Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-20
FEMININE FL0TSAM.
Chicago. DOH Dre.makers.

Little Jenny Wren In "Our Mutual
Friend" found the vocation Of doll
dressmaker vastly more trying than
does the modern seamstress OF diminu-
tive garments. She scurried about on
the bleak winter nights peeking at the
fine ladies who came from the opera.
and then ran home as fast as she could
TO 'cut out and basic. to hollow out
a BIT here, to slope away there Not
so the industrious young woman who
has followed In Jenny Wrens profess
sional wake. She sits In a comfortable
home with an up-to-date fashion book
before her, and. inspired by its elabor-
ate pictures, puts together the most
bewilderingly beautiful garments that
ever q dolly wore.
Seamstresses OF this class are not
numerous. There are half a dozen In
Chicago, and even these are hid away
so aTefully-working only for the wo-
men who know Of their skill in this I'M
usual professionalism IL is almost i'm
possible to get track Of them. AS yet
the Chicago directory has not classified
the names OF these manufacturers OF
dolls wardrobes, and they are to most
folk needles In a haystack. One young
woman says that every year she dresses
several hundred dolls just before
Christmas. and that the work is re-
munerative, as the little garments are
quickly put together. and most women
are willing To pay well for having their
chidren's dolls dressed according to the
latest styles. The average doll baby
In the shops Is dressed according TO
cut-and-dried rules and regulations, the
al NJ ~ Id M "a
waists long and unbeautiful.
The undergarments Of these made-to-
order wardrobes are usually Of fine
muslin trimmed neatly with yalencien-
mes or dainty sheer embroidery. The
stockings are Of silk. and the shoes are
those absurdly small little things that
bad little girls lose before Santa Claus
has got out OF calling distance. The
petticoats can be made particularly ella
borste with RULES and tucks but more
often II Is only a bit OF lace or edging
that furnishes the furbclows. Dlmity
muslin or china silk is used largely for
the dresses, which are made fluffy and
soft and full and much like the frocks
worn BY little tots Of 3 or 1. They
reach TO the knees and stick out so that
do!lys pettlcoats resemble a big cab
bage rose, so many layers OF silky, soft
materials are there Berthas OF lace
and rUsettes or little yoke effects finish
the bodice part OF the dress, which OF
course buttons in the back and is made
10 be removed according TO the sweet
viii OF Miss Dolly's fond mamma.
But II Is in the hats that the dainty
doll dressmakers excel. A bit OF sim
paper forms the foundation, and this is
perked up here and pressed down there.
and covered with scraps of null or
silk, and-lol the first thing one knows
there is a Frenohy little chapeau the
like Of which-in really-truly size
would bring a pretty penny to n swell
milliner. Frlls go about the brin and
little towers OF chiffon or flowers rise I'D
Oh one side In most coquettish way
The doll babies In caps and long skirts
are particularly interesting. These are
logged up In knit bottles and flannel
pinning blankets, just like the real ba
bies that the stork brings. The skirts
are made after correct dress reform
style and the small slips are works Of
art Often tiny rattle or nursing bot
Tie Is added 20 the outfit and these tri-
Hes invariably excite shouts Of glee
and admiration from the youngsters
who are lucky enough 10 receive such
charming gifts
Character dolls are seen IN large mum.
bers I'm the shops, but the doll dress
makers frown upon them. Nothing viii
ever take the place OF the little girl
doll or the infant Of blsque and kid
they say. Even boy dolls are declared
uninteTesting and disappointing. Nup