Trousseau for Mademoiselle Mignonette

Fine cotton velveteen is the main fabric in the little navy blue suit. The sleeveless bodice is pure silk with pin tucks down the front. The attached belt is of the same fabric with a jaunty gold buckle . I used gold embroidery floss with red stitches to embroider the couching stitch at the jacket edges. French Val lace peeps out from under the sleeve edges. The skirt has front pleats and the entire dress closes at the back with iridescent Czech beads and hand worked loops. Her matching straw boater is Swiss Paglina hat braid. Unlined, it is embellished with a velveteen bow and finished with the Bluebird Textiles label.

The fancy silk dress was sewn from hand dyed silk in a coppery coral pink with contrasting silk in lilac (also hand dyed). Tiny hand stitching with silk thread forms the perfect gathers on her dress. The back closes with genuine pearls and thread loops. The matching bonnet is also hand dyed hat braid, embellished with silk rosettes and multi colored silk ribbons; yes, I dyed these ribbons, too.

I think that I should mention here my expertise in dyeing. I use a combination of acid dyes and/or natural dyes with mordants so you can be assured of complete dye-fastness. I have taught natural dyeing through the Philadelphia Guild of Hand Weavers, and years of historical re-enacting. My formal educational background was in textile design and I still find the chemistry and history of textiles to be utmost fascinating!

The tender little chemise and drawers are of a sand colored cotton lawn. The unders gather at the waist and tie at the back with a silk ribbon. The chemise has hand embroidered edges of silk thread and closes at the back with genuine pearls.

Breathtaking!

My little mignonette is a reproduction crafted by Carl Armstrong of somethingfancydollmaking on ebay. My doll's measurements are as follows:

height: 5 1/2 "
top of arm to fingertips: 2 "
shoulder to shoulder: 1 1/2 "
hips: 4"
head circumference 3 3/4"

NOTE: Doll is not included.