Cover Image Property of PUBLISHER
This image property of Publisher,
scanned from my private collection
TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  • INTRODUCTION
  • Chapter
    • 1
      2
      3
      4
      5
      6
  • THE GODEY LADY DOLL
  • GODEY LADY DOLL DRESS PATTERNS
    • Basic Patterns
    • Body Patterns
  • PLATE ONE
    • Crinoline Underskirt A, Pantalettes, Breasts
    • Young Girl's Boots
  • PLATE TWO
    • Bustle, Crinoline Underskirt B
  • PLATE THREE
    • Crinoline Underskirt C, Organdy Underskirt
    • Slipper
  • DRESS PATTERNS
    • Pink and Black Lace Lady
      Skating Lady
      Bridal Costume
      Brown Lady
      Golden Brown Lady
      Lavender Lady
      Rose Lace Lady
      Black and Plaid Lady
      Black and Fuschia Lady
      Young Girl
      Rose Gold Lady
      Nile Green Lady
      Mammy
      Black and White Striped Lady
      Can Can Dancer
  • VICTORIAN FURNITURE PATTERNS
    • PLATE 1. Rose Back Chair, Chippendale Chair
      PLATE 2. Center Table, Bedside Stand, Set Thomas Clock
      PLATE 3. Victorian Rocker, Piano Stool Andirons, Shelf of Books
      PLATE 4. Hepplewhite Chair, Victorian Chair
      PLATE 5. Spinet Piano PLATE 6. Empire Sofa, Mid-Victorian
      PLATE 7. Grandfather's Clock
      PLATE 8. Spinning Wheel
      PLATE 9. American Wing Back Chair, Colonial High Back Wall
      PLATE 10. Crystal Chandelier
      PLATE 11. Harp
      PLATE 12. Colonial Cradle
      PLATE 13. Wash Stand
      PLATE 14. American Highboy 1780
      PLATE 15. Secretary, Early American
      PLATE 16. Four-Poster Canopy Bed
      PLATE 17. Living Room Setting
      PLATE 18. Bed Room Setting
      PLATE 19. Music Room Setting
      PLATE 20. Detail of Mantel and Fireplace
      PLATE 21. Details of Cupboard and Wainscoting
      PLATE 22. Detail of Door and Window
  • DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING GODEY LADY DOLL FURNITURE
  • INDEX

Title: The Godey Lady Doll: the story of her creation with Patterns for dresses and doll furniture
Author: Charlotee Eldridge
Publication Date: HC:1953
Publisher: Hastings House Publishers, NY
Page Count: 209
Book Dimensions(ht. x w.): 11" x 8 1/2"
ISBN: None

PATTERN RATING:Star Rating You get 15 different dress patterns and they look fantastic made up. There are no color photos in this book(just black-and-white), so some of the detail gets lost. Patterns have some markings, but not as many as they ought to. They are also full-size for a 10 1/2" tall doll.

INSTRUCTION RATING:Star Rating Instructions are not well broken down and have very little illustration to go with them. If you don't already know what you're doing, you are going to be frustrated. You get instructions for a cloth body and paper mache face and ceramic hands, none of which would lead to a well-done doll without a lot of trial and error. Reading through the instructions for the basic doll body, the author failed to mention what her seam allowances are, or grainline direction, so inexperienced dollmakers are going to have fatter dolls than others! These are not simple doll costume patterns, either. Lots of pleats and darts that you have to interpret on the patterns. Still...

SUMMARY- I was very excited to run across this book. I still am, having received it and read it. The author assumes an awful lot about her reader's sewing skills. But she has a great sense of humor and wit when writing about the history of the "Godey's Lady Book" and about her career creating and showing her dolls. If you have a lot of expererience sewing doll clothes, you'll love adding these patterns to your collection - it just isn't a good book for beginners.