Ruffled Petticoat

  One of the outfits I've been wanting to do for quite some time now is from a painting by Szinyei Merse Pál titled  Woman in Purple  from 1874.

   I'm not sure why but I love this painting.  I was about to start work on the dress when I realized I didn't have all the undergarments I needed for this endeavor.  I had the bustle and corset with an okay-ish corset cover but I didn't have a petticoat. Granted a petticoat wouldn't make a big difference in how this would lay since I was making it out of a poly/satin blend and it's very thin but I want a complete ensemble and if I don't make the petticoat now I'll probably never will.
    I made the basic structure but shortened it quite a bit since I wanted to add a pleated ruffle to the bottom. Yes, I do realize it was a bit of a stupid idea but I wanted to try.

    Back in the 1800's the clothes started getting really fancy with ruffles and frills since they had a sewing machine to help. Even the undergarments got a makeover. Mine wont be as deluxe as some that they made, it will actually be a rather simple with just a bit of frills to adorn the hem with the pleats.

After I had the basic panels cut I sewed them with a french seam then gathered them to the waist band. Making the pleats at the waist band even took a while but it looks good. I didn't measure these I just eyed it till it looked about right and pinned them in place.

 Then it was time for the fun part, the pleating. I made a pleater a year or so ago and I am so glad I did! This is what the process looks like. It's made out of a heavy card stock that has been folded accordion style so the folds are even. You take the fabric and tuck it between every fold and press with an iron to make the  pleats. I didn't get them perfect but they are close enough where they look good from a foot away.

  I have the front done and sewn onto the petticoat. I just don't want to know what will happen to those lovely little pleats when I have to wash it. I'm not pressing them all again as it took an hour and half just to pleat one half.

I'll be making the back have a double row of pleating one extending down lower than the other to give it more of a train support for the dress.

I'm hoping to complete the petticoat tomorrow and get the actual dress fabric laid out but we'll see how that goes. I hope you enjoyed this small view into the making of the ruffled petticoat.

Renaissance Festival

    Well I don't have many pictures of my friends costume before the festival because my dress form isn't the right size for her clothes so I'm combining those pictures with the pictures from the festival.

    I'm dressed and ready to go. The pouch is the one I made last year  for the festival  here Link. I thought as I spent money it would get lighter since it was kind of heave starting out but for some reason it seemed to get heaver as I spent money, how weird is that!

  Back view of my outfit. I do have a confession about this though. My hair is that long but it's not that thick. I added extensions to make it look thicker, I wish I had thicker hair but I don't so there it is.

   Here you can see the front of my friends outfit. She picked different designs to compose her look and this is the final look. She had a wine colored peasant blouse, black underskirt, and a bodice with split panels.

  The real show stopper of her outfit was in the back of her bodice. I cut out a circle and put eyelets an inch apart then wove a dream-catcher design and hung a sun charm with a wine colored stone in the center. I have never done this before so it was a learning experience for me. I'm happy with the final outcome and I think I would like to have it in the back of a jean jacket.

  A vendor sells AMAZING  wood work and this was one of his creations. I wish I had the money and way of hauling it. I loved the natural look like it had just happened to grow that way with a stone seat in the center.

    Lost in the maze and not minding one bit.

     They also had murals in the maze. This was a very interesting one of sirens.

These are my souvenirs this year. The flowers are a ridiculous  price because they had thistles for the Highland Fling.  My ocarina that I have been wanting for about 12 years and my chalice. I love drinking from my chalice it makes me feel like I'm in another time.

 It also matches the bowl I bought last year from the same vendor.  Next year I'll probably get a plate for the complete matching set.

And that's everything I think. I have more projects planned for the not to distant future. I'll see you then. Fare thee well.