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Into skirt-land, on our Y!Group

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Trystan
Marquise de la Tour-Maubourg

I started my skirt this weekend, but I have a bunch of probably dumb questions…

First, any recommendations for pleating into the waistband? I have a lot of fabric (maybe too much — about 5 yards, iirc) and several layers. Cartridge-pleating, box pleating, knife pleating? Other? Combo?

Also, should the waistband be shaped somehow (dip in front/back)? Or is it ok to have it straight around?

Now to the layers … I think my skirt is the weirdest. The tiers are not even, tidy ruffles, plus they’re different types of fabric, all sheers, some trimmed.

Here’s what *I think* is going on — not sure how to construct:

1: floor-length purple silk
2: about 6″ shorter light purple chiffon with black ribbon trim
3: about 6″ shorter than that light purple chiffon with black ribbon trim
4: about 6″ shorter than that black lace
5: mid-thigh-length black lace (goes up to waistband)

In the portrait, you can see through the lace to the purple silk. Which makes me think you’re seeing through the chiffon too, and so the chiffon layers go all the way up to the waistband. Otherwise, wouldn’t you see a line of stitching if they were just ruffles sewn on at the hem? And wouldn’t that make them pouf out at the hem a lot? They hang very softly.

Are they ruffles at the bottom and not layers from the top? Am I over-thinking this?

Of course, I already went and bought more chiffon just in case. It’s probably a different color anyway. But hey, it’s silk and I don’t think what I have already is. Hee.

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Posted in 19th Century, Characters | Tags: Eugenie project, fabric |
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