So, what I did was cannibalize the original farthingale and, well– it would be easier to just cut & paste what I wrote on the forum, so here it is:
Whoo-HOO!
This thread of yours intrigued me, SyRilla, and it’s got me motivated. I started working on my version of the “Drum Farthingale” a couple of weekends ago, and EGADS! I think I might have done it. It winds up having a flat top and doesn’t require a separate bumroll to support it.
It’s basically a rib-cage formed by stitching bias tape in a radiating manner from the waist outwards. Previous to SyRilla’s last post, I had always assumed the bumrolls in that caricature were stuffed. Then I thought, why should they be? So I made one without stuffing to see how it might hold up. It’s very light!!!
The final measurements are approximately 21.5″ from front to back, 28.5″ wide, and 9″ thick at the back. The pattern is made from two crescent-shaped pieces stiched together at the waist (inside of crescent) with a long rectange with tapered ends stitched along the outside edges of the top & bottom crescent. I added a long zipper to the outside top seam for convenience.
The bias tape casings are stiched along the side and bottom pieces and hold “bents” made of plastic-covered /farthingale hoop wires bent to shape. The top crescent was salvaged from my first attempt years ago that used radiating “spokes” with a hoop in the perimeter and a large stuffed bum-roll underneath to support the whole contraption.
I figured I’d leave the old spokes in just to see what happened if I did, but I can’t tell if it would make one iota of a difference if I had left the top crescent “plain”.
If you’ll notice, though, there are places where the curved hoop wire is making the material poke out on the sides of the top piece a little and I don’t want them to poke through, so I may have to make some modifications to the bias casings or the “bents” themselves. And I’ll need to stitch some “tabs” to the back of the farthingale to secure it properly to my corset…I may actually need to make a new corset with a longer point in front as well (to secure the front of the hoop to the point) so that the angle stays fashionably low in front and high behind. Still, I think the basic design is sound.
I put it on with a skirt on top and the silhouette looked right…now I just need wider doors in my home…
Leave a Reply