I love the movement and shape of 1890s skirts. When adjusting the skirt panels for size I don't add much to the front panels, unless a very large adjustment is needed, but add the extra fullness to the back and side back panels. I usually make a skirt that also has a side panel, the whole skirt is almost a complete 1/2 circle when laid flat (See Past Patterns 1097) Also if a skirt with some body/flare is desired, I stiffen the front and side front (with haircloth, canvas or an organza for lighter silks) up to 24 inches, but often stiffen most of (or sometimes even the whole) back and side back.
There is also a trick of adding elastic that is attached to the back seams at about lower hip level (I use safety pins for easy removal for ironing). The elastic is cut about 3-4 inches for each panel. This keeps the fullness to the back, and the technique is mentioned at the end of the instructions of the skirt you are thinking of making. So for a skirt with front, side front, side back, and back panels, a piece of elastic 8 inches attached at the center back and side backs, or 16" attached to the side back/side front seam too. This holds the fullness to the back very nicely. Katy On Sun, Jan 10, 2010 at 2:54 PM, Maureen Campbell <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi all, > I would like to sew an 1890s skirt, and though I've found a pattern (at > tudorlinks) I'm not sure how to adjust it for my measurements; I'm preparing > for my mother's wedding and my brain is mush. Any tips you could send my way > would be appreciated. Thank you. > M. > > > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > -- Katy Bishop, Vintage Victorian [email protected] www.VintageVictorian.com Custom reproduction gowns of the Victorian Era. Publisher of the Vintage Dress Series books. _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
