirt (fOr which pur-
pose one yard is required) as an under-
petticoat, the red being half yard
deep, with the exception of strip
taken off to face up the lining skirt I'M
der the founce. This must be we'll
fastened down with at least three
tapes, and made the proper length by
the addition at the top of piece of
black material.
For using us a skirt for wearing with
navy blue, nothing looks better than
the deep crimson now fashionable. The
advantage of a little merino skirt like
this is that it is useful for wearing with
light brown or Holland polonaise at
any other time The red killed
tiounce should have plain piece of
material added to the top, and then put
in q band, which can be tackled into the
serge dress round the waist.
A black velyeteen dress, cut all in
one for a child of years or so, can be
treated as follows, if not shabby, al
though Outgrown in every way: Obtain
two yards of rich blue cashmere, and
add q kilt of the same two inches deep
all around the edge of the skirt.
Lengthen the sleeves with blue pointed
cuffs, piped, and add a blue sailor, col
lar. Cut the skirt part of the dress in
two all round, and insert piece of
black material the necessary depth to
make it the proper length. Arrange
all that is left OF the cashmere into a
drapery to 90 round the skirt, being
opened about six inches in front, and
then the rest OF the depth of material
being tightly gagged, while the raw
edge is run close all round the dress
and turned over just above the piece
added for increase of length, or a sort
of deeply folded sash can be made to
hide the inserted piece. This should
be finished off at the neck with bows
and short ends, stitched al round on
the right side with broad hem.
Black felt hats of the year before can
ndFC JIG COlOL LCfAhCO ny SpOiI2 M VIII
ammonia, and, if trimmed with blue vel
vet pulled on to match the cashmere,
with q few gold pins inserted and with
a feather, q good effect can be pro-
duced.
A little coffee colored Jacket, out
grown by its small owner, can be open
ed up the center seam at the back, to
allow sufficient play, and at the top of
the opening a bow and brown watered
silk or brown satin ribbon can be
placed, with q corresponding bow of
ribbon Of a narrower width at the neck.
The sleeves and jacket all round can
be heightened either by letting down
the pi ce turned up Gf there is any,
OF by neatly joining on piece of ma
terial, and trimming, to hide the addi-
ton. with raccoon fur, continuing it in
a double row up the front, and fastened
with hooks and eyes, instead of buttons
and button-holes, if the jacket is too
narrow across the chest.-4n1erjcan
Queen.