Um, no I never have been thus honoured.

I’m not sure I quite understand what you’re describing. When you refer to working skirt panel by skirt panel, do you mean each panel is quilted separately and then all of them attached together? Or that the batting was added to the back as they came to each repeat?
How ’bout I just tell you what I’ve read and observed, and maybe it works out to almost the same thing anyway.
From what I understand the outer fabric layer and the wool or linen backing were each made up into the final length/width of the petticoat. The wool batting was sanwiched between the two layers, it was mounted into a frame, then the quilting was done through all layers from the underside. The original examples I’ve examined support this method: the top silk and wool lining layers were pieced independantly of each other, and the quilting was through all layers and was unbroken at the seams except for the centre back where it was sewn up into the tube that made it a skirt.

However, it may be that the wool batting was added in with each repeat of the quilted pattern, or at other intervals.

I would hazaard to guess instead that there was not just one way to do this. When it comes to making clothing there is rarely ever only one way to do something, and methods certainly change over time. So perhaps at one shop they decided to card and lay on enough wool batting to do the whole thing, at another shop they didn’t. Then as now, life and work were next to never black and white.

Is this something like what you were looking for?

Hope you won’t mind if I ask questions about the quilting process? How did you arrange the layers when you quilted? Did you put satin over batting over wool lining and quilt through all the layers together?

I remember reading somewhere once that they worked these skirt panel by skirt panel and they didn’t have batting in rolls as such then. According to this source they carded the wool, arranged it bit by bit on the back of the satin, pressed it lightly to make it hold together enough to tack it in place on the edges of the silk panel. Then put the frame over this, tacked the whole petticoat panel into the frame and somehow turned the whole shebang over. I can’t think where I read this but it sounds counter-intuitive to me. Working panel by panel, fine. Carding wool onto the back of the panel then plopping the frame on top, fixing it there then turning it over? Not so sensible.

But is this true? What did you see when you looked at originals. How did you do it?

Sorry to have written so much on so very little! Lizzie.

Where/how do you find this stuff?

I am, unfortunately, not even using a frame….yet. I haven’t been able to get a hold of a wooden one – could I maybe borrow your’s? ;o) If one thinks logically about it, people in the 18th century sought practicality and efficiency the same way production does today. So, if you find your frame to be a good size and method, I would hazard to guess it’s likely they used something rather similar.

If you happen to find the answer to your question before I do, please pass it on!!!