Gored kirtle frustration

I’m struggling along through Drea Leed’s Elizabethan Corset/Bodice/Kirtle instructions.

I’ve gotten as far as the bodice – which fits fine, though I really wish I had someone here to help me get in and out of the back lacing.  Good thing (1) I’ve got Civil War corset experience; (2) I’m up on my yoga practice.  Otherwise I might strain something, and it wouldn’t be the damn sloper.

Now.  How on earth do you get from "cut up your bodice pattern like so" and "measure from your waist to your ankle (40")" to the following curvy pattern pieces???

Goredkirtlepat3

I suppose this strawberry yogurt vodka martini probably isn’t terribly helpful.

Thoughts:  I know my hip measurement.  How much ease to add?  How much circumference should I have at the bottom hem?  If I get the answers to those two questions, I suppose I could WAG* the line between.

I’m off to study more Durer (and pregnancy pleats) until one of you Garb Mavens weighs in.

*WAG – cost estimating term = Wild-Assed Guess.

2 thoughts on “Gored kirtle frustration

  1. Some places to start: Sit down, and measure your hips around the widest part. Add about 2″ for ease. Use that for the hip measurement.
    Take a very long stride, measure yourself from ankle to ankle, and double it. That would be a minimum hem measurement.
    –Ann

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