Scrap Happy – Linen
Big Petticoat
This human -sized Linen Petticoat – worn, torn, and stained…
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Lace and insertion
…was cut up and transformed. Insertion scraps carefully unpicked, washed and saved by my mother-in-law, were stitched on between the bodice and skirt, and some pretty broderie anglaise was added to the hem…
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Little petticoat
…of a little petticoat.
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Pair of Bodies
The outer layer of a “pair of bodies” came out of another corner of the linen petticoat. The inner Layer is another scrap of coarser linen…
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Quilt Batting
…and I used a scrap of quilt batting leftover from my Provençal quilt to make an inner layer of padding for the bodies.
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seamed
The padding was trimmed so it could be overcast flat across the linen seams, and basted to the coarse linen.
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pinned
The linen/padding sandwich was pinned in place onto the uncut fine linen…
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Quilting
…and I started quilting to simulate boning channels. The fine linen will be cut to shape after quilting.
I plan for it to end up looking like a 17th Century pair of bodies (stays, or corsets) with quilted channels, shoulder straps, eyelets for lacing up the back, and a silk ribbon binding. The bodies need to be made of material that pins can stick into, because although the recipient will eventually have a tied-on petticoat and pocket, the rest of the outfit (gown and stomacher) will get pinned into place.
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Under dressed
Lady Frances is a little envious of Esmée, and tired of waiting for her under wear. Unfortunately I have not finished it in time to show it to you this month, but it is coming along, if slowly.
The Hittys think I should stick to clothing that fits 6 1/2 inch dolls as it is much quicker… and they note that there is lots of linen still available in unworn areas of the original petticoat.
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ScrapHappy is a group of bloggers using up scraps of anything – no new materials…Anything made of genuine scraps is eligible, and posts come out once a month on the 15th! If you like the idea and want to join the group, contact Kate or Gun who devised and run this group. Their blogs are the first two links below:
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Quimper Hittys 
Love it 😍
Thanks very much!
Esmée and Lady Frances look lovely in their linen petticoats and I can’t wait to see how the stays will turn out! I’d love a pair for myself too 😉 Thank you for making me smile again today 😀
I am happy to make you smile…I only wish I could clock the stockings, and dye them a beautiful yellow like yours!
I’m glad she already has her chemise. It annoys me when I see period dramas featuring ladies in their stays with no chemise underneath. So inauthentic and frankly insanitary! Such a beautifully-executed use of lovely scraps. Her ladyship will be extremely well dressed when the time comes. What does her mantua-maker plan for the outer layer?
One of my pet peeves too, and I am happy to say that her ladyship arrived with the beautiful chemise, beautifully made by her first costumier. The mantua-maker plans a petticoat, stomacher and robe à la française…I’ll try and use as many scraps as possible!
She’ll be gorgeous!
These “bodies” are amazing, Kjerstin! While I don’t agree with the Hittys that you should stick with their sized clothing, I have to agree that there might be enough left over for them! Judith
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Thanks! The bodies are working out according to plan so far! The Hittys can be patient, but they hope I will swing back in their direction when the giantesses are clothed!
Fascinating as always. Your creative mind is amazing!
Thank you! I think that a lifetime of working with textiles gives me the ability to snip and stitch with confidence, like you with wood!
Sewing details over my head, but nice to see a glimpse of Lady Francis.
Lady Frances is glad I’ve begun to work on her toilette at last!
so, so beautiful and delicate. Thank you for sharing these lovely close ups.
You are very welcome – it is my pleasure to sew, and to share the results. I love the close-ups too, it helps to see things differently!
I love it! Thank you….
You are welcome! I am glad it pleased you!
oh, my goodness what a delightful use of the old petticoat. Lady Frances and Esmee look very patient.
I think they are both learning about the way things work in the cupboard – a bit of this and a bit of that, and as much sewing as I can fit in!
You continually amaze me with your creativity and ability to accomplish to perfection your ideas. I can hardly wait to see the end result. Precious!
Well… perfection includes many trial runs, including Esmee’s first petticoat that is going to become a nightgown due to a miscalculation in length!
I am surprised that the rather imperious Lady Frances has allowed you to neglect her wardrobe?! I am sure that sweet Esmee’ will wait patiently while you see to the grande dame!! Love seeing how that corset is being created!
Thanks very much – we are all having fun here, even if Lady Frances has opinions on the way things ought to be done in the correct and approved manner!
So beautiful. I love your attention to detail and the calming ambiance of your photographs. 🙂
Thanks very much! Calm is one of my goals in life – there is enough complication and chaos “out there” without my adding to it!
You are doing such great work!
Thank you so much – a lot of love goes into the work and and it gives me lots of fun! It is a good result!
Oh Kjerstin–What a perfect day the girls are having here–walking in the snow, reading a favorite book, and playing Scrabble. My idea of a perfect day! Wherever did you find that Hitty-sized scrabble game? Judith ________________________________
Fabulous! Your work is superb!
Lady Frances is destined to be quite a well dressed Lady…if a bit of an imperious one also!!