Passionate About Petticoats
Fill your closet with pretty petticoats essential at supporting the historical silhouette
With historical clothing it's all about the silhouette!
And petticoats are essential to getting "the look" right.
Whether you want to learn more about petticoats as undergarments, ready to sew up your own, or simply want to join in with the rest of us who have a passion for all.things.petticoats – You are very welcome here!
Find oodles of information in this unique online class combined with a packed handbook all on petticoat topics and construction and a full two-hour video class on making a Victorian petticoat.
In this class gather a wealth of information on various aspects of petticoats from fabrics to sewing tutorials and even covering the why of shaping and construction of these important undergarments.
In the first half you'll find a series of informational topics and tutorials with a downloadable PDF of all these in one file for your future reference.
Topics include:
- Fabrics for pretty petticoats - covering all four natural fibers plus an additional section on using organdy
- Discussion on proper petticoat lengths and widths
- Modern tips to keep your waist looking small when layers of petticoats are required for the silhouette
- How-to tutorial on sewing pin tucks based on an original Edwardian petticoat
- Tips to make beautiful ruffles for your petticoats
- Looking at supporting ruffles with cording
- Tips for making a trained petticoat and how it functions with a skirt
- A quick look at corded petticoats
- Tutorial on starching your petticoats for that wonderful "paper finish"
- Resource list of petticoat patterns
When you're ready... jump into the second part of class: Making a Victorian Petticoat which includes two hours of video tutorials divided over two parts. Each part has a lesson handout packed with detailed photo instructions and list of "homework" activities to get your petticoat done fast!
The class portion - Making a Victorian Petticoat - is for Advanced Beginners to Intermediate level in their sewing. You should know how to operate your sewing machine and understand basic sewing techniques such as seams, topstitching, gathering, and basic hand whipstitch. Although, each step will be shown for easy follow-along.
By practicing the basics you can tackle more advanced designs in dressmaking.
We'll be sewing a Victorian petticoat from the Truly Victorian pattern for ensembles for the years 1870 to 1900. Our objective is to build sewing skills and produce lovely petticoats for your historical costumes.
Sewing Tutorials to Make a Victorian Petticoat:
Part 1: Fabric selections, pattern alterations and cutting; sewing main seams, creating tucks and setting on the flounce
Part 2: Gathering the ruffle with ease and symmetry and finishing with the waistband and closure
Get a jump start on your historical silhouettes by building your petticoat stash today!
Happy Sewing Pretty Petticoats!
P.S. The first portion of class covering various petticoat topics and with accompanying PDF handbook is only available in this course, whereas the Making a Victorian Petticoat lessons are taken from the Victorian Undergarments Class.
One final note - this class was initially hosted on my blog, HistoricalSewing.com. Any reference to emails, different lesson pages or logins, and even timing between release of lessons should be disregarded. You have access to the entire class here on this site with progression on your own schedule.
"Jennifer - I want to say that... I also have been sewing a long time and my new Victorian underwear looks better than anything I've ever made before. These [Victorian Undergarments] lessons have un-done eons of self-taught bad habits and helped me become a much better seamstress in a very short time."
~ Constance T.
"Your videos are wonderful!!! Keep up the great work. I have learned so much from your class - can't wait to take another one!!!"
~ Maureen Larsen
"Thanks, Jennifer.... I have learned quite a bit and consider myself a more skilled historic dressmaker than I was a few months ago!"
~ Terri A.
Your Instructor
Teacher to hundreds of sewing and costuming students since 2004, Jennifer dreams of the nostalgia of the past and brings it into her modern life through creating costume ensembles from about 1780 to 1920. Dark chocolate, Jane Austen and bustle dress fanatic. Daughter of the King.