At the end of each issue was a section devoted to more patterns. Here may be found dress patterns, patterns for childrens' clothing as well as such items as knitted flower vases, anti-macassars, etc.
The Book ended with a description by the "fashion editress" of the color plate and other fashions.
The Color Fashion Plates
A
hand-tinted
fashion plate can be found at the beginning of each magazine. Godey once
commented that he had 150 women w orking in their homes to apply the
watercolor to each plate. Since the exact hue (and sometimes the color
itself, if she ran out of paint) was left to each painter to decide, there
were variations. Godey explained this to his readers as an opportunity
for them to compare plates and see how a particular garment would look in various shades. These plates were and continue to be collectors' items and so many are missing from these volumes.
(This is a "graphics intensive" file so be patient!)
Other Fashion Plates
In addition to the
color fashion plates a number of full page fashion engravings were a
regular part of the magazine.
Practical Dress Instructor
Almost every issue
of the Lady's Book during this period included at least one pattern with
measurements, and an illustration of the completed garment. Most often
these were womens' fashions: dresses, basques, jackets, etc., but also
represented are children's clothing, and less frequently, men's.
Novelties
Many pages were devoted to
illustrating and describing "novelties" or what we would now call fashion
accessories: bonnets, cloaks, hair ornaments, etc .
Work
Knitted socks and household items,
crocheted
booties and doilies, needlework patterns for slippers, antimacassars, and
instructions and illustrations for creating many other items were
included.
Fashion Articles
In addition to images and plates of fashions, and each month's description of the fashion plate, the Book contained articles on dressmaking and dressing.