1750 Riding Habit - Waugh Diagram XXXI

Pattern: Norah Waugh diagram XXXI, "Riding Coat 1750-70. Victoria & Albert Museum."
Fabric: Wool, medium coat weight. Color best described as a heather lavender? Lavender shot through with gray.
Black cotton poplin for petticoat.
White heavy weight linen for lining.
Black cotton crochet thread for Dorset buttons.

Available on Etsy HERE
Available on ebay HERE

Alterations: I added mariner's cuffs, which are not part of the Waugh pattern but are part of one of the suspected extant coats (see below)
I also brought up the waist by eliminating the "dropped waist" angle that lets it curve out over the hips a bit before reaching the horizontal seam. I'll tell you why I did that further down.

Measurements: *unaltered from pattern. As is.
Chest: 39"
Waist: 32"
Hip: Free
Back width (arm socket to arm socket, across shoulder blades): 13"
Torso (bottom of armhole to natural waist): 9.5"
Upper sleeve circumference: 15"
Petticoat hem: 40" at center front and back.
18th century stays often had the effect of increasing the wearer's final waist size rather than reducing it, depending on the style(and especially if the stays had an inflexible busk at the front). A flat barrel or V below the bustline were the desired shapes, not the hourglass of the 19th century. =)

Truly Victorian #364 "1886 Autumn Overskirt" Ensemble

Patterns: TV364, "1886 Autumn Overkirt." 
                TV104, "Late Victorian Collars & Cuffs"
Fabrics: Polyester duchess satin (sharkskin gray). Rayon/polyester faille (gold)

Available on Etsy HERE
Available on Ebay HERE

Alterations: Minor collar alteration to the chemisette pattern.

I have made this long draped over-skirt several times, but too often I forget the rule I made for myself the last time: Don't use artificial fabric! I say that only because I had a bear of a time ironing the the seams flat and the edges of the back where the lining is turned.

The Cane Hoop Bustle - An Experiment

Pattern: None. Built right on the form.

Materials: #8 Round Reed (about 1/4" diameter). Cotton ribbon. Cotton string

Benefits: Very cost effective. Super lightweight, yet strong. Bustle collapses completely on itself and take up a storage space only 14" square, and barely 2" high. 

Down Side: Incredibly labor intensive. All hand work, and must be done on the form. 

Available on etsy HERE

This thing was a NIGHTMARE. The end result worked and I think the idea is sound, but the amount of labor that went into making it means I won't be reproducing this. Ever. In order to justify making these in any regular way, they would have to sell for like $250 each, which is an absurd price for a bustle. C'est la vie.

The Cane Hoop Bustle. The white pad on the dress form is not part of the bustle and should not be needed during regular wear. It is there just to make up for the fact that the dress form really doesn't have much of a butt, LOL

Here you see the silhouette this bustle creates under a petticoat