[Artemisia] Roped or "Corded" Petticoat

[Linda Yordy]

I guess you could call it a softer version of a Spanish farthingale.   
It's an underskirt that has rope sewn into channels that run parallel  
to the floor, around the skirt to make it stand out.  You cut a skirt  
longer than your regular length.  Starting at the bottom, fold under  
a few inches and press (like you were getting  ready to hem).  In the  
crease, place your rope, fold the fabric over the rope and stitch  
very close to the rope (like making piping).  Crease again further up  
the skirt for the second row of rope.  Continue in the same manner  
until you have your petticoat corded.

You can find an illustration and instructions on The Elizabethan  
Costume web site:
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/cordpett.html

The above instructions have you make your skirt in a cylindrical  
tube.  For my petticoat, I actually used the Alcega farthingae  
pattern and lengthened it to accommodate for the rope channels.

For that pattern, the Elizabethan Costume website is also an  
excellent reference:
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/farthingale/period.html

I made mine out of white twill cloth and used piping from the home  
dec section of JoAnn's.  The piping was pretty thick (1/2" I think)  
and very inexpensive (especially with a 40% off coupon :-).  It was  
really a tube filled with fiber/batting and some sort of sizing.   
It's stiff enough to give the petticoat good support.  I did test  
wash a little of the cording.  While the batting actually expanded  
after washing and drying, the sizing came out and the batting was  
very soft.  I'm afraid to wash my petticoat for fear the cording will  
go limp.

I've heard some people have had good results with old fashioned  
clothes line.  It's usually 1/4" thick and all cotton.  Do wash it  
first if you plan to wash your petticoat as the cord will shrink.   
You can put it in a loungerie bag (yeah, I can't spell that one) to  
keep it from turning into a big knot in your washer.

I found cotton clothes line at a dollar store.  (I've also seen it at  
hardware stores and places like Fred Meyer.)  I haven't tried it yet,  
but it's on my list of things to do.

Muirenn




On Jan 5, 2010, at 9:28 PM, <3SARAH<3 <flexygrl at yahoo.com> wrote:

> What exactly is a roped petticoat?  Thanks for all the help guys!
> -Sarah
>
>
>
>
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