Under Petticoat!


Huzzah! I finished my under petticoat. It started off as a white cotton skirt that my Aunt Cheryl used in the Bi-centennial years to put under her gown. She found it at a thrift store with the embroidered letters "MK" on the front. So after a few times of wearing the ill fitting garment I took it on to make it period correct.

 The problems:

• The Skirt was too long and it showed under my petticoats.
• It had a hole in the back where I stepped through with my heeled shoe. Also apart of it being too long.
• The waist was held together in the back by a string and some safety pins.
• The ugly gray lace trim on the very bottom is missing in some places and falling off in others.

The goals:

• Use some of the inches on the bottom to make a new period correct waistband.
• Fix the hole!
• Remove the awful lace trim that was falling off.
• Cut slits on the sides for access to pockets.
• Have period correct waistband on the back part and the front part, enough to tie bows.

 I first cut off the bottom 4 inches with the lace trim still attached. I hem stitched the bottom.
On the 4 inches of fabric with the trim still attached, I cut 2 inches to use as my waistband.
I measured around my waist and then cut the loop of fabric in half.
I put a pin where the center of each half was so I would know where to attach the pleated skirt.
I detached the old fraying waistband with the holes to hold it together and threw it away.
I was left with the now un-pleated skirt. Whoops! So I took white thread and gathered a bunch of the pleats together and ran a needle through them all. I did this every two inches until my skirt was once again pleated.
Not the best fix but one that my un-experienced self was able to accomplish.
I folded the edges twice on my waistband to finish the sides. I did this for both the front and back waistbands. It took forever to hand stitch them.
I then found the sides where the pocket slits needed to be and I cut them down about 8 inches.
I used what I had at the time, extra fabric to strengthen the sides of the slits.
I then whipped stitched each pleat to my new waistband.
I patched the hole in the back that my heel had created with some fabric I found in JoAnn's fabric remnants section.(The same fabric I used to create the English style Pinner cap I'll share later.)
 AND HUZZAH!
My under petticoat is finished!

Fancy Gown

Once I learn how to follow and understand a Sewing Pattern I plan on making a Caraco jacket. I'm currently on the look out for fabric of burgundy with gold accents. If you have spotted such a thing, please comment with the link.

I am in leagues now with another Master Seamstress by the name of Samantha. Due to privacy I will leave out her last name. Unless,that is she would like the publicity in which I will share full details later. She is known as the "Stitch Witch" and is in my Reenacting Unit. She and I have an accord of which I present her checks and she creates a new gown.

I bought the fabric from Burnley&Trowbridge for $20 a yard. It's a stunning Pale yellow silk taffeta with pale blue stripes every 4 inches.

I want this to be a fancy gown with cuffs of lace and a stomacher. Robe a la Anglaise with contrasting pale blue silk taffeta petticoat.

I purchased a wig in the Marie Antoinette style, a Halloween costume of course and when I receive it I'll do a tutorial on how to style it appropriately.

These pictures are inspiration for my new gown:

                                                  Simple Robe a la Anglaise sketch.

                                                     Deep Neckline, Contrasting Petticoat.

                                                      Ruffled Fabric as well as lace cuffs.

                                                                   Stomacher.

So my overall design for this dress is Low neckline, ruffled fabric as well as lace cuffs, a stomacher, contrasting petticoat and possibly some polonaising of the gown.

 Welcome to Provincial Boston!

After many requests from my friends and blog community members I have finally taken the plunge and I'm starting a Blog.

The Blog theme is New England in the Colonial period, focusing on and around Boston, Massachusetts. Why you ask? Because this is where I was born and raised. I must face the facts, after all, I know Boston and its suburbs played a role in the Revolutionary War and I take pride in living in a historical community.

Though this Blog will mostly be about my adventures and the Colonial aspects of life and Reenacting.

I am known for Reenacting the Revolutionary War by many people basically because I tell everyone I come across. Call it "Historical Pride," if you must. I participate with the Acton Minutemen of Acton, MA. Formerly I was with the 13th Continental Regiment out of Rehoboth, MA while I was in College in the South Shore. But alas I moved back home to Saugus, MA and far out of reach of Rehoboth.

I am also known for my love of Astronomy. I worked for 5 years at the Bridgewater State University Observatory in Bridgewater, MA and I have been attending Stellafane: an Amateur Telescope making and Stargazing Convention since I was 2 years old. I am 23. that means this year will be my 21st Convention. And I might add my Grandfather's 59th Stellafane Convention.

I am an amateur Seamstress (as in very amateur) and I look forward to taking lessons from my Aunt Heidi, a Master Seamstress, soon. I have many projects, sewing or otherwise, that I will be Blogging about in the up coming months.

So I welcome you again and I hope you can find something of interest in what I write.

Your Very Humble Servant,

 Lea C. Fuchs