Fully Boned Transition Stay

This pattern was pulled, with permission, from the extant garment in the Danvers' Historical Society in Danvers, Massachusetts. The threads appear to be hand spun and the fabric appears to be hand woven of linen warp and cotton weft. The thread count is approximately 40 warp and 36 weft. The pieces are sewn together with linen thread, perhaps the thread used to weave the fabric. The stiffening is whalebone. While the front is fully-boned the back and sides are partially boned. Variations of the front boning from Conner Prairie Museum in Fishers, Indiana and The Chester County Historical Society in West Chester, Pennsylvania are included with the pattern.

Detailed Historical Notes explaining and documenting what is unique about a pair of transition stays are included in the pattern package. These stays date to circa 1796 to 1806.

The pattern is multi-sized 8-14, 16-20 and 22-26: B, C and D cups. Sizes 8 through 14 require 1/2 Yd. fashion fabric and 2/3 Yd. lining; sizes 16 through 20 require 3/4 Yd. fashion fabric and 7/8 Yd. lining and sizes 22 through 26 require 7/8 Yd. of fashion fabric and 1 Yd. of lining.