Pet-en-l´air (work in progress)

I was looking for blue fabric but found a lovely red brocade in cotton/viscose and fell in love. It was not enough fabric for a Robe Francaise, so it had to become a pet-en-l´air instead. (I really wanted to do the back-pleats) The pattern is once again from Arnold, but changed a lot. Again I had the fortune of borrowing the pattern from my friend, after trying on one of her Robes, so I knew the pattern fitted quite well. I wanted the bodice and skirt to be in one part, so I changed the pattern accordingly and, of course, shortened it.

I had terrible problems with the back-pleats, the brocade was very slippery and I had to re-do it twice. Now the pleatings in the front and back are basted into place. I am going to baste in the sleeves and then do another rond of fitting. If I am really, really lucky, I wont be needing any more fitting after that. The pet-en-l´air will be laced over a stomacher. I think the rather stiff brocade will lend itself well to winged cuffs.

The petticoat is made after the same principle as the blue linen petticoat, as is the black masquread petticoat, and gave me no problems at all.