Adventures in Petticoat Cording Land....

Phew!!!  (Said as I wipe the sweat from my brow...)  The commissions are complete!  Working on projects for other people always causes me no little stress.  I literally have nightmares of not getting their item completed in time for the event they have ordered it for.  So it was with GREAT relief that I was able to last week, declare all projects that were not for me DONE!!!!  Huzzah and away!  No more nightmares!  Well, at least for the other laides.  For me the new nightmares consist of me attending Costume College nudy pants!  ACK!!!!

Anyhoo...I was able to complete one project for Coco that NEEDED to be completed before I could make the dress to go over it.  An 1830s corded petticoat!  I have wanted to make one for about 2 years, but to tell you the truth I was seriously intimidated by the whole prospect.  I had read several blog posts about them online, emailed friends, researched and researched.  I just was not feeling the confidence that I needed to feel to tackle a project that I had read many times over would take FOREVER!  Seriously.  I don't have that amount of time folks!  BUT as happiness would have it, last year Jennifer Rosbrugh of Historical Sewing came to Idaho for a visit with family.  While she was here, she put on a historical undergarments class for anyone who wanted to attend and covered corded petticoats!  Yeah!!!  Thank you Jennifer!  My mom was "lucky" enough to be the recepient of Jennifer's wonderful book "The Corded Petticoat Sewing Workbook".  Is it currently at her house?  NO!!  Was it ever at her house?  NO!  Well....for a bit.  Like for as long as the class was going on.  She graciously let me take it home and study it.

In planning for Coco, my friend Josie and I decided that we needed to make those wonderfully ridiculous 1830s dresses and so a plan was set in motion.  I had the stays and chemise, next I needed to make the corded petti.  I ordered my cotton organdy from Vogue Fabrics Store and waited for it to arrive.  In the mean time, I worked to get the commissioned projects completed.  

When the organdy arrived, I was shocked at how stiff it was!  I prewashed my fabric as I do all my cottons and it was still stiff!  I read in the book that the kind of organdy I ordered had stiffiner in it...HUZZAH!!!  

This is the cotton organdy.  It is literally standing up by itself!  

I used the white Sugar and Cream yarn that many other costumers used in their pettis.  I got mine at JoAnn's Fabrics and at Hobby Lobby.  ( I used most of one on another project.)  All in all I probably used 1.5 skeins of the yarn.  

I set up Netflix and watched so many episodes of "House" that I am now afraid of every cough and sneeze my children have.  Not really.  But, this is not a show for those who are fearful for their health!!!  Anyways, I persevered and after about 4 days of sewing during "school" hours, I have a complete corded petticoat!!

Here she is!  I love it when  project ends and I can put it on Emma and take a picture.

Here is the break down of the rows:
1 row of 15 rows
1.15" space
1 row of 10
1.15" space
5 rows of 5
with 1.15" spaces between rows
5 rows of 3
with 2" spaces between rows
9" from top row to waist band

Jennifer's wonderful book!!!

You can find Jennifer's book here:   Corded Petticoat Sewing Workbook

It is so wonderfully full of information and how-tos.  I honestly think I would not have attempted this petticoat without it...or at the very least without the confidence this gave me!   In it, there are images and measurements of extant corded pettis, lists of materials that were used and can be found today, what kind of cording to use, sewing hints and tips, "Jen's Gems", etc.  This is a very well thought out and put together book.  I don't think that Mom will be getting it back!  Hahahahahahaha!!!!

Next up on the 1830s Adventure?  A plain petticoat to go over the new corded petticoat!

Be Blessed my friends!

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