18th c hooped petticoat
I'm acting under the assumption that I will be able to make it work to go to Costume College this year, and therefore started working on my court gown for the gala. I wrangled with the logistics of how to travel with an enormous hooped petticoat. Then I remembered that years ago I had taken a GBACG workshop with Deb from Mantua Maker patterns to make her 18th c. side hoops. I've never had the chance to wear it so this seemed the perfect opportunity to have a smaller hoop for travel plus wear something already made, moving me along to the dress itself that much faster. Here I am in 2003: http://www.gbacg.org/past-events/2003/18th-century-holdup.html
I got it out and put it on my dressform, and was quite unhappy with the shape. I even went back to the pattern and made sure they had been constructed properly, even though I knew I had made it under the tutelage of the pattern maker. But, I've learned a few things since then, so staring at it for a few days, I was able to discern where the problems were. I didn't take "before" photos because I didn't realize how much my alterations would change the shape, but you can see my photo on the GBACG website and get an idea of where I started. I LOVE it now. I'm okay with the more moderate width, since I will be padding it out with petticoats and my chosen gown looks to be only slightly wider.
It is machine sewn, uses a cotton-blend damask fabric and steel boning. So not especially historically correct, but the shape is perfect and the construction follows extant examples. Should I have more opportunities to wear such a wide silhouette, I would make this again with the proper materials and hand sew it. Now to finish the petticoat!
I got it out and put it on my dressform, and was quite unhappy with the shape. I even went back to the pattern and made sure they had been constructed properly, even though I knew I had made it under the tutelage of the pattern maker. But, I've learned a few things since then, so staring at it for a few days, I was able to discern where the problems were. I didn't take "before" photos because I didn't realize how much my alterations would change the shape, but you can see my photo on the GBACG website and get an idea of where I started. I LOVE it now. I'm okay with the more moderate width, since I will be padding it out with petticoats and my chosen gown looks to be only slightly wider.
It is machine sewn, uses a cotton-blend damask fabric and steel boning. So not especially historically correct, but the shape is perfect and the construction follows extant examples. Should I have more opportunities to wear such a wide silhouette, I would make this again with the proper materials and hand sew it. Now to finish the petticoat!
