Skirt

A rare woman's skirt made from fustian, a mix of linen and cotton, and embroidered with large floral patterns.

The skirt is made from five selvedge widths (420mm). The upper edge is tightly gathered for 1080 mm and bound with linen tape which continues along the whole edge. Fold marks suggest that the ungathered section may have been loosely pleated onto another waistband. A 90mm slit opening has been made in the centre of the ungathered section. The hem is faced on the inside with 165 mm band of linen-cotton twill (fustian). Fold marks indicate that there was once a 40mm tuck in the plain section at the top of the skirt. The panels were embroidered before skirt was made up, with black wool in stem, running, double running and blanket stitches. The 65mm border at the hem is decorated with a scrolling stem alternately enclosing roses and cornflowers. The remainder of the ground is covered by five horizontal rows of large scrolling stems enclosing exotic lilies, with butterflies and smaller insects scattered between them. Although drawn to match across seams, the pattern does not continue very smoothly over joins. The black wool may be undyed from black sheep. At least two sets of bed furnishings are similarly decorated with coiling stems enclosing flowers: one set, worked with pink wool, is divided between the Royal Scottish Museum and the V&A (T.165.1930) and the other (fragment only) embroidered in green wool, is in V&A (T.167.1928). Condition is good; some stains and general soiling; one original seam is coming undone; one bad tear.