Ladies Victorian Union Suit
Over the years I have had a number of request for ladies union suits, mostly from the Dickens' crowd. The top edge of a ladie's drawers can itch and dig under a corset. Some ladies choose to cheat and wear their drawers over their corsets, but this can interfear with the proper wearing of a chemise. I can not tell you off the top of my head, exactly what year union suits for ladies came in, but I have a strong feeling it was not until the latter half of the Victorian era. Even though they are not period, I decided to go a head and develop a pattern for my clients personal comfort. Once a lady has a corset and modesty petticoat on, its impossible to tell that this is a modern (or comparatively modern) garment.
The drawers are split or butterfly style so the garment can be kept in place. This design also encorperates some other useful modern ideas such as ragalin sleeves and an adjustable neckline. The body of the garment is bias. This cuts down on the need for fitting seams and reduces the number of folds under the corset. If the Victorians had thought about it, they might well have done it this way too.