Salmon pink hand knitted woollen baby vest. Patterned yolk with rib pattern body. Cap sleeves with crocheted edges. Neckline with crocheted edge. Twisted wool tie around neck.This collection of knitted and sewn garments were made in the early 1940s and were intended for a baby that was stillborn.costume, children's, baby vest

Cream coloured hand knitted woollen baby vest.Cream coloured cotton tie at neck. Patterned yolk and lower edge. Stocking stitch. This collection of knitted and sewn garments were made in the early 1940s and were intended for a baby that was stillborn.costume, children's, baby vest

Cream coloured hand knitted woollen baby vest. All over ribbed pattern. Crocheted edge around neck and sleeves. Cream coloured satin ribbon tie at neck.This collection of knitted and sewn garments were made in the early 1940s and were intended for a baby that was stillborn.costume, children's, baby vest

This baby’s vest style bib is an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the pioneer settlers families in Moorabbin Shire c1900Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families The Peck family were early settlers in Moorabbin ShireA vest-style baby’s cotton bib with tiesclothing, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, mr peck

This item is one of a collection of clothing items that belonged to the Stephenson family who lived at 22 McCracken Street, Kensington, Melbourne. Matthew Stephenson (1861 – 1943) who had grown up on the Bendigo goldfields and shifted to Melbourne in the early 1900’s was a train driver and later, a fireman with the railways. His wife Elizabeth Jane (Betsy) Wigley (1865 – 1953) also grew up on the goldfields around Majorca and Bendigo. They married in 1885 in Bendigo. They had two daughters – Ethel Evelyn Stephenson (1886 – 1956) and Lillian or Lila (1891 – 1977) who were milliners and dressmakers and who continued to live in the family home after the death of their parents. The family are recorded as living at 22 McCracken Street, Kensington, as early as 1914. It is not known who made or owned the clothing that makes up this collection but as it appears to be from the late Victorian and early Edwardian era however the vest was probably made by one of the three ladies of the house, for their husband and father, Matthew Stephenson. During W.W.2, a local Warrnambool couple (Meryl and Tony Everard) boarded with them – Tony was in the airforce training paratroopers to jump into (and survive) enemy territory and his wife Meryl worked in the Methodist baby Home. The Everards developed a close friendship with the Stephensons and were responsible for clearing out the house (and finding this clothing collection) after Lila died in 1977. Although by 1916, men's "ready to wear" clothing were widely available, this waistcoat was handmade (possibly by Matthew's wife or daughters). Men's suits in the early part of the twentieth century were predominantly three piece, consisting of a jacket, vest (or waistcoat) and trousers made from matching fabrics. Some men liked to wear a watch attached to their waistcoat with a fob chain. This item is an example of clothing worn by men on special occasions, in the late 19th and early 20th century.A man's waistcoat with cream cotton weave front pieces and cream cotton lining and back. The left front features five machine worked horizontal buttonholes and one vertical buttonhole (for a fob watch) and two inset pockets. The right hand side has five corresponding stud holes and one inset pocket. The studs or buttons are missing. The lining and back of the waistcoat are made from a plain cream cotton fabric. The back also features a cotton strap with a two pronged metal buckle.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, vest, waistcoat, needlework, sewing, stephenson family, man's waistcoat