Gown

Quilting was a popular form of needlework in the 18th century. Both decorative and practical, it was used on clothing and furnishings such as bedcovers and hangings. Quilted furnishings were often remade into clothing, as in this particular gown. The pattern of the quilting indicates that it was done in the mid-18th century. The style of gown dates from the 1780s, which shows that it was refashioned into clothing some thirty years later. This would have added a warm, attractive winter gown to a woman’s wardrobe, without buying a new one.