Abby Cox | I made weird Victorian underwear (it's a knit onesie!) & a pretty 1890s corset || historical sewing @AbbyCox | Uploaded March 2021 | Updated October 2024, 3 days ago.
🥦Thank you to Hello Fresh! Use code 12ABBY to get up to 12 FREE MEALS across your first 4 Hello Fresh boxes, including free shipping on your first box at bit.ly/2NutecL
Well, well, well, here we are, yet again, another sewing video (what is this insanity?) and more corset content (not because I want to, but because I have to, tbh). Today, we're talking about two garments that I've added to my late Victorian wardrobe - my knit combinations and my late 1890s corset. Mostly though, I want to talk about the knit combinations, cause they're the coolest.
Knit combinations are basically a onesie, that women (and men) wore as underwear. They could be made out of wool, silk, or cotton knit, be full-body (a la long johns) or be sleeveless and just go to the knee (like me), but they were always open crotch/have easy access so you could do your business.
Look, so often we see Victorian women's undergarments as frilly, lace-covered, chemises and drawer combinations that look over the top, uncomfortable, stuffy, or like they're not actually meant to be worn for very long at all (if you get my drift...). Frankly, I find them a bit boring. So, I dived into my research to see what else was out there, and low and behold I found out that late Victorian women also weren't fans of the chemise, but instead were opting for knit vests (re: tank tops) or knit combinations (onesies) to wear under their corsets and dresses.
So, in this video, we are discussing the history of late Victorian women's underwear, going through how I patterned and sewed my Victorian Knit combinations (or Union Suit), as well as my 1890s Victorian Corset. If you want to make a knit union suit - I 10/10 recommend it! It's a great beginner's sewing project for those of us who are new to sewing with knit fabric as well as those of us new to historic costuming. (when it's knit, it's easy to fit!) Just remember that you have to use a different type of needle and a different stitch on your machine, but most modern sewing machines have a stitch for sewing knits!) I hope you enjoy this mix of fashion history video essay and sewing vlog combined into one!
🖼References & Images Used:
HERE IS THE CORSET PATTERN I USED: etsy.com/listing/899746617/fixed-size-the-ballerina-victorian?ref=hp_rv-1
Shift, 18th-early 19th century, MFA Boston, collections.mfa.org/download/119517;jsessionid=D998749FBF82AA055CFD7D4E1CE6CDF6
Lady's Combination, 1905-1910, MFA Boston: collections.mfa.org/objects/457861/womans-combination?ctx=e4e382f5-edb2-4ad6-8e28-6de614316eca&idx=1
Combinations of Elliot of Hawick, c. 1906, Victoria & Albert Museum, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O145741/combinations-elliot-of-hawick
(what I used to draft the drawers) Margaret Blair System of Sewing and Garment Cutting, 1904, Archive.org: archive.org/details/margaretjblairss00blai/page/n13/mode/2up
(used for guidance in adjusting my combinations pattern to look better and fit better) The Cutters' Practical Guide [...], 1892, Archive.org: archive.org/details/cutterspractical00vinc/page/n3/mode/2up
***Most of my combination/chemise research was done going through magazines like Good Housekeeping & Ladies' Home Journal. While the particular archive I used isn't publicly available, there are some Ladies' Home Journal available here: catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000059808
🥳Socials
Instagram: instagram.com/abbyelyn
Patreon: patreon.com/abbycox
Tiktok: @nabs_co
📚My books:
The American Duchess Guide to 18th-Century Dressmaking: amzn.to/2GrkAIQ
The American Duchess Guide to 18th-Century Beauty: amzn.to/2TTwJtq
💌Business Inquiries *ONLY* abbycox@viralnationtalent.com
(This email goes directly to my management and not to me.)
🧵 I am a part of the Janome Maker Program and use a Janome M7 Continental Sewing Machine.
🎶Music via Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com)
**I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. By purchasing items through the links listed above, I could earn a small commission for your purchase. Thank you.❤
🥦Thank you to Hello Fresh! Use code 12ABBY to get up to 12 FREE MEALS across your first 4 Hello Fresh boxes, including free shipping on your first box at bit.ly/2NutecL
Well, well, well, here we are, yet again, another sewing video (what is this insanity?) and more corset content (not because I want to, but because I have to, tbh). Today, we're talking about two garments that I've added to my late Victorian wardrobe - my knit combinations and my late 1890s corset. Mostly though, I want to talk about the knit combinations, cause they're the coolest.
Knit combinations are basically a onesie, that women (and men) wore as underwear. They could be made out of wool, silk, or cotton knit, be full-body (a la long johns) or be sleeveless and just go to the knee (like me), but they were always open crotch/have easy access so you could do your business.
Look, so often we see Victorian women's undergarments as frilly, lace-covered, chemises and drawer combinations that look over the top, uncomfortable, stuffy, or like they're not actually meant to be worn for very long at all (if you get my drift...). Frankly, I find them a bit boring. So, I dived into my research to see what else was out there, and low and behold I found out that late Victorian women also weren't fans of the chemise, but instead were opting for knit vests (re: tank tops) or knit combinations (onesies) to wear under their corsets and dresses.
So, in this video, we are discussing the history of late Victorian women's underwear, going through how I patterned and sewed my Victorian Knit combinations (or Union Suit), as well as my 1890s Victorian Corset. If you want to make a knit union suit - I 10/10 recommend it! It's a great beginner's sewing project for those of us who are new to sewing with knit fabric as well as those of us new to historic costuming. (when it's knit, it's easy to fit!) Just remember that you have to use a different type of needle and a different stitch on your machine, but most modern sewing machines have a stitch for sewing knits!) I hope you enjoy this mix of fashion history video essay and sewing vlog combined into one!
🖼References & Images Used:
HERE IS THE CORSET PATTERN I USED: etsy.com/listing/899746617/fixed-size-the-ballerina-victorian?ref=hp_rv-1
Shift, 18th-early 19th century, MFA Boston, collections.mfa.org/download/119517;jsessionid=D998749FBF82AA055CFD7D4E1CE6CDF6
Lady's Combination, 1905-1910, MFA Boston: collections.mfa.org/objects/457861/womans-combination?ctx=e4e382f5-edb2-4ad6-8e28-6de614316eca&idx=1
Combinations of Elliot of Hawick, c. 1906, Victoria & Albert Museum, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O145741/combinations-elliot-of-hawick
(what I used to draft the drawers) Margaret Blair System of Sewing and Garment Cutting, 1904, Archive.org: archive.org/details/margaretjblairss00blai/page/n13/mode/2up
(used for guidance in adjusting my combinations pattern to look better and fit better) The Cutters' Practical Guide [...], 1892, Archive.org: archive.org/details/cutterspractical00vinc/page/n3/mode/2up
***Most of my combination/chemise research was done going through magazines like Good Housekeeping & Ladies' Home Journal. While the particular archive I used isn't publicly available, there are some Ladies' Home Journal available here: catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000059808
🥳Socials
Instagram: instagram.com/abbyelyn
Patreon: patreon.com/abbycox
Tiktok: @nabs_co
📚My books:
The American Duchess Guide to 18th-Century Dressmaking: amzn.to/2GrkAIQ
The American Duchess Guide to 18th-Century Beauty: amzn.to/2TTwJtq
💌Business Inquiries *ONLY* abbycox@viralnationtalent.com
(This email goes directly to my management and not to me.)
🧵 I am a part of the Janome Maker Program and use a Janome M7 Continental Sewing Machine.
🎶Music via Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com)
**I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. By purchasing items through the links listed above, I could earn a small commission for your purchase. Thank you.❤
