Skirt Waistband Ribbon

[CC sewing]

I am progressing nicely on a new day dress. The bodice is almost complete, and I have stitched and hemmed my skirt. I am now ready to attach the skirt to a waistband. The dress pattern I am using calls for twill tape to be used to attach the skirt to. I have 100% cotton twill tape, but it seems so flimsy to gather all that fabric to. I have searched for an all natural petersham ribbon, but have had no luck. I have only seen cotton/rayon petersham ribbons.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a sturdy ribbon made of a natural fiber to use for the waistband?

Thanks.

[MissMaggie]

Re: Skirt Waistband Ribbon

There is no reason why you can't make a waistband from the dress fabric. I don't think I've seen an original dress that used a different ribbon or twill tape for the skirt waistband. Just cut the waistband parallel to the salvage edge and about an inch and a half wide when finished.

[Carolann Schmitt]

Re: Skirt Waistband Ribbon

Many original dresses are constructed using the technique Maggie mentioned. I've found waistbands made of lining fabric, waistbands made with dress fabric on one side and lining fabric on the other, waistbands made of scrap fabric, and waistbands made from several pieces of fabric.

I believe one of the references for using petersham ribbon is in Patterns of Fashion by Janet Arnold. I've only found that method on a handful of original dresses, and some of those were documented to England. I've not researched this particular feature, but the ribbon waistband may be a predominently English technique.

This is a photo of a dress in my collection that shows a waistband with dress fabric on one side and several pieces of lining sewn together on the wrong side.

[MissMaggie]

Re: Skirt Waistband Ribbon

Ah, Carolann, I do love that dress.

[CC sewing]

Re: Skirt Waistband Ribbon

Thank you Maggie and Carolann!

Carolann, when you say "several pieces of lining sewn together", do you mean that the lining side of the skirt waistband was pieced together, or do you mean that there were extra thicknesses of lining pieces inside the waistband to add substance (in other words: dress fabric on the outside, an inner layer or two of lining on the inside of the waistband, and then the lining fabric enclosing those layers that forms the side of the waistband next to the body).

I'm sorry if I sound dense, but I want to do it right! And if it is the case that the waistband is constructed of only the two layers, dress fabric outside, lining fabric inside - was anything ever put inside (some sort of interfacing) for sturdiness, or will the two layers do the job?

Thanks so much!

[MissMaggie]

Re: Skirt Waistband Ribbon

The lining was pieced together. I've never really found the need for interfacing a waistband. I think all it would do is add unnecessary bulk to the waist.