Folkwear Patterns - Calico Day Dress | Blouse

About the Calico Day Dress

Turn-of-the-century women lingered over breakfast in this soft, pleated, closely fitted house dress or “wrapper” before struggling into their corsets. This pattern recreates this Day Dress look.  The buttoned front lining and the princess line in the back pull in the dress creating a fitted bodice, while pleats at center front and back are held in place with waist ties and simple square collar. Rounded yokes, finished with ruffles over the shoulder complete the traditional dress and may be omitted for a simple version. Full sleeves are gathered at the top and finished with simple buttoned cuffs.  The skirt, fitted over the hips, falls to a wide flounce at the ankle. 

The pattern may be cut street length (contemporary) or as a blouse. For day or evening wear, the dress is perfect in challis and crisp silk as well as traditional cotton calico.

Era: late Victorian to early Edwardian

The Fabric

Choose lightweight cotton and blends, silk, lightweight wools, rayon. Originals were made in cotton calico, percale, cashmere, sateen, challis.

Sizing

This pattern is a multi-sized pattern - Size XS-2XL.

Level of Difficulty

There is no specified level of difficulty on the pattern, but Folkwear have very good instructions.