Beadle's Dime Guide to Dress-Making and Millinery

Guide to Dress-Making and Millinery by Mrs. Marion M. Pullan

This instructional handbook, published by Beadle and Company circa 1860, offers comprehensive guidance on dress construction and millinery. The introduction critiques American dressmakers' widespread lack of formal training, contrasting their practices with those of Paris and London establishments. Mrs. Pullan, drawing on her professional experience as fashion editor for leading European magazines, advocates for women to master these skills independently.

The technical content covers essential components: corsages, sleeves, mourning attire, necklines, ribbons, traveling wear, and bonnet construction. Subsequent sections address pattern drafting, materials and tools, fabric selection, and work techniques. A distinctive feature is a French-English dictionary of specialized terminology unique to the trades—terms like "mourir" (applied to trimmings, meaning to slope away gradually). The handbook includes practical guidance on calculating yardage requirements, skirt construction, and patterning, with acknowledgment that Wheeler & Wilson sewing machines could advantageously complete certain dress portions. Extensive emphasis is placed on precise, meticulous workmanship as essential to professional results.