Placket Facings

The simple, continuous facing (bound) (Fig. 139), is the best to use on this type of petticoat. Face brilliantine with either sateen or silk of the same color. The material itself would be too clumsy.

Bands

Silk alone does not wear long. The under side of the band can be made of sateen, percaline, or of Prussian binding, if one desires a very narrow band. In the latter, the edge of the outside silk would be turned in to meet the finished edge of the binding. Use sateen or percaline, with silk facing if desired, for the band of a brilliantine petticoat. The band is sometimes omitted on such petticoats and the waist line finished with a bias facing of silk or sateen.

Ruffles And Flounces

Dust ruffles, gathered or plaited, are used on some petticoats, in addition to the outer flounce, which may be gathered, plaited or circular. Other petticoats are cut shorter and the flounce set into the bottom of the skirt under a tuck, or the flounce set to the bottom of the skirt with a plain seam on the right side, the seam finished by a bias band of material.

One very good flounce for silk petticoats, circular in effect, is made of bias strips of material cut three and one-half inches wide, joined, and one edge put through a ruffler, fulling it very slightly. Cut off one strip long enough to go round the edge of the skirt at desired depth for flounce, allow seam for joining, but keep ends open until flounce is finished. Turn in lower edge one-quarter inch and press. Lay this folded edge on the gathers of another strip; baste, cut off strip, and press lower edge. Continue until enough strips have been joined to give the desired depth. Stitch strips together and close ends of flounce with a French seam. The lower edge can be hemmed by machine. This gives considerable fulness at the foot, but gradually works down, which makes the petticoat comfortable for walking, but no bulk at the top of the flounce. Taffeta lends itself specially well to such treatment. If one keeps in mind the fashion of the skirts of outer-garments, it becomes an easy matter to adapt the petticoat to these requirements.

Suggestive Questions

1. Name three materials suitable for corset covers. What trimming would you suggest?

2. Calculate the quantity of material and the cost of the same, for a corset cover for yourself.

3. Show, by drawing, how to place a corset cover pattern on thirty-six-inch material for cutting out.

4. What seams would you use on a corset cover and petticoat ?

5. Describe the use of a receiving tuck; the making and placing of a ruffle under the tucks.

6. Describe two different kinds of flounces that can be used on petticoats.