I’m not sure if I’ll call what I made for Felicity a slip, a petticoat or a crinoline…I’m thinking a petticoat!
I did some reading today on the Colonial fashions for little girls and their clothes were pretty similar to the women’s fashions. They had the same tight corseted bodices, but I didn’t see too much regarding the skirt part of young girl’s attire. I saw quite a few illustrations and even read in some books I have, but nothing was really shared about the young girls.
SO…I looked at Felicity and asked her if she wanted “authentic” or “comfortable?” She answered “pretty!” So we went with pretty. I had some lace pieces I needed to use up anyway, so it worked out perfectly! I never read anything about their under garments being called slips, I know crinolines generally had stiffners in them, either boning or horsehair braid… so that left petticoats. I did see that word mentioned quite a bit, so I’m calling Felicity’s new “undergarment” a petticoat! :o)
The petticoat is made from 2 layers of cream and white tulle. The underneath white layer is slightly stiffer than the cream. Then I sewed the 4″ wide lace to the bottom of the piece and attached that to a dropped yoke, so there wouldn’t be too many waist gathers. Then I opted to just put an elastic waist on the petticoat. I know… it’s not the least bit authentic, but it doesn’t show the least bit either… It works well, fits any size doll waist and is very easy to put on. (but do remember to put it on AFTER you put on the dress…it’s much easier this way!)
It makes her dress stand out perfectly!
She said it was “just right!”
After the petticoat was finished, I turned my attention to her head…and tried to decide what I was going to make… just ribbons, a bonnet, a straw hat, just a mob cap, a round eared cap, etc? I discovered too, that straw hats were generally the ONLY thing ladies and young girls wore when they went outside. They always had a round eared cap or a mob cap underneath as well. SO… I set out to find my straw hats… I had ONE left… which led me to think, “you better order some more!” I generally ordered them a dozen at a time… but I absolutely cannot find the shop I got them from. It was in Williamsburg, VA, if I remember correctly and I cannot find them at all! YIKES!
They are very well made hats and I sure hope I can find them again.
So I stopped fretting about it and turned my thoughts what kind of flowers did I have to decorate it… Well, as you can see, NOT MANY! These were the only flowers that even had a slight possibility of being used…
But they certainly didn’t do much for me, just laid on the hat…
When I stepped back to look at the colors, I kind of laughed…
So I told Felicity I would have to go to town tomorrow and see if I could find something to decorate her hat… She wanted to keep the hat on just for fun…
Then she said, “Give me my cape, please!” So I did!
I’ll see what I can come up with…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, The petticoat is just perfect for holding out the dress, and is pretty too, so it fits what you and Felicity were going for!
The hat is the perfect one, but it sure does look like she is trying to balance a plate full of flowers on her head in those pictures! I think with the straw color, and a few, just a few flowers, will look the best, and tie it all together with a brown velvet ribbon like her Summer Gown Hat is, if you know what I mean, which ties around to the back of her head. With this hat, less is more, not full of flowers. The straw color works perfectly with the wood buttons and the browns of the dress. Every day it gets better and better!
I enjoyed reading about this year’s convention of the UFDC in Kansas City, and all the happenings going on around the country with doll clubs! Thank you Dorothy, for sending that information along!
Dear Linda, thanks for your nice words. I hope that some of the Sofa Sisters will be able to attend. I am going to be there.
UFDC has increased its activity, especially online. Doll folks can easily find a “community” now.
Definitely a petticoat, although I’m glad you made it “pretty”, as Felicity requested!! I’m sure she’s pretty happy at the moment.
That hat with the flowers scattered about was too funny!! I’m sure you’ll find something else you can use, tough. Can’t wait to see what it’ll be!!
Marilyn, thanks for all the links you said regarding Kate Greenaway, etc. Very interesting, and at first I didn’t realize where the pictures were, but I did find them, those tiny thumbnails at the bottom of that page. I like the Kate Greenaway style, and I think it would be quite appropriate for a young girl (such as some of our dolls) to wear. I remember reading about Charles Worth, too; he certainly did some beautiful gowns!
Barbara, I’m glad to hear your new-to-you Goodwill store is so lovely to shop in. I think it must depend primarily on the manager, and yours must have a terrific one!
Contrary to popular opinion, I think if any three of the items you have, placed together on her right hand side of the hat with a bit of ribbon would look fine, all tying in with the colors in the dress. I’m sure you’ll find exactly the right embellishment.
I think she looks really nice with her petticoat holding out her autumn-colored dress. It matches her hair color well. I like Susette’s idea of a sort of bouquet on the side of her hat with what you have. That would probably look nice, but whatever you come up with will be beautiful. 🙂
I’d love to see some of the petticoat lace daringly sticking out in a few places at the skirt hem. It is a lovely slip or whatever it is called. 🙂
I’m sure the hat will be very fashionable with Jeanne’s Millinery Shoppe in charge. Can’t wait to see the grand finish.
I’ll have to read through your comment, Marilyn. I love Kate Greenaway’s illustrations. I have her book “Under the Window” and I believe something else..
No, the petticoat is not the least bit historically accurate, but it is certainly pretty. The lace looks like it has pansies on it.
The straw hat will be nice. I hope you can find your shop back. I agree with Susette that a bouquet on the side of the hat would be lovely.
Dear Jeanne, I love the under slip. I hope you can find the hat maker but if you can’t, I know someone who has demonstrated outstanding ability in hat creation, hmmm…..YOU, of course (smile).
What a pretty petticoat and it does really make the skirt just the right fullness. I would like to see the dark acorns on the left and the lighter 5petal flowers on the right together in one place on the hat. Couldn’t she have some brown or rust tulle over the hat and tying under her chin?
Hope you find the source for your hats.. my source for tiny shoes for my Dionne babies doesn’t have them any longer:( If any of you have a source for tiny shoes maybe you would share?