Sewing ambition

[lavendersparkle]

One of the wedding presents we received was a sewing machine. I'd like to get into using it, there's even a book on sewing on my Amazon wishlist. One of the things which comes to mind as a potential sewing project would be an overskirt to go over my big petticoats like the one in these pictures. My petticoats are exactly like the ones in the those photos. I'd like it in a sort of olive green to go with the rest of the outfit I'm planning for an event next February. I've seen some nice fabric in John Lewis.

So, how impossible would something like that be to make something like that? Do you have any tips for sourcing patterns for that sort of thing?

Comments

[naath.livejournal.com]

It's not at all "impossible" but it is a bit tricky. If you want insta-success I'd go with more boring skirts.

JL does indeed sell lovely fabrics :-)

JL also has patterns for sale, you flick through a big book o'photos (up by the fabric) and then they get the pattern for you. They do have some "historical" patterns that might be good.

http://www.venacavadesign.co.uk
http://trulyvictorian.com/

Have a reasonable selection of patterns that might be what you want (truly victorian make fab patterns with great instructions). And are in any case fab if you like Victorian things.

Or...

This is how I did the purple skirt for the Piratey dress of YARRR (and duck) (gosh must do photes)... you get some fabric and you cut some lengths that are about as long as you want the skirt (a bit more maybe); 3 or 4 lengths perhaps for lots of fullness (total width should be maybe 3-4 times your waist; 2* would be OK but a bit stingy). Sew these lengths together along the long sides but not into a tube ('cos you want the front open). Repeat with lining (make sure lining is the same width!). Sew lining to main fabric at the base and down the edges. At the waist you need to gather or pleat the fabric (hold lining with fabric) down to your waist size when the pleats are secured you need to sew on a waistband - take a 5inch wide waist+(a few inches) long piece of fabric (optionally attach lining and/or 'interlining' (for stiffness, sold in JL) to one side of it)this strip needs to be folded over the waist to hide the messy part at the top and folded up at each side (so you can't see the actual edges of it) it's a bit faffy but not dreadful-hard. To fasten it you can either thread a ribbon through the waistband and tie it or sew on hooks/eyes or button or whatever-you-like at the join bit.

To make it gathered up the "quick trick" is to pin safety pins to inside (through both layers, not just the lining) and tie them together to gather the fabric. When you have it looking nice you can (if you like) sew rings (go to the curtain department *grin*) instead of the pins. This is actual documented 18th century thing!

Um, if you want me to say that again slower and with shorter words I could do that.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Find a pattern, and I will give an opinion on whether it can be done by February. My instinct is that it's not a good first project.