THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN Lady Tailor System. MRS. GARTLAND, NO. Is SOUTH THIRTEENTH ST, PHILADELPHIA, PENNA. >^OftWGHT. A 'h' X Entered rxccrding to Act of Congress, in the Office of the D. C, A.D. 7SS4, by Mrs. Elizabeth Gartl.-ind, Philadelphia. Librarian of Congress, at Washingtor. - t J TENTS> Introductoey Chapter, History of the Lady Tailor System, Pattern Instrument (Diagram), A Peep Behind the Scenes, The Purpose of this Book, Measurement Positions (Diagrams), Plain Basque Measurement, Arm's Eye Measurement, . Plain Basque Diagram, Plain Basque Directions, . Special Note to Pupils, Sleeve Diagram and Directions, Skirt Diagrams, .... Skirt Directions, Basque No. 2 Directions, . Basque No. 2 Diagram, Basque with Plaits, Diagram and Directions, PoLANAisE, Princess Dress and Wrapper, Special Rules for Stout and Slender Ladies, Dress-maker's Catechism, &c., . A AVoRD TO Mothers, Health, &c.. Schools for Dress-Making, An Intervieav with Pupils, Rules for Cutting and Basting, PAGE 3 4 5 7 8 K) 11 14 16 17 21 23 23 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 37 38 39 40 INTRODUCTORY. ^\'(' j:ii;irimlt'C' perfect Aiiu-lioles, Sleeves, Bust, Darts, Curves, and Xeek withoii! Ixrp'ttin;/. It is sitii|)ly jierlect in all its Kijujt/irifi/ -Mid braufi/, :;:i(! we aiv pleased to cut any one Tc-i Lininf/s, to jtrovc its incrif.s. Never take insti'iietions in any System without liaving Test Linings flit and tried on. Many claim to be Self-fitting, l)ut Judge for your- self whether the iit is good or bad. We have tried all these so-called Tailoi- Systems, and do not wonder that exi)erieuc(d dress-makei's are disgusted with them. Practice and experience enable us to say that we have yet to record a single failure ill the use of our New System. It is our experience, and th.; basis of our System, that without a perfect arm-hole it is impossible to have a i)erfect-titting waist and sleeve. Our system i- th" only o:ie by which a i)erfect sleeve can l>e made without u ])article of alteration. The rules are so plain, both I'or measuring and drafting, that with ordinary care a mistake is almost imj)osslble. Agents wanted to introduce our New Svstem in everv Town, Village and City throughout the country. Territory lor sale. Sewing Machines, Drafting Paper, Tailor Pules, Tape Measures, and Tracing A\'heels for sale. Shoidd any one be unable to follow dii-ections in book, further in- structions will be given free, by mail or bv calling in person at Mr.-. Gartland's oflice, Xo. 15 South Thirteenth Stieet. THE HISTORY OF THE LADY TAILOR SYSTEM. Our system ditVers tVoin nnvtliiiij;' vwv before presented to tlie {)iil)- lic, and we will endeavor to ex[)laiii it briefly. Were we about to make a dress for a small doll, it is likely that in ordei- to aeeomj)lisli our task in as short a time as possible, we would do what many have done before us, and that is, we would lli'st cut a hole in the material, and slip the doll's arm in it. We would then taper in the waist, by taking it in under the arms, down the eentre of the baek, and take in another seam between these two, on each side of the back, curving around to the arndiole. We would then take up the darts, and adjust the shoulder seams. Thus it is most likely we Avould have (juite a neat-fitting dress for Miss Dolly. We do mueh the same thing in our New System. Having discovered that the proper fit of the armhoie was of the utmost importance, we spent many a sleepless night in thinking over the subje("t. We all know if the armliole is too tight, it is sure to tear out, and if too large it is impossible to remedy it. One cold night in February, when the household had been (piietly slee})ing for hours, these thoughts, as usual, persistently haunted us. Suddenly an idea came, and not wishing to lose it, we hastily jumped out of bed, crept quietly down stairs for fear of M'aking the sleepers, and whilst shivering in the cold, wc; hastily jotted down the first draft of our New American Lady U'ailor System, and then returned to our bed satisfied Avith the I'esults, and kn(twing we had made our of the grrafexf ht rent ions of fhc (if/c. When a })hysician is called uprui to |)rescribe for a patient, il he first endeavors to discover the cause of the syni])toms, the remedy is more easily found, dust so it was wilii us. We were the physician called u]»oii to |)reseribe for the patient, which in this case was an //'- fUCuKj e of thi> .-evere ilbies^ to be in the (/rm/iDfc, and \\v wvvc. fortunate euough to find the /•( med;/ and make a jxrffcl cure. MRS. ELIZABETH GARTLANDS SELF-ADJUSTING IRRI]GUL,AU CURVILINEAR PATTERN INGTnUMENT AND VARIABLE SELF-ADJUSTING Circular Attachment. Copyrighted by Elisabeth Cartland, Thilaclelphia. THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN Lady Tailor System. mrs. e. grrtlmd, INVENTOR 4ND SOLE PROPRIETOR, A PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES. Xo system is jwrfect, simply on account of its name. We liave French Systems, London Systems, Tailor Systems, and various other so-called Self-fitting Systems, which are concocted by the combination of all, or by a possil)le improvement on some, and are called Inven- tions. This is most likely done by those who, by thus naming their systems, seek to borrow glory or prestige from a foreign country. America, "The land of the free, and the home of the brave," has many bright minds and l)rilliant intellects; then why should we go abroad, when we are so perfectly able to cope with any nation under the sun ? We tiierefore take a pardonable iuid patriotic pride in our System as an im})rovemcnt on anything foreign, and we glory in the name we have given it, i.e., "The Original American Glove-fitting Lady Tailor Svsteni." 8 THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK. Tliis book is iiit('M(l('(l (o explain tlu; Principles of Drcss-euttinf!^, and is foniuled on Hi/atcindfic rii/cs, hy which any one can learn to measure, draf't, baste, cut, lit, and make dresses, without i'urthei' in- struction. To ^)RFls.s^[AKERS. — Tt will be of threat use to professional dross- makers, who, like the r:!V>'iitoi', iiave h:ul tht same sad experience in tl)e use of all other charts and systems. To Ladies in Puivate Life. — It is specially adapted to the use of those ladies who wish to alter t>r make their own dresses for home and morninj; wear. It is as much trout)le or more to a (iressmaker, to make a chintz or percale dress, as one of more; expensive material ; yet few ladies are willinir to pay as much, for it is probable that the making would often be three times as luuch as the original cost. Jf this class of work is done by the ladies themselves, or if tluy choose to superintend it at home, j)rofessional dress-makers will have more time to devote to the liner or more artistic work. To Young Ladies. — Yotmo; ladies, to you this book and the system it teaches will be invaluable. Many of you object to spending at least six or eight months time in learning the trade. Most of those who do this arc; but wasting their time. There are few who are taught the art of measuring, drafting, or cutting by rule, basting and fitting, and that all seams are put together differently; some having to be stretched, while others should be held in. In fact, we have known dressmakers who never allowed their ai)prentices to get a glimpse of these necessary things, but kept them continually em- ployed in one special branch, such as (piilling, rullling, fluting, bntton- liole making, ovei'casting, etc. The tinu; has now come when a yoiuig lady's education will be con- sidered unfinished unl<-ss she is an adept in this art. 11 MEASURES FOR DRAFTING PLAIN BASQUE. 1. Nock, !•> iiulu's. 2. Arm's-evc, 14 inclK's. 0. Under-arni, 8 inches. 4. Bust, 3G inches. "). Waist, 24 inches. (!. Lcnuth oi'Sack, K! inches. 7. Width oi' back, l-'] inches. 5. Lengtli of front, lo inches. 1). Shoulder, T) inches. 10. Hip, 40 inches. 11. Height of Hip, 5 inches. 12. Height of dart, 5 inches. 1»3. Test measure, IG inches. DIRECTION FOR TAKING MEASURE. The tape is taken across the hack, very (4osc nn(h'r th(^ arm, around the front, and u[) over tii(! shoiUder; it is then fastened at the side of the neck, as sliown in figure. 1. Ncc/x. Take a chjse measure outside of the collar of dress, re- moving all ties, handkerchiefs, etc., or take a moderately tight measure inside of the collar, about as you would have the dress tit. 12 2. Width of Arniho/c. Take a tiglit iiK'asnro, hy putlin<: the tap' unilcr the ann, up over the shoulder, to tlie ])hiee iu wliieh the .-, Bust. Take a h)ose measure over the t'uHest part of the bus^, and around the back across the sliouhler bhules. t. Waist. Taki! a eh)se measure around the waist. The waistban! is fastened around the waist. o. Back. Take the measure aeross the back, from right to leit, on each side above the socket of the arm. (). Undcr-arm. Tiiis measure is invariably taken too nhort, and so causes the dress to tear out whenever a huly desires to raise her arms. The under-arm measure is taken from the bottom of v.aistband, ch)se to the tape which is in tlie axilla, or arm pit. 7. Lenr/th of Hack. Take the measure from bone at back of neek just to the waistband, and not below. Should a ladv be very long waisted in the back, a second measure should bi' taken from the same [)oint at the neck, down to the cxlen- sion ot" hei' waist, ovei" the waistband. The ditference must b,' added after the first waist line is drawn on draft. This will avoid wrinklo, so often seen Detween the neck and shoulder blade, and the dress can not fail to lit into the figure in the back, which w ill also make it more comforta!)le. S. Loif/tli of Front. 'V-a]hould br iakcn, and proceed as in the directions for the back. !*. Da)': Jlccif^xrc. The heiglit of darts is found by measuring from tlic wai.-t as high as desired. Distance In'tween darts i> deUrniined a; will. jo. llij) Midstirc. Take measure from waist toihc full hri^lit i-i' hip., tlicii take the measure around the fuilc^l ])ai't of liip>. If a lady has high hips or stomach, or if she wears a itustlc, or if, 13 on the contnirv, sjio has small lii[)s or small stomacli, and is hollow in the back, note should l»e taken and allowance made in the ri this system, or to any one wlio is unaMf to find tlie lieiglit ol" the cii'dr L;ivcii l)v tlu' iiicasiirc ol" anu's-cyc. 'I'lic iiiiiulK>rs range iVoiii the Nonngcst cliiKl to (lie stoniest lady. () inches in eii'cnnilerenee u-i-; s a diameter of" 1?, inches. S 9 10 11 \2 I -A 14 Ki " " " 17 ■to a (c (( Take ])articu!ar care and do not get diameter too large. It would he much hetter to yet it the width of a line smaller tlian larger. (( ^i a a 2* a a ^5 a u -n a ii '>j (( (( ^1 a (I H li a H on waist line; divide .space in four e ? Alls. The hiisf iiied.siirr. Qucfi. What is line 4? Alls. The right side of circle is w'uUh of back. The left side is wit till of cJirsf. (^ucs. What is line 5? Ans. The shoukhr line ends on line 5. Qucs. For what are lines (J and 7 used ? Ans. They touch the right and left of circle and divide the IxhIv, the back from the front. (^nes. Of what use are the sfantin;/ (lidinrters'? Alls. The end of the upjtcr ri;/lif, where it touches line 5, is the lower end of shoulder line. Th'> c:ul of th2 /oirer left marks the front seam oi' sleeve. The end of the Kpjxr lift marks where fullness at top begins. The viu\ of the /oircr rir/ht marks dot E, where inside of side-body L~ drawn to dot I). (Jaes. What is line S ? An-i. Lcnf/th of back moasurf. Qucs. What is line 9 ? .1/(6'. Line 9 is back shoulder line. Qhcs. What is line 10? Ans. Line 10 is front line of waist. Qucs. What is line 11 ? Ans. Line 11 h front shoulder \i\u\ Qucs. For what is line 12 used? 22 Anft. Lino 12 Is used to find tlio front line of side-body, from dot D to dot E. Qucs. For M'liat is line 13 used ? Ans. Line 13 is used to fiud//-07(^ line of under-arm gore from dot F to dot G. Qui'.s. For wliat is lino 14 used? Ans. Lino 14 is used to find hack of undcr-arm (/ore, from dot E to dot I. Quen. For ■\vliat is lino 15 used? Auk Lino 15 is used to find Ixtek line of front, from dot F to dot H. Qucs. For what is line IG used '/ Ans. Line 10 is used for hip measure. Qucs. For what is dot A used ? Ans. Dot A is on waist line and is used for slope of bach. Ques. For what is dot B used ? Ans. Dot B is on waist line, and marks back of side-body. Qucs. For what is dot C used ? Ans. Dot C IS on waist line and marks front of back. (^nrs. For what is dot D used ? Ans. Dot D is on waist line and marks front of side-body. Ques. For what is dot E used ? Ans. Dot E is at the junction of inside curve of circle, and lower right end of diameter, and is the top of front of side-body. Ques. For what is dot F used ? Alls. Dot F is one-half inch to left of lino 2 on circle, and is the to}) of front of U7uler-arni gore. Ques. l\)r what is dot G used ? Ans. Dot G is on waist line, and is the lower front of under-arm gore. Ques. For what is dot H used? Ans. Dot H is on waist line, and is the lou-er back of under-arm gore. Ques. For what is dot I used ? Ans. Dot I is on waist line, and marks the back edge of front of body. SLEEVE. Copyrighted by Elizabeth Gartland, Philadelphia. MEASURES FOR DRAFTING SLEEVE. 1. Neck to Elbow, 1!) inches. 2. Shoulder, o indies. 3. Arms-eye, 14 inches. 4. Inside to Bend, 8 inclies. 5. Inside to Wri.st, 1(5 inches. 6. U])per Arm, 12 inches. 7. Middle Arm, lU inches. 8. Elbow, 11 inches. 9. Lower Arm, 10 inches. 10. Wrist, 8 inches. 1. J AUG 1 is a straight line inside to wrist measure, with diameter of circle of arm's-eye added. 2. AVhile square is in position make dot A at top end of inside to wrist measure ; one inch to right make dot E. 3. Make dot C measure from " Inside to Bend " below dot A. 4. Make (h)t 1) measure from Inside to A\ rist below dot A. 5. Line 2 forms a right-angle with line 1, and is one inch less than two-thirds of arm's-eye. f). liine 3 is drawn from line 2 parallel with line 1. 7. Line 4 from dot D to line .'5. 8. Lines 5, H, 7, from dots A, B, (' to line .">. 9. Make dot K, one inch and a half below line 7 on line 3, and dmw line 8 from dot K to dot ( '. 10. Make dot V in centre of line 2 and draw a line ])arallel with line 1, to line (). 24 11. Make (lot (i OIK' inch to inside of lino 1 on line X. 12. Make '''' one inch inside of dot ii on line 8. 13. Make dot II on liiu; 1, one-imlf ineii above dot D. 14. Draw a line from dot 11, one and three-quarter inc^hes outside of line 1, and make dot I. 15. Draw lines from A to O, and from G to I. IG. Make dot J two-thirds the size of Elbow from dot G on line S. 17. Make dot K one-third the size of Elbow from dot G on line can \k' drawn in different color pencil, or separately, as in diagram. If nature has denied a natural fullness, art coines to the rescue, and ])adding must be used. .V ]>iece of l^reiich canvas sewed in with th" back dart and reaching to, an can tlun be filled in with wadding. 29 vq BASQUE. CopyrigUted by Kli;;abeth aartlaud, Philadelphia. 31 BASQUE, with Plaits in Back. Oopyr.eb,.d By ElU.b.th G.rtl.nd, PUM.lptl.. DIEECTIONS FOE MAKING PLAITS IN BACK OF BASQUE. If the l,Kly is short-w.is,c,l an ,„klitio„ of .Ix.ut Kve in.-hes is made at XVaist line, on eaeh side of Iniek ; .hen ,„e Bas„ne . ,.nt togct er this forms a donble box plait on eaeh side of the baek sean,. I tl^ lady is long.^vaisted the addition is made at the extension of baek, one or two inches below waist. Make fonr or five in,.hes on eaeh side of baek forn, acordnig to the fullness desired. If a lady is short-waisted this add.fon ,s n.ade one .„. two inehes below Waist line, whieh will give her "- »1'P-™- f a Ion. waist. To give a short-waisted efieet start at the Wa.st hne. The plaits are eontinned for Prineess Dress or Wrapper. 32 POLANAISE, PRINCESS DRESS AND WRAPPER. TIh'sc arc :ill cut on lli.' siuiic principle as tlic riaiii l>as(|uc. They may liav(! eitlicr one oi- two daiis, wliicli are carried Ixlow waist to liij>. Prepare the |)attern the same as lor Jiasipie. ("lit each part oC liiiino; lirst, and hiy trout and nnder-arin on material, letting- the front side-i)ody tonch on hip measure. Keej) the i>attern strai<;ht on waist line, without cuttint; open, tlien cut down the full len measure. Then from i;u de to lull extent in the waist. Ladies t Cihis ligure are generally long waistele se<'ret or (piestion r,n liic ai't of measuring, drafting, trac- ing, cutting, basting, fitting, making and iinishing, as well as the amount of material re(iniral for any article of dress. 34 THE DRESS-MAKER'S CATECHISM. Kvcrif Dress-inakcr .should icsf htrsc/f />// fhc fofJoiriiif/ (^)t(rsli()ns. 1. ])() 1 lioiicstlv ('onsidi'i' myself' coiiijx'teiit to take tli(' ^oods hc- loiiginji' t(i aiKitlicr pcrsDii, and rctiini tlic eing an American born citizen we are sorrv lo be obliged to ackunwledge it, l)ut it is our experience that the (Jcrmans are more systematic than other nations in 35 the. ('('iicatioii of (licir cliildreii. 'i'lic pi-iiiciplcs of (ho Kiiulersrarton arc carried throu^li all grades of scliools, conscqueiitly the ju-ople arc more thorough in everything they undertake. A number of ajiplicants eamc^ lo our office in answer to an adver- tisement. We asked No. 1 : — Qkc.s. " What do you know about I)r(>ss-making?" ^l?}.s-. "I know a gre;it deal.'' Qiics. " Could you cut and lit a dress?" A)is. " I Could try." Q;(c>!. " How long have you worked at the trade?" Ans. "About two months altogether." Qkc.^. " Can you sew up these seams ?" Ans. " Oh yes ; I know T can do that." The skirt is given her with scams hasted. When finished we arc obliged to give it to another hand to ri]), as the stitching is both sides the basting, and by the time the end of the seam is reached, it is fully half an inch inside the l)asting. INTERVIEW WITH NO. 2. Qucs. " Have you learned the trade regularly ?" Ans. " Yes, Ma'am ; I -was with Mrs. six months." QiKs. " What can you do ?" Ans. '' I used to plait the ruffles." Qncs. *' Is that all you did in six months?" Ans. "Most all the time, but I somctinu's pulled out basting threads." She is given ruffles to plait. She conunenccH them one inch apart, and finishes them thrjc inches apart, after six months experience in nothing else. INTERVIEW WITH NO. 3. (^iics. " Have //o?i any expei-icncc ?" Ans. " I was with Madam ■ one month." 36 Que.^. " Wliy did you leave?" AiiK "' r i::ot tired of" \vlu{)j)in<^ seams and carrviii^^ homo hundles," The scams ifiven Iier to overcast Averc so ])adly done, no two stitcli(\s l)einy jtimiiiiij; tlic scams in tiohicr. Tlic hulv is loUl to (Millie auniii next day, and it will lie i'('a, then commence again at the waist line, and go down. The most troidjlesome seam in the whole waist, is the curved side body seam, which comes next to the back. In basting this seam, on one side of the l)ack, commence at the waist line, and g > up as in other seams, holding the outward curved seam toward you. The other side must be pinned at tlie waist line, and at intervals up the seam, then com- mence basting at the top, holding the outward curved seam toward you as in the other side. Xcrcr riiii scnral .-tfifc/ics tit a time in basting, but take a single stitch, one by one, about one-fourth of an inch apart. l^s(^ c<»tton suitable to matcM'ial. In sewing up seams, do not have the iniic/iiac stitcii too short, or it will draw. Nick the seams, so that th(^ waist will spi'ing nicely into the figure, and tht.'U press them all o))en. If vou wisii to tinisji with Tailor-like 41 iieatno-^s, turn in the (•(li!;(s and slip stildi tlicni t ()*;•( 'tl km-, inst.-atl of w liij)j)in/V^^■ and sewed on loosely by hand. Ribbon may be used if preferred, but must also be sewed on almost as if rutlhul. This l-^ to keep the bones in place very tight. They must each be fastened in several places along ea(,'h seam. The Ca.sui[/s must, as a rule, be ran about two inches below the waist line, and about an even lieiglith with the dart all around. Under tiic arms they may be a little higher. In our system whalebones are not necessary.