Stinking farthingale!

The top of the farthingale is all done, and not likely to fray out under any seams either, made sure of that.

The hoop part has so far been a total disaster! I followed my original plan and used the rope I had set aside for it. The rope just wasn't stiff enough in the fabric to hold out the skirt. So I, being determined to make this work, backed it with a stiffer felted wool that I had. It made it better but it was still not stiff enough. Instead of quitting while I was ahead, I went ahead and added a row up by the hip, thinking that it would work better if there was more rope on the skirt. NOPE!! In fact, the rope then started poking through the fabric, and I could just see it snaggin the lightweight silk tafetta (its almost like tissue) that I have planned for the petticoat.

So now I am in the process of ripping the whole thing out. Actually, I am thinking of cheating and cutting the hem off because I don't feel like ripping that much off. Tomorrow its off to the basketry store to find some willow for the hoop part.

Why do I have trouble with the simplest of garments and not with the more complicated stuff?