Examine Historic Materials & Textile Construction Methods
Observe Mount Vernon's historical costumer, Kathrin Breitt Brown, and independent gownmaker Brooke Welborn as they recreate Martha Washington's morning gown from our historic textile collection.
Watch as they use hand-sewing techniques and construction methods taken directly from an original gown in the Mount Vernon collections dating to 1800.
They will also recreate a pair of period pockets based on examples preserved in the collection.
Learn How Morning Gowns Were Worn at Mount Vernon
As the gown takes shape, discover how morning gowns fit into Martha Washington's daily routines and what they reveal about women's work and domestic life in the early United States.
The original cotton dimity gown, replete with ruching, ruffles, and tucks, was worn by Martha before she dressed for the day, and is a rare surviving example of this type of informal garment.
Martha Washington’s Morning Gown, c. 1800. Gift of Mrs. Walter Gibson Peter, Jr. in memory of Agnes Peter Mott, 1975. (Photo by Gavin Ashworth/MVLA)