I made View B, but bustled it with tapes, rather than just letting it fall, and skipped the apron, as it was to be used as an underskirt). Basically, this skirt looks great when you get it done. However, I would not recommend it to a non-indulgent beginner. There are markings to match some front and side pieces, but none on the back piece to indicate where to match side markings. There is a pocket piece, but no indication of where to put it. I guessed 7″ inches down, which was way too far when I got it done; probably 5.5″ is good for most people. It’s got a nice deep pocket piece, though.
Actually, a beginner who wasn’t caught up in making pattern markings match, would be fine, but potentially frustrated. It isn’t a difficult pattern to figure out even without markings. If you are a beginner, make a muslin first; it will make fitting easier.
Trim Tip: Made up in size large, it required 8 yards of ruffle (i.e. post pleated) to go around the bottom of the skirt twice at 6″ and at 12″.
Rated 5 out of 5
Janet –
I originally made this pattern up to go with the #TV410 1873 Polonaise (see review below). I found the underskirt very easy to put together. It’s not hard to work with the pattern pieces and there is a generous waist band.
Of course I learned the hard way to really measure the lengths because it seems every Truly Victorian skirt pattern is drafted for someone 5’6″. Once I determined that I had make a false hem, I learned it was a very correct way to hem in street length skirt in the 1870s. (It is very important to find out any period correct excuse to cover your ‘fixes’.)
I found this is a very simple throw-together skirt. It does span a number of years and works well the 1870s bustle as well as the 1880s style. I have made up this pattern twice now. The placket side closures is a bit tricky but, if you have been sewing awhile and making plackets, you will be OK. You may find the placket technique used in this pattern to be useful in other projects. The side closure makes it hard to expand if one’s size changes.
Rated 4 out of 5
Cathy –
A Victorian skirt is a skirt is a skirt. There should be few issues with a skirt pattern. The only issue I had with this pattern is that the place marked for the pocket is about two inches too far down to be convenient. That can easily be fixed through experimentation or by eliminating the pocket.
Lorraine –
I made View B, but bustled it with tapes, rather than just letting it fall, and skipped the apron, as it was to be used as an underskirt). Basically, this skirt looks great when you get it done. However, I would not recommend it to a non-indulgent beginner. There are markings to match some front and side pieces, but none on the back piece to indicate where to match side markings. There is a pocket piece, but no indication of where to put it. I guessed 7″ inches down, which was way too far when I got it done; probably 5.5″ is good for most people. It’s got a nice deep pocket piece, though.
Actually, a beginner who wasn’t caught up in making pattern markings match, would be fine, but potentially frustrated. It isn’t a difficult pattern to figure out even without markings. If you are a beginner, make a muslin first; it will make fitting easier.
Trim Tip: Made up in size large, it required 8 yards of ruffle (i.e. post pleated) to go around the bottom of the skirt twice at 6″ and at 12″.
Janet –
I originally made this pattern up to go with the #TV410 1873 Polonaise (see review below). I found the underskirt very easy to put together. It’s not hard to work with the pattern pieces and there is a generous waist band.
Of course I learned the hard way to really measure the lengths because it seems every Truly Victorian skirt pattern is drafted for someone 5’6″. Once I determined that I had make a false hem, I learned it was a very correct way to hem in street length skirt in the 1870s. (It is very important to find out any period correct excuse to cover your ‘fixes’.)
I found this is a very simple throw-together skirt. It does span a number of years and works well the 1870s bustle as well as the 1880s style. I have made up this pattern twice now. The placket side closures is a bit tricky but, if you have been sewing awhile and making plackets, you will be OK. You may find the placket technique used in this pattern to be useful in other projects. The side closure makes it hard to expand if one’s size changes.
Cathy –
A Victorian skirt is a skirt is a skirt. There should be few issues with a skirt pattern. The only issue I had with this pattern is that the place marked for the pocket is about two inches too far down to be convenient. That can easily be fixed through experimentation or by eliminating the pocket.