Yesterday I made the petticoat and set the sleeves on the riding habit jacket.
The petticoat is worn over panniers. I don’t have very big ones, but I wanted to try the drawstring sides method seen on this petticoat from the Met:
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| Robe à la Française, detail – 1760-70, French – the MET |
The idea is that the length and fullness of the petticoat can be adjusted over the panniers, and you should be able to wear this type of petticoat over different size panniers, or no panniers at all.
I made the petticoat the same way as usual, with the sides open, but I left about 10 inches free on front and back, each side, and stitched in a drawstring. The waistbands stop short of the gathered lengths, so they form a hole on each side.
It seems to have done the trick – hem looks level, yay!
Next it was time to get set the sleeves in the jacket, and, of course, I ran into problems. The sleeve heads were 19.5 inches around, and the armscyes considerably less. I wanted a smooth cap, so I took off the armscye through the underarm and the back, then eased the sleeve head ever so slightly with a gathering stitch. Mission accomplished there, but I’m going to reduce the sleeve head on the pattern before I sew with it again.
Now the whole ensemble is wearable, but it needs the trim (the best part!). It’s certainly not perfect – my velveteen fabric was difficult to work with, and I can see this pattern working much better in wool – but I’m decently pleased with it, so far. 🙂
16 Comments
Terry M
November 17, 2012 at 11:40 PMWhat an awesome, sneaky little trick. I have an underskirt that I was planning on rebuilding, I think it's getting this treatment for sure!
Lauren Stowell
November 18, 2012 at 8:53 AMHaha, a "sneaky little trick," made me laugh!
Karen
November 17, 2012 at 11:43 PMnot easy stuff to work with but it looks great. Can't wait to see it with trim. I know it sounds odd to say it but I find this style has a real 'old fashioned' look to it when compared with the later polonaises.
Lauren Stowell
November 18, 2012 at 8:53 AMI agree. The Regingotes and later styles seem so fashion forward and bold. The older habits have a certain elegance to them 🙂
AuntieNan
November 18, 2012 at 2:45 AMWow, great, great work! And you work so quickly! (Glad you liked the drawstring skirt openings for panniers idea. They just blew me away.) The ensemble is just breathtaking, even without the trim. Do you wear a hat with it?
As to sleeves, I'm wondering if there's any value (and I'm NOT speaking monetary, obviously!!) in cutting the sleeves on the bias, so that the sleeve cap and armseye have lots of natural "give" for those difficult sleeve into armhole insets? (But hey, at least the armhole wasn't bigger than the sleeve!)
I'm eagerly awaiting the next pictures,
Best,
Nancy N
Lauren Stowell
November 18, 2012 at 8:54 AMHi Nancy. Thanks! I have a little black tricorn I need to trim out, to go with this, along with black Pompadour shoes. You're right about the sleeves – it's better to cut down than to splice something in!
Thread-Head
November 18, 2012 at 4:46 AMIt looks SO good! Beautiful and elegant in its understated condition at the moment. Are you going to do vertical or horizontal pocket flaps? (or whatever they're called.) Can't wait to see the trim on!
Lauren Stowell
November 18, 2012 at 8:55 AMI like the look of the horizontal pocket flaps. I've pinned them on every which way, and I fancy those the most – plus all the trim that's on them, wouldn't want to hide it, haha
Rachel
November 18, 2012 at 7:37 AMThis is really coming together well. I can't wait to see what you do with the trim. The gray-blue is absolutely lovely and elegant, and a great canvas for some creativity with the trim. It would be neat to see it done up with various sized paniers too. The no panier look is I'm sure the most practical for actual riding, but the wider paniers give it drama and a dynamic quality that is similar to the paintings you posted last time.
Are you planning on doing more riding habits in the future?
Lauren Stowell
November 18, 2012 at 8:56 AMHi Rachel – I agree! I was wishing I had some wider panniers to try this on. I guess I shall have to make some. I think it would look even better, because the spread of the skirtings on the jacket seem to ask for width. I probably will make other riding habits in the future. I find them so sophisticated and stylish, and I like the way they changed throughout history.
Isis
November 18, 2012 at 10:11 AMI really like the idea with the drawstring! Must be tested!
Unknown
November 18, 2012 at 1:08 PMI love riding habits! This one is looking gorgeous already! Well done!
Janine x
http://www.lesleysgirlsvintage.com
Anonymous
November 18, 2012 at 3:02 PMVery pretty!
Lauren
November 19, 2012 at 3:35 AMYou are made of so much win. Looks gorgeous!!
Caroline
November 19, 2012 at 6:12 AMOoo I like this. The color is so perfect for winter. I picture it somewhere snowy, with a furry muff and a great tricorn! Maybe in a sleigh…
I saw something interesting on an original 1860's bodice I found. I know it's 1860's not 18th century, but it addressed the too-big sleeve issue in an interesting way. The sleeve was smooth over the shoulder, but under the arm it had a neatly made little inverted box pleat to tame the excess fabric. I thought it was a unique way of handling the situation.
vintagevisions27
November 19, 2012 at 2:09 PMThis is coming along nicely!
-Emily