Technical Question

[wataya]

I'm doing a 1850s dress with a heavily flowered fabric. I'm thinking of maybe doing two to three flounces on my skirt. Do I really have to use the same fabric for the skirt (under the flounces) or can I cheat, and use a red fabric (my fabric is red) ?

I mean, if I dance in a flounced dress, one is going to see under the flounces, right ?

That means a great difference in the amound of fabric I need.

This is just a so bloody expensive hobby we have...

Comments

[systemgoddess.livejournal.com]

I think a solid color under the flounces would give some visual impact. Go for it!
And yes it is an expensive hobby. Not only do you have the fabric to buy but the million other things that it takes to make a dress and to make it look like it should. ie petticoats, corsets, shoes, accessories. But it is such fun!

[ladysonnet.livejournal.com]

I think the solid color should be fine. And I bet that's how 'they' did it too. If you can't see it, why bother using your fancy fabric? They used 'cheats' like that all the time.

Bethany

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

I would be very reluctant to piece your skirt with a solid color underneath the flounces. One gust of wind or a twirl while dancing and the cheat is revealed.

I have never heard of it being done in the period (although this isn't one I've studied a great deal so please don't just take my word for it). The point of most gowns of the period seems to be to use the most amount of fabric possible! :>

A more period solution might be to make your skirt a tad less full in order to eek out the flounces. That is what I did with my brown linen petticoat. :> Using a gathered flounce rather than a pleated one will also save fabric (you can cheat quite a bit with gathering I’ve found). Certainly piecing the flounces (or the skirt underneath) would be period. I have a c.1900 gown of heavily flowered wool that has a deep flounce at the bottom. Both the flounce and skirt underneath it are pieced in places (particularly in the back). The flowered design makes it very hard to tell. :>