Making Victorian Underwear Essentials: *All the Lace* Corset Covers & Petticoat

Hello everyone and welcome to a new video!

I was feeling a little overwhelmed with all my options for projects, and so I asked my friends over on Patreon and making some new Victorian underwear won the poll! I'm so grateful to have been steered towards this project because it was a real joy to work on it. The goal was to make frilly, lace-y items that would be passable for historical underclothing for more *historically adequate* costumes, but also that I could rotate into my wardrobe if I wanted some Victorian undress, ephemeral vibes for the summer (though tragically I only finished these items towards the end of summer, as always my timing is... questionable).

For these, I used plain lightweight linen from my stash - around 1 meter or so for each corset cover, and then two or so meters for the petticoat, since it's more calf-length than full length. For the patterns, I drafted two patterns from the 1880s for the corset covers from Fashions of the Gilded Age by Francis Grimble, which is based on original historical drafting instructions. I will be scanning these patterns and putting them up on my Patreon, if you're interested comment below so I know to prioritise them! For the petticoat, I used my Keystone skirt draft (more about that in my walking skirt video, I'll link it below), which I shortened and added two ruffles too, one as a long rectangle of linen, and one of lace. I then added some decorations such as lace insertion and applique, threaded ribbon, and tucks. I'm so pleased with the overall look and the petticoat has such as wonderful shape, I'm sure it'll be incredibly useful for all my skirts!

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Instagram (perhaps overactive stories): @catscostumery

Music is from Epidemic Sound.

[DUNGNDUCK]

It's a very odd mental discipline thing to forgive yourself into just making something on a whim that's more freeform than firm calculation when one is so hard on oneself. The two-tone lace is another example of forgiving *yourself*, no-one else is going to be as hard on yourself as you are and it looks great. What you've made is gorgeous, practical and breezy and I hope it's empirically useful for letting yourself forgive yourself in the future 💜

[inkwingart]

I love making corset cover-style tops in colorful fabrics. I have one in a seafoam green, and it's one of my favorite tops ever. They're so delicate and breezy and fun for warm weather.

[makeda]

As someone who finally started a real corset last week, you just reminded me I don’t have any type of historical chemise. Oops. Yours are so cute as always.

[aprildriesslein]

I've definitely looked at corset covers and thought they'd make lovely blouses. Now I really want to make one!

[charlarp]

They are so lovely, my favourite is the petticoat as well. FYI, that corset is gorgeous! I even loved the look of just the chemise with the corset and petticoat together, such a beautiful combination on you!💕🇨🇦

[mermaidstears]

The trouble with most modern “white” fabrics is that they are actually “optic white” instead of the softer bleached white of antiquity. I’ve reached the point where I also tone down optic white linen and cotton.

[bunhelsingslegacy]

I agree, that petticoat is GORGEOUS, and now if I ever find lace I'm willing to use, I'm tempted to make one like that since I've drafted and mocked up the keystone skirt pattern for myself already.

[bohemiansusan]

Was a lot of fun to see how you made stuff. I use Dylon to dye things rather than Rit. Both are what is widely available in the states. I also soak yellowed fabric or lace in boron powder and a small amount of bleach for a day or two to restore whiteness. I often don't do antique lace I tend to like cream colored fabrics and lace.

Somewhere in my future are Victorian underthings sans corset in black. As I wear mostly black, it makes sense for me. I don't look forward to dying trims black as I often have to do it thrice. I might get lucky and find black lace that is perfect for what I have in mind. It happens from time to time.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with in the future.

[vernieplummer]

You said coffee staining and tea staining interchangeably over the course of the whole video. Which did you do? LOL i’m just teasing you, but I would like to know.

[ChayatsujiKimono]

I've definitely worn my corsetcovers underneath a waistcoat as part of my late-victorian/early edwardian historybounding looks. Mine (antiques but mint condition) are slightly too short to be able to be worn on their own. 100% recommend doing this!

[Sew_Learning]

Always impressed with your talent, Cat! This has inspired me to make one, as I have this book (somewhere). Sending best wishes from Down Under 🥰🌺🌻🌸🌼💐🇦🇺😎

[KenZchameleon]

That petticoat is so pretty! Well done on everything! 😍

[robintheparttimesewer]

Oh everything is looks stunning! It's a shame that summer is definitely over. Please write a note so we can see you wearing them next summer!

[moonbasket]

I love the look of the green ribbon with the two colors of lace. It makes it look intentional. My favorite piece is also for sure the petticoat. It looks so nice! Layering two types of lace is so ingenious.

[glittermytimbers]

Do you know where you got that lightweight linen? I had a terrible time finding anything light enough that was still a fairly tight weave.

[jenniferstocker]

After watching how much fun you had and how pretty these all are, I kind of want to spend a while this autumn just updating/making some underpinnings from different eras...thanks for the inspiration!

[Meredith]

These are very pretty and it was so cool watching you crear them 💚🪡💚

[aeolia]

My mom is a costumer and made a corset cover not that long ago, for a colleague, yes she was paid for it, lol, and recently it was featured in Time magazine (was it Life, I don'tremember), lol, because what my mom didn't tell me was that it was for the new musical Parade on Broadway 😂😂😂

[AnniCarlsson]

Oh. So lovely look. Me need to make this to for have on as tops

[LovedSarita]

I love it!!!!
I really need to make me an outfit for modern were!!! I just love that Edwardian look! 😍😍😍😍😍😍