6 reviews for Margo Anderson Elizabethan Lady’s Underpinnings
Rated 5 out of 5
Christa Roberts –
High Neck Smock: I have had many problems trying to recreate the high neck smock on my own as I am a very beginning sewer. Using this pattern, I was able to make a High Neck Smock in a few hours. That smock has seen a lot of use. but by following her instructions and closing all the seams, it still looks like new. I have also used this pattern to make a very comfortable night gown. Anyone who is looking for the Elizabethan Noble look cannot live without this Smock. This pattern is by far the best.
Rated 4 out of 5
Janet Canning –
High Neck Smock: The smock was fairly easy and straight forward. It was a great review of gussets. However, the neck band was tricky and I had to have my partner look at the diagrams. He was working on his smock from the Men’s Wardrobe pattern and we decided that the diagrams were better in his instruction book, so I followed that. I like the fact that there is not too much fabric around the middle as that adds to the squeeze under the corset.
Rated 4 out of 5
Christine Gorman –
I made the Low Neck Smock, Corset, Farthingale, and Bum Roll. Each of these was relatively easy to make. The Underpinnings patterns (one full set of patterns, in one set) come with about eighty pages of instructions, tips, pattern layouts, and alteration directions. With little trouble, I was able to construct all four pieces and they came out great. The pattern pieces all fit together beautifully, provided you make any needed alterations, but with the slash lines for lengthening/shortening on the pattern pieces, and directions for any other necessary adjustments (such as gaps), altering becomes a piece of cake. I would recommend this pattern to anyone who wants an historically accurate set of Elizabethan underclothes. The patterns are worth the price. I would, however, recommend contacting Margo to check when version 2.0 is coming out, If it is soon, I recommend waiting; it will have corrections to errors.
Rated 5 out of 5
Kendra van Cleave –
Corset: If you’re looking for a pattern that will give you the basic shape of an Elizabethan corset and don’t want to deal with drafting up a scaled pattern, then this is the pattern for you. BUT be ready to make mockups! The sizing doesn’t take into account the “squish” factor, and I ended up needing to take out 8-10″ total at the side seams to get it down to a size that fit (which also meant repositioning the armholes and straps). Because of this, it’s really important to follow the advice in the pattern instructions and to fit it with the side seams intact (you can remove them later, if you want a more period cut). One other irritation was that the side seam markings didn’t match up, necessitating about 30 min. of measurement and pattern piece checking. I didn’t follow the pattern instructions so I can’t comment on how clear they are, but I didn’t have any other major problems. I was making this for a German outfit, which have curved front bustlines, so I used spiral boning instead of spring steel in the front to give myself some flexibility.
Rated 4 out of 5
Heather Murray –
Corset: I am on version three now. I had been fighting between two sizes as my back fit one size and my front, the other. As was suggested in the instructions, I had to adapt front pieces to back and may have a version to get by with and hopefully, will redesign a new and improved version later. I chose the long tab version and am working on reinforcements at the slits so it will not rip. I do feel it’s a good pattern, I just have to find a better way to trace all the boning casings on. Other people have said that it took two or three attempts to get to a corset that fit.
Farthingale: It’s pretty strait forward. I am average height and found that the bottom may be too long for the 5th hoop. We are still playing with it. It has a actual waist band which is good as the hoops that have drawstrings just spin around on you when you are trying to walk around.
Rated 1 out of 5
Bees –
The corset back side and back seams do not match up. There is over an inch difference. The instructions are unclear. there is no mention on if there is seam allowance at the top or bottom of the corset. It also has ridiculous instructions for using a drawstring for fitting around the armholes and back. You cannot write to the company because they only list a defunct facebook group on the contact page. The historical advise is questionable. This pattern will cost you more time then trying to hand draft.
Christa Roberts –
High Neck Smock: I have had many problems trying to recreate the high neck smock on my own as I am a very beginning sewer. Using this pattern, I was able to make a High Neck Smock in a few hours. That smock has seen a lot of use. but by following her instructions and closing all the seams, it still looks like new. I have also used this pattern to make a very comfortable night gown. Anyone who is looking for the Elizabethan Noble look cannot live without this Smock. This pattern is by far the best.
Janet Canning –
High Neck Smock: The smock was fairly easy and straight forward. It was a great review of gussets. However, the neck band was tricky and I had to have my partner look at the diagrams. He was working on his smock from the Men’s Wardrobe pattern and we decided that the diagrams were better in his instruction book, so I followed that. I like the fact that there is not too much fabric around the middle as that adds to the squeeze under the corset.
Christine Gorman –
I made the Low Neck Smock, Corset, Farthingale, and Bum Roll. Each of these was relatively easy to make. The Underpinnings patterns (one full set of patterns, in one set) come with about eighty pages of instructions, tips, pattern layouts, and alteration directions. With little trouble, I was able to construct all four pieces and they came out great. The pattern pieces all fit together beautifully, provided you make any needed alterations, but with the slash lines for lengthening/shortening on the pattern pieces, and directions for any other necessary adjustments (such as gaps), altering becomes a piece of cake. I would recommend this pattern to anyone who wants an historically accurate set of Elizabethan underclothes. The patterns are worth the price. I would, however, recommend contacting Margo to check when version 2.0 is coming out, If it is soon, I recommend waiting; it will have corrections to errors.
Kendra van Cleave –
Corset: If you’re looking for a pattern that will give you the basic shape of an Elizabethan corset and don’t want to deal with drafting up a scaled pattern, then this is the pattern for you. BUT be ready to make mockups! The sizing doesn’t take into account the “squish” factor, and I ended up needing to take out 8-10″ total at the side seams to get it down to a size that fit (which also meant repositioning the armholes and straps). Because of this, it’s really important to follow the advice in the pattern instructions and to fit it with the side seams intact (you can remove them later, if you want a more period cut). One other irritation was that the side seam markings didn’t match up, necessitating about 30 min. of measurement and pattern piece checking. I didn’t follow the pattern instructions so I can’t comment on how clear they are, but I didn’t have any other major problems. I was making this for a German outfit, which have curved front bustlines, so I used spiral boning instead of spring steel in the front to give myself some flexibility.
Heather Murray –
Corset: I am on version three now. I had been fighting between two sizes as my back fit one size and my front, the other. As was suggested in the instructions, I had to adapt front pieces to back and may have a version to get by with and hopefully, will redesign a new and improved version later. I chose the long tab version and am working on reinforcements at the slits so it will not rip. I do feel it’s a good pattern, I just have to find a better way to trace all the boning casings on. Other people have said that it took two or three attempts to get to a corset that fit.
Farthingale: It’s pretty strait forward. I am average height and found that the bottom may be too long for the 5th hoop. We are still playing with it. It has a actual waist band which is good as the hoops that have drawstrings just spin around on you when you are trying to walk around.
Bees –
The corset back side and back seams do not match up. There is over an inch difference. The instructions are unclear. there is no mention on if there is seam allowance at the top or bottom of the corset. It also has ridiculous instructions for using a drawstring for fitting around the armholes and back. You cannot write to the company because they only list a defunct facebook group on the contact page. The historical advise is questionable. This pattern will cost you more time then trying to hand draft.