Train Spotting
The largest piece of fig is her train / overskirt. In the illustration it is hitched up on both sides to reveal more ruffles, but I wanted to be able to wear it for more restrained 1890s styles, so I patterned it to look best down, and if I had time I would make loops to hitch it up by. And I ended up not having the time. The end result isn't as accurate to the illustration, but I think it's a very pretty silhouette. The pattern was made using a walking skirt pattern I had drafted using the Keystone Guide's dress skirt instructions (p. 82). I left out the center front panel, lengthened the back panels, and added flare at each section near the hem. Once I had put it all together, I realized I wanted the train to fall more smoothly on the ground, so I scooped out something like double ended darts from each seam, so the skirt fell closer to my body, and flared out even more near the ground. The waist band is in self, and closes with a skirt hook at center front. The fabric...
