Are you able to share pattern?
nessygough@hotmail.com

Wonderful! Thank you.

Thank you!! That’s just what I needed to know. Love your website!

Sorry, yes, this particular skirt pattern that was released in 1895 had bias (or angled) cut side seams. Heavy, tightly woven goods won’t stretch on you as much as was intended with the pattern. (1890s skirts were heavily structured.) To support bias cuts of fashion fabrics I like to cut the underlining on the grain so in flatlining it supports the striped or off-grain cut fashion fabric. If your fabric is light and are concerned of stretching I’d recommend a narrow twill tape be sewn to the seam to hold. Layers of underlinings, and even a full lining, along with a deep hem facing will help keep the entire structure of the skirt in place.

Okay, I’m confused…the description of this skirt says “with bias edges matching at the seams,” and in the picture with the striped fabric, the V-shape would seem to indicate that both edges are cut on the bias – otherwise it wouldn’t make a V shape, would it?

Many shaped & gored skirts of the 19th century have panels cut in this manner. It’s to help shift the flare and width to the back. The key is is to sew them as you see them in the sketches here: the straight edge of one panel sewn to the bias cut edge of the panel in front of it. The straight edge, cut on grain, is what supports the bias edge. Also, be sure to sew with the grain which is from the hem to the waist.