TSB-161 Girl's Guimpe Sewing Pattern, 19th Century Girls blouse

Our TSB-161 Guimpe blouse is styled in the peasant style, with diagonal armscye, similar to a modern raglan sleeve. This makes the garment easy to fit and wonderfully comfortable to wear. The looseness of this garment is also great for the growing child, as the lack of a fitted shoulder gives lots of growth room. The pattern is for a blouse that gathers at the neckline and the cuffs. The blouse can be dressed up by adding a row of lace around the neck. The blouse is closed at the center back with either a keyhole opening or buttons and buttonholes.

 This pattern is for a wonderful easy to make and fit blouse called a “guimpe” (pronounced gimp). These bodies or as we know them today blouses appeared in all the fashion magazines of the Era. They were worn under all types of garments, from open-necked dresses to Swiss Bodies, the Zoauve Jackets and Brettelles (braces) that were so popular with the young people. Mothers liked them, because it was much easier to wash a blouse than to launder a whole dress. This blouse serves as a great wardrobe extender when worn with a skirt and a pretty belt and braces.

Suggested fabric and trims: To be historically correct your Blouse should be made from 100% cotton in one of the many weaves of the Era. Batiste, challis, percale, cambric, dimity, chambray, and lawn are all names of suitable fabrics. Crisp lightweight cottons are your best choice for holding their shape, while challis will give you soft graceful folds. Most of these Guimpes were white. Choose 100% cotton trims where possible. Eyelet and flat laces work great for a soft look.
 
Pattern Requirements:
2 - 3 yards 45” wide fabric (depending on size)
small white buttons: 3 – ¼” buttons for key-hole opening
7 – ½” buttons if you are doing the buttons and buttonholes
¼ yard of ¼” white ribbon or soutache for loops for the keyhole opening
½” yard narrow lace if desired for trimming neckline

 Sizing:
The pattern includes four general sizes.  
   
 This listing is for a new, hard copy pattern and not a finished garment.