If you had 30 minutes to fix a petticoat, what would you do?

[melissamary]

I have a presentation tomorrow and (bad me, *slaps wrist*) I'm wearing my wrapper which means my over petti will show.  This petti as has given me trouble like none other.  It started off fine but then I made my hoop smaller (a good thing) and it peeked out from under my dress (a bad thing).  It had a 4 inch hem on it at least so I figured I might as well just turn it up another 4 inches.  The original hem, mind you, was very hastily machine done and is about 12 different lengths.  Hey, at least I have an over petti!  Anyway, after making it 4 inches shorter I realized that the bottom rung of my covered hoop shows. 

What should I do?  I have about 30 minutes to make the fix tomorrow morning.  My friend has a wool underpetti that just has a scalloped edge, could I possibly just do that?

Thank you!!

Melissa

[Heidi Hollister]

I've had this problem myself.  I took a pair of scissors to my hoop actually to cut off the dust ruffle at the bottom.  Considering this may not be the best option for you, you could take the hem out again and let it peek out a little, which wouldn't be the end of the world.   But then a tiny bit of hoop showing is not the end of the world either.

You could take out the new hem, and baste a quickie hem that's only 2 inches shorter.  It wouldn't be a permanent solution, but it would get you through the day.

You could take out the new hem and just take up the length up at the top by rolling the waistband over a time or two.

You could leave the new hem in and lengthen the skirt a little by unbuttoning the waist at the top and letting it sit lower over your hoop (Providing it's not going to show up at the waist level of course)

None of these suggestions is the perfect solution but we're talking quickie fixes to get  you through the day.  Most people will be so astounded by your dress that they won't even notice the hem issues even if you are absolutely mortified by them.  So the best fix is after you've done what you're going to do with the hemline, hold your head up high and wear it like you meant it.  Worst case, you become a history lesson on undergarment layers and living proof that the original cast were real people like you and me, not perfect fashion plates.

[Maggie Koenig]

Can you not wear the hoop??

[K Krewer]

Is it a sutler-type hoop with a drawstring waist?  I have, in a pinch, taken the string out of the waist, taken the hoop out of the first casing, and then put the string through the hoop casing, which lifts the hoop up considerably and gives a better shape, too.

[melissamary]

It is a sutler hoop with a drawstring waist but the top has had a tuck in it and the rungs have all been meticulously altered to give the correct shape.  I could not wear the hoop but the dress I made looks so good with the hoop !  I think I might take out the second hem and do the 2 inch fix because I think that will work.  Thanks for all of your help, everyone!

Mel

[melissamary]

So I ended up just cutting off the dust ruffle at the bottom of my hoop since I found that the petti was just long enough to cover it.  Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions!

[Heidi Hollister]

Yeay!  Glad to help!