Something for Me

The basic undergarment for 18th century women was the chemise (in French) and also called a shift (in English.) It was a simple white garment made from linen or cotton with sleeves below the elbow and a neckline that had a drawstring. It fell below the knees and above the ankles.

I have been skipping wearing my chemise for the past five years. It was just easier to go without one because usually no one could tell you weren't wearing one anyway, so why add the extra layer?  At least, that was my thinking.

And then I started making sleeve buttons. There were some that I thought were absolutely gorgeous.

Like these that my friend and customer Larissa is wearing at Hartwell Tavern in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

They are my favorite out of all the pairs of sleeve buttons I've made thus far.

The more sleeve buttons I made, the more I wanted a pair. So, despite the short time frame before the Feast and the many other things I needed to be doing, I sat down and made myself a chemise.

A chemise that needed sleeve buttons.

Then I spent a pleasant half hour going through the sleeve buttons I'd made to sell, trying them in each sleeve to see how they looked.

The choice was difficult - I liked so many of them.

Pair after pair after pair...

This sleeve button was a surprise - I'd thought it was pearl. But when I put it into a stark white chemise, I noticed that it is actually a very pale blue.

I'm still undecided but am leaning toward this pair. 

It's a pearl surrounded by tiny silver beading.

However, I just received an order of 45 cards of buttons (about 150 buttons) and I may find something I like better among those. 

Stay tooned on this one!

Last day for the September Give Away! Entries close at 11:59 PM Eastern tonight.