Who doesn’t love a fluffy petticoat??
Come make a mid-Victorian petticoat, meant to go over a hoopskirt or replace it entirely. In addition, this petticoat shortened makes a great under-hoop modesty skirt, a Lolita underskirt or, in black, a fun goth garment! Together we will go through the basics of hand-sewing and some important period construction details, like balanced hems and gauged gathers. You can, of course, use a sewing machine, if you prefer!
We will briefly review undergarment styles of the Victorian Era, and then, get to work on our own petticoats. We will cover measurements, fitting, construction, and finishing details.
PREREQUISITE: Intermediate to advanced sewing skills. You must have basic sewing skills, have made a garment from a pattern in the past, be able to follow pattern instructions, and have a portable sewing machine. This class requires materials, supplies, and preparation well in advance!
MATERIALS: (Most items are available at Lacis)
- Lightweight woven cotton fabric: lawn, broadcloth, muslin, etc. Victorian Undergarments were nearly always white, although you can, of course, opt for any color you like. The amount depends on the width of the fabric, your height, and the desired length of your petticoat. If the fabric is 54” wide or more, buy three times your waist-to-floor measurement and round up to the nearest yard. If the fabric is narrower, buy four times and round up.
- Trim as desired (circumference of petticoat is around 5 yards)
- Ribbon or twill tape to match fabric: 2 yards
- Thread to match fabric.
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES:
- Optional: Sewing machine with bobbins and needles for lightweight fabric (size 70-80)
- Fabric scissors, thread snips
- Pins
- Fabric marking pen
- Measuring tape
- Hand-sewing tools, including needles, beeswax, thimble
- Bodkin or safety pin
