How old is this petticoat?

Better Dresses Vintage

Better Dresses Vintage

Alumni
Hi,

The buttoned waist is 20", but as you can see, eventually that was too small, because the owner fashioned a string "extender" to bring it to a whopping 24". Of course you could always add more and have it fit an actual person, sans corset. The hips are 58" -- there is extensive shirring at the waistband (see last photo).

The best part is the 7" deep lace and crochet hem section. It's amazing. Parts of the lace are literally a single thread thick. And I can find no breaks or problems with it.

The skirt has stains I could not get out and stopped trying for fear of damage, but overall it's nice and strong and certainly wearable (with a longer string, for sure!).

When do you think this is from? I'd think Victorian, given the miniscule waistband and the general feel of the thing, but what do I know? - Liza

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1890s - the even gathering at the waist, overall fullness, lace hem, and gathered flounce to add width to an 'A' line are all typical 1890s features.
 
Well, Jonathan, that was a LOT easier than the midnight blue mystery dress, hehe! Thanks a million.

FYI, out of the blue, all my VFG emails are getting thrown into a SPAM folder. I have no idea why, and I've added the address to my address book. No luck. It still goes to SPAM. Any idea why?
 
LizaJane, the VFG can't control where your computer puts your emails - best to look at your settings. Perhaps you could do as I do and set up a separate folder and filter your mail there?

I agree with Jonathan about the age, and would like to add that the top part of the "lace" is pulled or drawn threadwork - it's achieved by counting out the threads in the cotton and pulling (or drawing) some of them out, to create gaps in the fabric. You can see it in the grid like shape in the background - then stitches are added to embellish it. The section below is crochet.
 
Well Nicole, that's the thing! I have looked all over the emails "guts" and cannot, for the life of me, find the place do "undo" spam. Clearly, this isn't a VFG topic, and I won't continue with it. But it's just the oddest thing. ESPECIALLY since I added the address to my address book. It should NOT be going into a spam folder. I'll figure it out ; ). So long as I get them, it's not that big a deal, anyway. Just a bit odd.

As for the drawn threadwork, thank you! I had learned about that ages ago, and could not remember the term. I remembered what it was, but not what it was called (thus, hard to look it up). What a relief. I knew about the crochet, as I am a crocheter myself (though I tend not to use the tiniest hooks, as this would have been).

Can you imagine how much work went into this thing? Seems incredible. I suppose without the lure of Facebook, cable TV, and Angry Birds, there was more time for drawn threadwork ; )!

p.s. I know that the faggoting is faggoting, but I feel like an embarrassed 7th grader every time I use the term. Ridiculous, I realize, but there it is.
 
So I'm looking around for comps, and found this. Am I correct in my suspicions that this might not be antique (or even all that old)? The lace at the bottom looks like nylon to me. And something else about it doesn't look quite right. The stitching or something. Can't put my finger on it. It looks more like a "Gunne Sax" skirt than a petticoat, to me. What is your gut reaction and/or expert opinion? It's not mine. I just found it in my search. Other "red flags" include the polyester-looking fabric, 28" waist, and "clasp side closure."

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