The mystery of the gown I found with my wedding quilt has consumed me. I have talked, and talked to my wonderful sister Claudia about it. We have gone over, and over it. You see it was such an amazing surprise, to think it had been with me so long and I never realized it. During one of our discussions I told Claudia I would like to display it on a dress form. I have been hunting Craig's List and eBay for some time now looking for a vintage dress form. The thing about Florida is, it is a very transient place. Lots of people move here to retire but they sell everything before they come down. When they get here they surround themselves in tropical themed homes, dress forms are all left up north I am afraid.
So Joann's was having a 25% off everything sale this past weekend, that is 25% off even sale items. I had my eye on two dress forms there, one with the dials that change to your measurements, and a more generic dress form. The dress form with the dials came in red or blue, pretty deep and startling shades I might add. The generic one a lovely beige that would be a great background for blogging needs. Claudia looked them up online as we were chatting and read me the measurements of the beige one. 33 1/2 in. bust......hmmmmm that is a lot like me, 25 in. waist and 35 in. hips. Now before you all go crazy on me those a certainly not my waist and hip sizes, but with some
(or a lot of ) adapting using wool batting, I could use this dress form for my future sewing projects.
Meet Caroline my new dress form. She must have a name and the only one that fits is Caroline. You see my sister Claudia Caroline, is named after my Grandmother Caroline Elizabeth. Doesn't Caroline just fit?
Claudia named her dress form after me, my middle name is Letitia and it has been in our family for several generations. Caroline is now on it's third generation as my niece Elizabeth, named her daughter Caroline, after both her Aunt Claudia and her Great Great Grandmother.
I can not even begin to tell you the Joy I feel looking at this beautiful gown on this dress form while sitting at my computer. I think she completes my special space don't you?
Now about bust size, I am very tiny on top but am very tall, my Grandmother also had a tiny bust. She was a short woman but as I have said before a powerhouse. My Mother has a bust, and she did when she married my Father at the young age of 18, she was 5' 7" and bigger boned than my Grandmother. So as this gown just fits on the 33 1/2 in. bust of this dress form, it has to be my Grandmother's. There is no way my Mom would have ever fit into it. Now some of the mystery has been solved, but there are still so many questions. Did my Grandmother make it or my Great Grandmother. The fact that it was with my wedding quilt really makes me believe it was for her wedding night. Maybe I will never really know the answers to this mystery. I wish the fabric and tatting could talk to me for just a few minutes to tell me the story. If nothing else I think my Grandmother is smiling down on me, thanking me for finally rescuing this beautiful nightgown. I will cherish this gown and take great care of it. Thank you Grandma for this beautiful gift.
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