Fabric: white cotton with lace and pin tuck lattice pattern, plus some plain white cotton for the back.
Pattern: Truly Victorian 170: Victorian Petticoats, View 2: 1877-1882
Year: Natural Form era, around about 1880
Notions: polyester thread and 1/2" cotton twill tape ties.
How historically accurate is it? Close enough.
Hours to complete: 4-5
Total cost: No idea as it was completely from the stash.
When I got done with the black accessories to complete the 1920s outfit, I thought that perhaps I could squeeze in a white project to round the challenge out. Costume College is coming up this summer and they're doing an under dressed breakfast full of wrappers and banyans that I'd kind of like to have a tea gown for. I've had the TV432 1882 Tea Gown pattern for a couple of years now and it's about time I get around to making one up. I've also had this funky lacey pin tuck cotton taking up space for several years. I've always thought that I'd make up a bustle era underskirt with it to show it off, but no project ever really materialized to use it.
Fast forward to last month when All The Pretty Dresses showcased a petticoat with extra eyelet decoration down the lower half of the center front that was most likely intended to be seen under an open wrapper and I had my Aha! moment. (side note, if you're not already following this blog, the author is cataloging extrant garments that come up on auction sites so that the informtion that they provide can be available long after the auction has ended. SUCH a resource.)
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| Cotton eyelet petticoat, American Civil War Era on All The Pretty Dresses |
I had just enough of the material to do the front panel and a ruffle at the hemline. The last back panel has a plain cotton upper piece with a couple rows of piping, then the botton half was the last odd rectangular shape of the laced/tucked fabric, since the tuckes helped give it body and the lower back half is where I want the fluff to be. There is an eight inch slit in the center back waist that closes with a drawstring. The drawstring doesn't go through the entire waistband, instead being cut in two pieces and anchoring at the side seams. This way, the front panel will stay flat and any gathering will happen in the back. It ended up quite sheer in the front, which I didn't notice until I broke out the flash photography. I might have wanted to flatline that front panel, in retrospect. Instead, I think I'll just make up another plain white petticoat to go under it.
Now I just need to pick a fabric from the stash to use for the tea gown and I'll be ready to roll. I'm a little hesitant, beause the blue and cream floral linen blend that I was eyeing for the project doesn't seem like it would pair well with a pure white petticoat. Any thoughts on the matter? Should I tea stain or lightly dye the petticoat to get an off-white/ivory color, pick a white-friendly fabric for the tea gown, or just say screw it and wear white and ivory together like the rebel that I am?
