Summer Outfit (aka Summer Gown & Lace Cap) (RETIRED)

I have heard this before, that eyelet lace was not yet invented, but I do not believe it to be true. It could have been invented around this time and if so, would have been considered the height of fashion. I have not been able to find much on the web as to the considered date of invention, but I did find this....




“In 1814, Lord Montgomerie died in Spain (one account says Sicily) of consumption and his widow, Lady Mary Montgomerie returned to their estate in Ayr, Scotland. She brought with her a beautiful baby’s christening gown, made by a French needle worker. This gown had delicate eyelet embroidery and overcast fillings, fine satin stitches and beautiful lace stitches that were inserted in the cut out spaces within the design. Lady Montgomerie lent the christening gown to a Mrs. Jamieson, the wife of an Ayr cotton agent and asked her to duplicate the designs on the gown, and then to teach the poor women in the Ayr district the technique, thus creating a much-needed income for the families. Mrs. Jamieson, together with her two daughters, all of whom were accomplished embroiderers, studied the beautiful overcast filling stitches and patterns, added more lace filling stitches and then in turn taught the technique to outworkers, who were mainly farmer’s wives and their daughters.”

You can read the full article at www.ega-gpr.org/article_Ayrshire.html

Granted this is 1814, but it was from an estate and therefore would be a bit older than this date. It may have been a Christening gown of Lady Montgomerie or her husband, which would date this gown to colonial times or even of their parents, as christening gowns were sometimes passed from generation to generation, which would date the lace to as early as the 1750's or earlier.

If eyelet lace was not yet invented, it was shortly after. I do believe that it did exist during Felicity's time. This outfit is not as historically inaccurate as some claim.