MADE TO ORDER 18th Century (up to 1780) Ladies Shift
These white linen shifts are 100% handsewn from fine linens from the Baltics (lower classes) and Italy (upper classes), just as in the period, using instructions and patterns published in 1769 by François Alexandre Pierre de Garsault in his “L’art de la lingere”, helpfully analysed by Sharon Burnston, marquise.de and others, and supplemented by my personal research into shifts of English provenance (including personal study of 5 examples in UK collections).
Sleeves are seamed from the body off the shoulder bone (to your measurements) and are fully gathered at top and bottom, using stroke gathers. Sleeve length falls just below the elbow, give or take a little depending on the decade you prefer. Cuffs are cut to the right length for you, not snug but not loose, being 1.3cm (0.5 inch) in width with a buttonhole at each end so that you can fasten them with either sleeve links or a length of ribbon, as correct for the period.
Once you have placed your order, I will ask you for a few basic measurements and can then give a timescale for completion & delivery.
Price includes the cost of linen that I have carefully sourced with a suitable thread count and weave for making historially accurate shifts. If you’re investing in a completely hand-stitched shift built in the period way, you do not want it made of cotton or cheap ‘linen’ from the usual fabric retail outlets. Don’t cut corners on fabric for such an important garment!
These white linen shifts are 100% handsewn from fine linens from the Baltics (lower classes) and Italy (upper classes), just as in the period, using instructions and patterns published in 1769 by François Alexandre Pierre de Garsault in his “L’art de la lingere”, helpfully analysed by Sharon Burnston, marquise.de and others, and supplemented by my personal research into shifts of English provenance (including personal study of 5 examples in UK collections).
Sleeves are seamed from the body off the shoulder bone (to your measurements) and are fully gathered at top and bottom, using stroke gathers. Sleeve length falls just below the elbow, give or take a little depending on the decade you prefer. Cuffs are cut to the right length for you, not snug but not loose, being 1.3cm (0.5 inch) in width with a buttonhole at each end so that you can fasten them with either sleeve links or a length of ribbon, as correct for the period.
Once you have placed your order, I will ask you for a few basic measurements and can then give a timescale for completion & delivery.
Price includes the cost of linen that I have carefully sourced with a suitable thread count and weave for making historially accurate shifts. If you’re investing in a completely hand-stitched shift built in the period way, you do not want it made of cotton or cheap ‘linen’ from the usual fabric retail outlets. Don’t cut corners on fabric for such an important garment!
These white linen shifts are 100% handsewn from fine linens from the Baltics (lower classes) and Italy (upper classes), just as in the period, using instructions and patterns published in 1769 by François Alexandre Pierre de Garsault in his “L’art de la lingere”, helpfully analysed by Sharon Burnston, marquise.de and others, and supplemented by my personal research into shifts of English provenance (including personal study of 5 examples in UK collections).
Sleeves are seamed from the body off the shoulder bone (to your measurements) and are fully gathered at top and bottom, using stroke gathers. Sleeve length falls just below the elbow, give or take a little depending on the decade you prefer. Cuffs are cut to the right length for you, not snug but not loose, being 1.3cm (0.5 inch) in width with a buttonhole at each end so that you can fasten them with either sleeve links or a length of ribbon, as correct for the period.
Once you have placed your order, I will ask you for a few basic measurements and can then give a timescale for completion & delivery.
Price includes the cost of linen that I have carefully sourced with a suitable thread count and weave for making historially accurate shifts. If you’re investing in a completely hand-stitched shift built in the period way, you do not want it made of cotton or cheap ‘linen’ from the usual fabric retail outlets. Don’t cut corners on fabric for such an important garment!
