How to Make a Homemade Petticoat
Whether you want to dress up in pioneer clothes for a living history reenactment or just enjoy vintage styles, a simple petticoat is a quick addition to your wardrobe, requiring only basic sewing skills. Traditionally a petticoat is worn underneath another skirt. Nineteenth-century and earlier styles used multiple petticoats to increase fullness in the skirt and keep the legs from showing, for modesty. Current fashions include decorative, lace-trimmed petticoats as outer garments. Traditional petticoats are white, though trims may include pale pastel colors. For fashion garments, however, your personal taste dictates color choices.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Scissors
- Cotton fabric, pre-washed
- Straight pins
- Cotton sewing thread
- Sewing machine or hand sewing needle
- Steam iron
- Drawcord or 1-inch wide elastic
- Trims such as lace or eyelet (optional)
Instructions
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Measuring and Cutting the Materials
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1
Use the tape measure to measure snugly around the largest part of your hips. Multiply this number by four; cut your fabric to this length. The cut will be perpendicular to the fabric's selvedges, which are the long, self-finished edges of the fabric.
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2
Decide on the desired finished length of your petticoat. To do this, hold the tape measure with its beginning at your waist and note the number at the desired length. You may find it helpful to stand in front of a mirror for this step. Add 4 inches to the desired finished petticoat length and cut the fabric to this width. The cut will be parallel to the fabric's selvedges.
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3
Add 12 inches to your hip measurement and cut the drawcord to this length. If you prefer an elastic waist petticoat, use the tape measure to measure snugly around your natural waist. Add 1 inch to this measurement and cut the elastic to this length.
Sewing the Petticoat
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4
Fold the fabric in half crosswise, right sides together, and pin the two short edges together. Stitch along this edge, leaving a ½ inch seam allowance and leaving the top 3 ½ inches of the seam unsewn. Press the seam allowance open with an iron, pressing down the unsewn edges at the top of the petticoat as well.
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5
Fold the top edge of the petticoat down ½ inch and press with the iron. Fold it down again 1 ¼ inches and press again. Stitch along the folded edge to form the casing for the drawstring or elastic.
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6
Thread the drawcord through the casing, leaving the ends hanging out. Knot the ends of the drawcord if desired, to keep them from accidentally slipping back into the casing. If you prefer an elastic waist petticoat, thread the elastic through the casing. Overlap the ends of elastic ½ inch and stitch securely. You may stitch the ends of the casing together over the elastic if you wish.
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7
Fold the bottom edge of the petticoat up ½ inch and press with the iron. Fold it up again ½ inch and press again. Stitch along the folded edge to form the hem. Add lace or other trims to the hem if desired.
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Tips & Warnings
Old sheets can be re-purposed to make petticoats; simply cut the fabric to size and sew as directed. If the sheet has decorative lace trim, turn the fabric so the trim acts as the petticoat hem; in this case the width of the fabric should be cut to the desired petticoat length plus 3 inches. You can also add a self-fabric ruffle at the bottom of the skirt. Be sure to include the width of the ruffle in your calculations for the finished petticoat length.
Take measurements carefully for accuracy or your petticoat will not fit properly when it is finished. Stand up straight, hold the tape measure snugly around your body, and always measure over the undergarments you intend to wear with the finished garment in order to insure a good fit and avoid disappointment with the finished garment.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
