[Artemisia] The Eleanor Dress/Sewing Skirt to Bodice Question

[Linda Yordy]

I have a roped petticoat that I've worn with a couple of gowns.  I  
love it.  It folds up enough to get in the car with it on ;-)

I'm in the process of finishing an Italian gown (1570-ish) and used  
the Eleanor skirt pattern from Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion  
(PoF).  The gown in PoF looks to be cut from 22-inch wide fabric  
(which was usual for the time).  I cut mine in pieces of the same  
shape, although with 57-inch wide fabric, I made my panels slightly  
wider than 22 inches.  I cut skirt, bodice, and sleeves from a  
patterned fabric so all pieces had to lay in the same direction.  I  
believe I started with 6 yards, and I still ended up with a fair  
amount of fabric (probably enough to cut another pair of sleeves).  I  
cut a train, probably about 5-6 inches shorter than in PoF, but with  
a little extra width in the panels, the circumference is probably  
close to PoF.  With the rope petticoat underneath it, it hangs very  
nicely on the dress form.  It has the same shape as the drawings in PoF.

A side note and question:  I tried something different this time.  I  
finished the sleeves, bodice, and skirt separately then hand stitched  
them together (which I've been told is a more period way of doing  
it).  I like the way the skirt hangs, and the sleeves feel as though  
they are less confining.  My hand work is "OK" on the skirt/bodice  
attachment, but not as pretty as I would like.  Any one have any tips  
for sewing skirt to bodice?

Thanks!
Muirenn

On Jan 4, 2010, at 6:44 PM, Holly Howarth wrote:

> . . . lived from the age of 10 in Italy, and there is no mention of  
> a farthingale personally owned by her in any of her records...so I  
> think a roped petticoat would be a better bet.  I think the most  
> I've ever used in any of my Italian gowns is 7 yards (for both  
> bodice and skirts) and a roped petticoat kept the skirts from  
> catching in my legs very nicely!  :)

>
> HL Aine
>
>
>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Sun, 3 Jan 2010 10:58:42 -0800 (PST)
>> From: "<3SARAH<3" <flexygrl at yahoo.com>
>> Subject: [Artemisia] The Eleanor of Toledo Funeral Dress
>> To: artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org
>> Message-ID: <291143.14249.qm at web55205.mail.re4.yahoo.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>>
>> I'm planning on making a version of the Eleanor of Toledo funeral  
>> gown.? Everything looks very straight forward, but I'm not quite  
>> sure whether lots of petticoats or a farthingale would be more  
>> period to wear under it.? I've seen it worn both ways at events.?  
>> I shall be using a lightweight cotton-velveteen.
>> -Lady Sarah Bat Reuven
>  		 	   		
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