205 Jane Austen Dress, c. 1807-1811
The Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton, England wanted a pattern of a dress that closely resembled the water color of Jane Austen painted by her sister, Cassandra. Mackenzie Anderson Sholtz was recommended and the Blue Dress Project began. She found this original dress in FA&M collection from which the enclosed pattern was taken.
This amazingly simple dress is made in a very fine white cotton. The dress is plain except for the worked Swiss dotted puff sleeves, and the tuck and insertion work on both the long sleeve cuffs and hem.
The front bodice is cut on the bias and is shaped with two darts. The back bodice opens with six buttons down the back and a hook and eye at the waist. There is a half lining at the underam and plain tape used to stablize the seams. The skirt is made from one square panel in back, a slightly shaped front panel, and side panels which are dramaticly shaped from Z" at the wait to 20" at the hem. The total circumference of the original dress is 105".