Paradise Silk Pure Silk Knitted Underskirt Petticoat 19 inches Half Slip

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Nearsilk Petticoat, with […] flounce, lined with canvas, finished with cord heading’ ( The Saint Paul Globe, 1900). ‘For really hard wear a facing of percaline [cotton fabric] is an immense help on a taffeta silk’ ( Los Angeles Herald, 1905).

Campbell, Jill. Natural Masques: Gender and Identity in Fielding's Plays and Novels, p. 21. Stanford University Press. Various kinds of cords may be used. Piping cord, which is hard twisted, and cable or dressmaker’s cord, which is soft and loose. Wool makes an excellent cord for soft silks’ ( Clothing For Women: Selection, Design, Construction, 1916).

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Heatherbloom taffeta petticoats ‘are rich enough to accompany any gown for any occasion, yet so inexpensive that the average woman can afford one to match every garment.

Augusta Auctions. Many petticoats depict natural elements, even little animals. I would like to incorporate a rattle snake into mine, as an homage to the Colonial flags featuring them. I used natural artificial silk taffeta fabric (made of cellulose fibers). This type of fabric was already used in the Edwardian era for dresses and petticoats. In the 1900s, this type of fabric was known under various names such as nearsilk, artificial silk, heatherbloom etc. Although considered stylish daywear in the early 18th century, the mantua had become very old-fashioned by the 1750s and was worn only for court dress. Wide hoops were beginning to go out of style, but kept their extreme width at court. To make up for its conservative cut, court dress was always made from the most fashionable as well as expensive fabrics and trimmings.

Rayon taffeta is a slippery, thin and even sheer fabric. Today it is usually used as natural but cheap lining fabric for blazers and skirts.

Cunningham, Patricia A. (2003). Reforming Women's Fashion, 1850-1920: Politics, Health and Art. Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press. ISBN 0873387422. I have one that's made from cotton & flannel, don't remember now where I found the reference (sorry, my memory took a huge hit last year), but it's in some east coast museum and dated from the 1780's.

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All seams of my Edwardian faux silk petticoat are stitched fell seams. If you read my blog regularly, you know that this is my favorite historically accurate seam finish! 😉