For almost eight (!!!) years, ever since I put out the Fantail Skirt pattern and it was a smashing success, my friend Nina has been asking me to make an Edwardian or Victorian blouse pattern to go with it.

Nina’s not just my friend: she’s my pattern editor (any mistakes are my fault from tweaking things after she edits a pattern), my confidant, and my brain to bounce pattern ideas off of.

So, when I found the perfect extant ca. 1910 blouse to base a pattern off of I knew exactly what to name the blouse!

Better yet, I had another Nina already on my list of inspirational and interesting (not always necessarily both, but this one is!) people to name patterns after: Nina du Bois.

Nina du Bois (July 4, 1870 – July 26, 1950) was an American civil rights and peace activist. Along with her husband W.E.B Du Bois, Nina Du Bois was involved in the early 20th century Pan-African movement, which sought to end colonial rule and racial discrimination, to improve human rights, and to create a world economy which provided equal opportunities for all groups.

They believed that ending colonialism and imperialism, both in Africa and around the world, was critical to achieving a more peaceful future. Initially Nina Du Bois’ work focused on supporting her husband’s activism, running their household, managing admin, and raising their children. Later, she was active in her own right, helping to organise the fourth Pan-African congress in 1927.

Nina Du Bois is illustrative of the many women throughout history whose support and management of all the household and life admin allowed their more famous husbands to achieve what they did – and who thus should also get recognition and credit for that work..

Oh, and what’s more?   There’s a ca. 1910 photograph of Nina du Bois in a bodice that could easily be hacked from the blouse pattern!

So, meet the Nina Blouse pattern!

 

The ca 1910 blouse the Nina is based is a classic example of a late Edwardian lingerie blouse, with an all lace twist!

The pattern includes instructions for making it in all lace, like the original, making it in fabric with lace insertion, or making it entirely in fabric.

Basically, the design possibilities for the Nina are practically endless.

And whatever fabric and trims you choose, the fit will be perfect with the help of the handy fitting guide.

Like all historical Scroop patterns, the Nina Blouse comes with extensive information on period accurate sewing techniques, and the materials and trims used on this style of garment.

The Nina Blouse is perfect worn over the Persis and Rilla Corset & Ettie Petticoat and tucked into a Fantail, Seatoun or Kilbirnie Skirt.

Max (in blue) is wearing it with a Fantail Skirt, and Kezia (in lilac) is wearing it with a Seatoun Skirt over a Rilla Corset.  Theresa (in black) is wearing it over a Persis Corset.  And they are all wearing Ettie Petticoats!

I’ve wanted Theresa to model a Scroop Pattern for years, and the one time we managed it, for the Fantail Skirt, I had a catastrophic computer crash and lost all the photos.  So when she announced she was making a trip to Wellington just when I was scheduling the Nina photoshoot, I knew I had to include her!

We combined the photoshoot with a late Edwardian picnic, and everyone looked delightful and we had delightful Edwardian food, and I hope everyone who makes a Nina blouse has equally delightful events to wear it to and friends to wear it with!