So I broke my fabric buying fast… but it was in favor of a new make that I see getting oodles of versatile wear. A white petticoat inspired skirt is something I’ve been wanting to make for a while, and many signs as of late have been telling me the time is now. An article from a favorite fashion newsletter, Gumshoe by Harling Ross, calls it “Bed Skirting” (more on that later) brought it front and center, and then watching Picnic at Hanging Rock sealed the deal, leading me to the thrift store to buy a gently used cotton sheet for $7.
Picnic at Hanging Rock is an elusive and intriguing story. Set in early 1900s Australia, a girls boarding school makes a celebratory trip to Hanging Rock for a Valentines Day luncheon. As is eluded to with the simultaneously whimsical and unsettling soundtrack of flutes and droning organ, of the party that leaves the school, not all return. Four are lost to the wilderness and the mystery. Search ensues, but no answers are found and the pervasive beauty of this film allow the audience to depart from easy conclusions of foul play into the realm of mystery and the supernatural, to get to the aim— metaphor. The burgeoning group of adolescent girls, cloistered so close to spaces that are unabashedly wild, the closer they get to it, the deeper they go, the more layers of civilization they shed. Perhaps they are lost only to those that remained behind as they freed themselves from culture. There are definite themes of repressed sexuality and the unleashing of the wild feminine… a lot to uncover in this one that purposefully leaves you without answers.
What really inspired me about the costumes is how much variation there was between the girls. Despite being a sea of white skirts and dresses, different details adorn and distinguish the wearers. The addition of gathered tiers or pin tucks got me thinking about what I wanted to add to my skirt. It’s also fun to think in terms of their styling— should I add white frills on top and really go full on, or add the black tights and shoes, which I wouldn’t have thought of, but would be perfect for taking this bright white into fall and winter?
Some of my sewing work week includes making pieces of historical dress for local museum interpreters, if you knew me as a child, you’d know that that’s a pretty good fit ;) . I especially enjoy making petticoats, and most always find that my favorite historical looks would have me running around in my “underwear”. Getting acquainted with different types of petticoats is what initially put this look on my radar, and then a recent acquisition of some Edwardian bloomers proved to me the versatility and fun of getting these undergarments into my wardrobe. Being so focused lately on sewing through fabric I already have, and not having a large swath of white cotton, has meant putting off the project. But as I have proved before (see my newsletter La Piscine), I am not put-off by used sheets!! And with this issue of Gumshoe proclaiming “Bed sheets but make them fashion”, I knew a thrift store run was in order and that I was going to get in on the look.
The sheet I bought was a twin size fitted white sheet originally from "The Vermont Country Store”. When looking, I just make sure it is 100% cotton, and isn’t peculiarly stained. Making the skirt used just about the entire thing. I didn’t want the skirt to have any closures (buttons/zippers), so I made the waistband large enough to fit over my hips, and inserted a little drawstring channel at the back of the waist for an adjustable fit. This will help give the skirt a long lifespan in my closet— whether I change in size, or want to layer it over something bulkier, I’m covered! I then gathered the long length of the rest of the sheet to attach it to the waistband, down from about 100 inches to 37, so pretty voluminous! As the drawstring only takes in at the back to achieve a smooth front waistband, I did concentrate the gathers slightly at the front, so that when the drawstring is fully cinched to my waist, the back looks about the same level of volume/gather as the front. After hemming I added pin tuck details to get it to the length I wanted, one larger 1 inch tuck towards the bottom and two quarter inch tucks toward the top.
On a final note, there are so many little details in this film I love… they exchange these valentines that I am partial to, and I wanted to share the best one I’ve got in my collection. I need to get back into my letter writing habit!!
What a perfect summer skirt! Love the layers, the length, and the use of a drawstring for a perfect fit(genius!).