Written in 1838, "The Workwoman’s Guide" by simply ‘A Lady,’ is an excellent tutorial of a largely forgotten past-time: hand-sewing (with no machine) clothing and household items. I write historical fiction set in the 1800′s, so I use this book as a general reference guide to the exact practices for sewing 150-170 years ago.
The book is large and you get a lot for the money. My copy is 303 pages and contains 24 drawing plates with hundreds of written instructions. She includes instructions for clothing for babies, children, women, and men. Sample clothing patterns and instructions include babies’ lace caps, gowns, sleeves, chemisettes, petticoats, bodices, trousers, cloaks, and bonnets. Sample household patterns include tablecloths, dinner napkins, and bed curtains.
This book is a facsimile of the original. The typefaces and line drawings are in an antique style. The author uses an interesting method of measurement. Instead of "inches" or "centimeters," she uses "yards" and "nails." One nail is 2 1/4 inches. Each written instruction for an article of clothing or a household item contains complete measurements using this nail system. The line drawings are nowhere near to scale, but she includes measurements on each.
The author also talks with great authority and know-how about the entire business of sewing, from the correct way to sew tucks or pleats to beginning knitting stitches. I have not followed the instructions personally myself, so I don’t know how effective they are, but for a practiced stitcher or seamstress, I’m sure you could give it a try. Please be advised the instructions are written in a period style.
This is an excellent overall guide for a textile historian, a living historian of an 1830′s village like Sturbridge in Massachusetts, museum curator of textiles, a costumer interested in recreating period clothes, or a historical fiction author like myself fascinated by the era.
I definitely used this book as a reference when writing my own novel:
The Heart of a Lie
Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this book!
*Review on Amazon.com, 5 stars, found here on the product page.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Greetings from a fellowMainer. I grew up in Portland, but have spent the last thirty years in the western Maine foothills. This book looks fascinating, and I may find it to be a necessary purchase. I am also a writer, albeit a bit older one. I started in broadcast journalism, and went on from there to book editing, and of course I was writing all the time.
I saw your comments on the Constant-Content message board and assumed you must have a website since you had already written two books. So I did a Google search and was delighted to discover you are from Maine as well. I just thought I would stop by and say hi and encourage you to keep plugging away at CC. Take a look at the content that is selling and also the topics being searched. That will give you some ideas of what to write.
I plan for CC to be additional retirement income if I ever get to retire! :) I have been there almost two years and have been pleased with the money. You just need to be prolific! You have my email now, so feel free to drop me a note anytime.
I also have another website (still under construction). http://www.preparedcontent.com
It is my personal writing site. Take care and may you have many successes!
Judith
Hi Judith, you are so sweet to stop by with your angelic encouragement! Thank you, I’m touched. I do live in Portland, in North Deering. I love to travel to other parts of Maine, though. I’d like to go to the Sarah Orne Jewett house at some point. Is that near you? I love the 1800′s.
Thank you, I will write more there. I’m working on more Kindle books, too. Anything to bring in a little something. I’ll take your advice about the topics into account, and start afresh tomorrow.
I’m many years from retirement and will never ‘retire’ from writing, well at least fiction anyways! I’m still plugging away, so it helps to hear of a fellow writer’s perspective. Thank you again, and great to hear from you!
~ Meg