Appropriate colors for mantles

[Miche_Todd]

I have some very light dove gray silk that I purchased from Fashion Fabrics Club to make a mantle, but when I opened the package I found that it was a very light shade, almost white!! Would it be appropriate to make a mantle from this? Or would it be most appropriate in a darker color???

[Trish Hasenmueller]

The original mantle we saw at the Plain Sewing workshop in Georgia was made of silk that was sort of a dull gold color bordering on olive. It was very lightweight and delicate and had lovely pinked ruching of the same fabric. I think the mantle belongs to Melissa Roberts who taught the workshop.

Is there anyone else out there who saw this mantle? I don't remember how it was finished on the edge. I don't think it was lined.

Trish Hasenmueller

[Miche_Todd]

Is there anyone else out there who saw this mantle? I don't remember how it was finished on the edge. I don't think it was lined.

Trish Hasenmueller

I would love to know if anyone else has any information on this mantle! I do have a pinking iron and could use that to finish the edges if it would be accurate. If not, what would provide a nice light hem? This silk taffeta is a medium weight, and I wouldn't want to completely weigh it down.

[Anna Allen]

I'm curious, what pattern are you planning on using for the mantle? (Btw, I got that very same silk taffeta. ;) Only I'm planning on using it to make an 1870's bustle era gown.)

-Anna Allen
http://www.thegracefullady.com

[Miche_Todd]

Actually, I have a pattern that Trish drafted from either a Godey's or Peterson's for me. I can't remember which! I need to ask her!!!! A bustle gown would be lovely in this, I had given thought to making a nice evening gown using this and some of the charcoal organza from FFC.

[Trish Hasenmueller]

The pattern came from page 39 of Civil War Ladies Sketchbook Vol. 1 by Kathleen A. York, 1980, The House of York. In her introduction she says: “This collection of drawings was made from pictures appearing in such magazines as Godey’s, Harpers’, & Peterson’s between 1856-1865.” sooo, I, unfortunately don't have a specific reference for the mantle pattern as such. If anyone has a specific place a basic mantle pattern might have come from, please let us know.

I might also add that when we attended the Plain Sewing workshop in Georgia, I had my mantle pattern with me and we compared it to the example from the 1860's and it was virtually the same shapes and size as the period garment.

Trish Hasenmueller

[Anna Allen]

Okay... I guess I'll just have to go look through all of Godey's, Peterson's, and Harpers' to see which one it came from. Tee. Hee. Just kidding. Although, it would be nice to see where it actually did come from. (That's one of the problems with those Sketchbooks.) My friend just so happens to have that Sketchbook (she got it free) so maybe I'll ask to see if I can borrow it. I've been looking for a mantle pattern and there just doesn't seem to be any around. I think mantles look so neat and would love to make one someday.

Oh, Miche' you simply must post pictures when you get your mantle made up! :)

-Anna Allen
http://www.thegracefullady.com