Minette Stays (1785-1810) Pattern || #2601 Scroop Patterns

Difficulty: Intermediate The Minette Stays are lightly boned front-lacing short stays or ‘jumps’. Inspired by extant garments and period images, they are designed to be worn under the rising waistlines and softer silhouettes that dominated women’s fashions in Europe and the Eastern Americas in the late 18th and early 19th century. The instructions include directions for making them fully handsewn in the period style, or for using modern methods with machine sewing and metal eyelets. Both views feature three main pattern pieces, front lacing, bound edges, and a tabbed bottom edge that finishes above the natural waist. Woven tape or ribbon shoulder straps slipped through eyelets at front and back keep the outline of the stays as discreet as possible under lightweight dresses. View A has a deeply scooped front neckline designed to sit below the nipples, and minimal boning. Stitching along the empty boning channels acts as quilting to add strength to the stays. View A fastens with spiral lacing. View B has a higher neckline which ends just above the nipples, additional boning at the back and sides, and laces with cross lacing. Mix and match the amount of boning, the style of front lacing, and the front or back strap ties between views. PATTERN DOWNLOAD: If you are interested in a downloadable pattern please follow this link