The Sewing Place
The Emporia => What lies beneath... => Topic started by: Stitchitgirl on December 29, 2017, 11:52:14 AM
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Hello,
This is my first post on here and I’m really hoping to find an answer! I’m currently planning out a prom dress that I will be making which is going to be a 1950s full skirt halter neck dress. After looking around at how to make a 1950s petticoat I have found there are so many different ways of doing it and I would like to know if anyone has a tried and tested pattern? I am wanting to use tulle so it will have movement when she dances.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Stitchitgirl
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Hello and welcome Stitchitgirl. I see that you haven't had any replies and that it is your first post. I'm afraid petticoats aren't my thing so I can't offer any assistance but thought I would bump your query up the pile as I know there will be members here who can help - I wouldn't want you to think this is an unhelpful place when it is the very opposite.
Depending on how people use the forum it could be that some may not have seen your post in the dark recesses of the underwear section. If there is still radio silence try putting it in the dressmaking area 'In the Wardrobe' or 'A Bit of a Do' or even in the dancewear bit. Those areas get a lot of visitors. I'm sure someone will be along to help.
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Hi - I`m just wondering how enthusiastic you are about making one? I`m asking because you can buy them very cheaply on Ebay. Personally I`d be very tempted to buy a petticoat and concentrate on getting the dress right
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Welcome Stitchitgirl. If you really want to make it there are lots of different ways. Some very simple where you just gather it all up and use an elasticated waist. That can get a bit bulky. This pattern from Simplicity uses a fitted yoke and would be comfier.
https://www.simplicitynewlook.com/8456
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Thank you Ploshkin.
I wasn’t sure of the best place to post and might post this again in one of those sections.
:D Stitchitgirl
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Hi Sewingj,
Thank you for the reply. I was hoping to make one myself so that I would have the experience of doing so but thank you for the suggestion.
Stitchitgirl
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Welcome Stitchitgirl. If you really want to make it there are lots of different ways. Some very simple where you just gather it all up and use an elasticated waist. That can get a bit bulky. This pattern from Simplicity uses a fitted yoke and would be comfier.
https://www.simplicitynewlook.com/8456
Thank you.
That pattern looks good. Have you used it yourself?
Stitchitgirl
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I bought one of these (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01CJLILOY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to go under this dress. (no slip under it in the pic). It was very full but I ended up cutting away one of the two layers of organza as it was too full It looked and felt a lot better once trimmed down to a single layer of organza plus the ungathered bottom layer.
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I would personally use chiffon rather than tulle, which can be a bit scratchy unless you extend the yoke and make it a lining. Here are some instructions I have used in the past. http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/the-50s-petticoat
This is a nice quality Chiffon in lots of different colours https://www.minervacrafts.com/shop/fabric/bridal-fabrics/th-cg-m-plain-chiffon-dress-fabric?colour=Black
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I would personally use chiffon rather than tulle, which can be a bit scratchy unless you extend the yoke and make it a lining. Here are some instructions I have used in the past. http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/the-50s-petticoat
This is a nice quality Chiffon in lots of different colours https://www.minervacrafts.com/shop/fabric/bridal-fabrics/th-cg-m-plain-chiffon-dress-fabric?colour=Black
Thank you for your suggestion. Does the chiffon give the fullness required for a 1950s look?
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Chiffon is soft and won't give the 50s fullness. Organza is stiff and holds its sticky-out 50s shape.
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I'd make a base petticoat in lining fabric, and add layers of net to get the foof required. You can be fancy schmancy and ribbon- or lace-edge all the layers, but if you want volume, use net
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I'd make a base petticoat in lining fabric, and add layers of net to get the foof required. You can be fancy schmancy and ribbon- or lace-edge all the layers, but if you want volume, use net
Thank you. I think I’m going to make a white net petticoat with a lining then use red satin ribbon on the hem to match the colour of the dress.
Stitchitgirl
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I would personally use chiffon rather than tulle, which can be a bit scratchy unless you extend the yoke and make it a lining. Here are some instructions I have used in the past. http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/the-50s-petticoat
This is a nice quality Chiffon in lots of different colours https://www.minervacrafts.com/shop/fabric/bridal-fabrics/th-cg-m-plain-chiffon-dress-fabric?colour=Black
I am planning to use this pattern with the tulle and add a lining. As you have made it before how much lining fabric would you suggest I need?
Thank you
Stitchitgirl
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My mother makes 1950s big and pouffy petticoats, I've got a few, one of which is in contrast colours too. Not a piece of netting to be seen. She is away at the moment, I'd seen your post and was going to ask her when she got back how she made them but I see you have a pattern now. When she rang I did ask her how much fabric they take, and apparently she uses 36 metres of soft tulle each. :o
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Thank you.
That pattern looks good. Have you used it yourself?
Stitchitgirl
No not used it myself. When I needed one for someone I actually bought one and then altered it. It was awkward dealing with it at the sewing machine I seem to remember.
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My mother makes 1950s big and pouffy petticoats, I've got a few, one of which is in contrast colours too. Not a piece of netting to be seen. She is away at the moment, I'd seen your post and was going to ask her when she got back how she made them but I see you have a pattern now. When she rang I did ask her how much fabric they take, and apparently she uses 36 metres of soft tulle each. :o
Blimey! 36 metres? That's a heck of a lot of fabric - and gathering. They must be very special when finished.
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They look like this:
She charges about £100 each but the Exeter uni students and occasional brides still keep coming!
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Wow. If you think of the amount of fabric and work involved it's a bargain. :D
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That is a thing of beauty! You would need to do enough swirling to make sure it got noticed. 0_0
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My mother makes 1950s big and pouffy petticoats, I've got a few, one of which is in contrast colours too. Not a piece of netting to be seen. She is away at the moment, I'd seen your post and was going to ask her when she got back how she made them but I see you have a pattern now. When she rang I did ask her how much fabric they take, and apparently she uses 36 metres of soft tulle each. :o
Thank you!
Wow that’s a lot of fabric, I’m not planning on using that much but I’m thinking of using tulle.
Stitchitgirl
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That is a thing of beauty! You would need to do enough swirling to make sure it got noticed. 0_0
I got noticed doing a twirl in mine! A few years back I cleared a table of everything it had on it, including glasses, when I swung around. They’re very full. Stitchitgirl good luck with yours, we need to see it when it is finished!
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If you use tulle netting make sure it's a synthetic one if you want it to be sticky-out with just a couple of layers. Cotton or silk tulle is much softer so you would need a lot more layers to get the same effect.
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And don't do what my grandmother told me she did in the 1950s, to give her petticoat more body and stiffness she soaked it in a sugar and water solution and then spent the afternoon at a picnic running away from wasps.
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That's priceless. Does accident-proneness run in the family, RD! :D
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And don't do what my grandmother told me she did in the 1950s, to give her petticoat more body and stiffness she soaked it in a sugar and water solution and then spent the afternoon at a picnic running away from wasps.
Haha that’s a great story 0_0
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They look like this:
She charges about £100 each but the Exeter uni students and occasional brides still keep coming!
They’re beautiful!
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I got noticed doing a twirl in mine! A few years back I cleared a table of everything it had on it, including glasses, when I swung around. They’re very full. Stitchitgirl good luck with yours, we need to see it when it is finished!
Thank you!
I will be sure to keep you updated.