Plastron on a Whim

In which I make a Victorian-inspired plastron or dickie... and end up looking like I work at Grace Brothers!
(Sometimes when I title my posts I amuse myself wondering what Google searches will yield these confusing word combos, and what the searchers will think...)

A "plastron" is a chest covering.  If you're a turtle, it's your shell.  If you're a fencer, it's your padded vest.  If you're a Victorian era lady, it's a lacy faux-front that you tie around your neck to change up the look of your dress.  And if you're me... well.  Read on to see what I came up with! 

My workplace is cold, so I button my shirts up to the neck and wear long underwear.  Buttoning the shirts all the way up gives me a chance to display my brooches or narrow scarves or both.  One night, I decide to make a detachable neck ruffle to jazz up a plain white shirt.  No pattern necessary.

I start with a simple U-shaped base.  One side is polyester poplin(?), the other side cotton organdy.  I sew them together and turn the seam allowances inward.  For clarity, I'll call this piece the base, and the open end of it is its top. 

Separately, I take the embroidered edge of a decrepit old linen pillowcase, gather it with basting stitches, and sew the pleats down cartridge style to the base. 

The base

Gathering stitches

One stitch for each "valley" to make the cartridge pleats

ruffle on base

At this point the ruffles are in a steep U that mirrors the U-shape of the base.  The goal is to make this like a fabric necklace, where the ruffles hang down the chest.  To that end, I now cut a long strip about two inches tall and tack the top of the base to the center of it.  I make a box pleat in the base as I do so, to narrow it at the top.  Then I fold the long strip lengthwise with the raw edges tucked inward, and sew it shut. 

base with box pleat, tacked to long strip

The other side, before I sew the long strip shut.

When I'm done I realize that my long strip is too long for my neck; I'd intended to close it at Center Back with hooks and eyes, or button and hole, but at its current length I end up using safety pins, one on each side of my neck, as the ends cross each other and nearly come to the front! 

FINISHED

Here are two pics of the plastron in use... the one on the left is over exposed, and I had to fiddle with the light settings to see anything, but it shows you the general look of the plastron on a light shirt.  At least you can see the cool brooch I've put on the center!  The one on the right is the same outfit, but with my bed jacket on top for warmth.  The plastron shows very well on the bed jacket.