Pinafore

A red and white check cotton pinafore, said to have been worn by a maid whose surname may have been Tuttle, and was employed by Florence Nightingale (1820-1910). Clothing worn by working people survives less often that worn for fashionable or elite purposes.

The apron is cut in two pieces with a centre front seam; it is gathered into a 65.3cm waistband; white cotton tapes are attached to the ends of the waistband; one of the vertical edges of the apron is hemmed, the other is whipped but loose stitches along this edge suggest that it may once have been hemmed; the bib is cut in two pieces, seamed up the centre front; it is gathered into the waistband and into a narrow self band at chest level; a narrow strap is attached to the band at the right hand side; this passes round the neck and fastens at the left side with one of two cloth covered buttons; machine and hand stitched.