Godey's, Patchwork and Fashion

The Godey's Lady's Book was it and a bit for women in the 19th century.  This blog has a few posts on the famous magazine.

Godey's Lady's Book

Godey's Autograph Bedquilt - April 1864

The Worktable - Patchwork - April 1850

Patchwork doesn't get much attention in Godey's.  Patchwork was menial, like mending socks and hemming sheets.  The following entry is typical - one picture with no description.

Fashion, of course, was another matter.  The fashion plates and the current fashion news from the big cities was a feature of the magazine.  I do love these over the top drawings and was pondering about a blog of Godey's fashion plates or printing a set of postcards.  I ran the idea past my editorial staff.  They (daughters and sister) suggested I would need to add some captions to the pictures and offered a few suggestions.

Emily wondered if anyone would notice the excess baggage hidden under her skirt.

Emily hoped that by wearing all her clothes to the weight watchers weigh in they won't notice the extraordinary number of Easter eggs that she had consumed over the weekend.

If I don't move my husband will never find where I've hidden my fabric stash.

After 5 hours ironing her outfit Emily was too scared to move in case her skirt creased.

Emily hoped no-one would notice her clunky orthopedic shoes at the school sports day.

What do you think?

Godey's Lady's Book

The Godey's Lady's Book was a monthly magazine published in Philadelphia between 1830 and 1878.  Before the American Civil War it was the most widely circulated magazine in the United States.  The editor from 1837 to 1877 was Sarah Josepha Hale.  She also wrote "Mary Had a Little Lamb".
Godey's Lady's Book was best known for the fashion plates and patterns which became a useful source for women across the continent.  The magazine also published short stories, information about women's causes and employment, and sheet music; it never discussed political subjects.

So, I thought I would see if any Godey's Lady's Books were still in existence.  I found one on eBay from 1853 but the seller wouldn't ship overseas.  I can get a download on my Kindle... but I don't own a Kindle.  Then I just Googled 'Godey's Lady's Book' and found that there are free digitised copies for study purposes everywhere.  I started at http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=godeylady , but there at other sites as well.

The plate above is titled 'Taking Tea in the Arbor'  from January-June 1852 collection.  Mary Criswell was engaged in March 1852.  I wonder if she and her sisters and her mother studied this very picture to get ideas for her wedding dress?

Isn't the internet amazing?!