The Industrious Lady

  I like Big Bustles and I cannot lie Materials:  Sheet from Goodwill: $1.50 Boning from an old hoop: $0 Bone casing from goodwill: $50 Pattern: $10.00 Total: $12.50 So this pattern is pretty straightforward. There are four gored pieces that make up the front and are smooth. There is on curved piece for the back, and another piece that is used to pull the ends of the boning together and keep the boned bustle part off your legs.  I did the Truly Victorian Digital patterns that are printed off on the computer, laid out so the sides and matching, then taped together. I then cut it like a regular paper pattern and use it like normal. Like this! So for the next step, cut out all the pattern pieces and put boning channels on the back piece before sewing to the front and sides or putting in the brace piece. I chose to put the ruffles on next before adding boning or doing any more sewing. The instructions said to put the boning channels on the outside but I put them on the inside...

Front panels of skirt and Apron The instructions for this pattern are a little confusing but basically they want you to break it up into two parts, decorate those parts and do all the finishing work then sew them together between the side seam and the bustle/train piece.  To start with, take pieces A, B, and C, plus the two aprons. I chose to only do the top apron but the pattern calls for a top and bottom apron.  Yes, it seems weird, but it was 4 am and my sleepless brain thought it was a good idea, along with thinking that the skirt would look cute with a touch of assymetry which was totally acceptable during the 1870's. I guess you could say "we're not in the civil war era anymore toto". Bad jokes aside, lets dig in to the Truly Victorian Skirt 219  Sew together A, and B. This will give you the base skirt which the aprons will be attached to.  Cut the apron pieces and hem the bottom. It is easier to hem before it is sewn on to the base skirt.  Measure out the...