A few years ago I purchased an organdy fabric from Burnley and Trowbridge, that is so stiff it seems as though it’s been starched.
When I prewashed it, I found it completely crumpled!
Not sure exactly how to use it, for my turn of the century petticoat I pulled it from my fabric stash, thinking it would be perfect.
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES INSPIRATION
Remembering Anne of Green Gables in the movie, Anne of Avonlea, I wanted to replicate her creamy yellow skirt which kicked about as she walked, revealing peaks at the petticoat underneath.
Obviously her skirt was flouncy in function, though slimish in appearance, as with skirts from 1890 to 1910.
SEWING PROCESS
Purchasing a lovely thin cotton with a lovely feel and drape for the body of the petticoat, I cut the fabric out with a Simplicity 4078 costume pattern.
After sewing the long seams, I draped the pleats for the back of the skirt while looking at extant skirts on-line, then basted them.
For the ruffle, I assessed an appropriate width to cut from the organdy after looking at several extant photos.
After cutting the ruffle, I hemmed the bottom edge on the machine, then I gathered the top edge to the bottom hem of the skirt, which I also sewed on the machine.
For the waistband, I attached pretty ribbon from my stash with the sewing machine, not necessarily period accurate, since it’s a costume and under the clothing.
Loving the effect, I tried it on and it totally kicks out as I walk.
Amazingly the feeling of that happening is wonderfully fun!
I think this will work well with my gown!
For more photos, check my Flickr set.
