This linen petticoat is another under layer for the 18th century womens outfit. It is constructed of two large rectangular pieces of fabric which are tied at the front and back. They are connected partially up the sides, which allows for slits against the hips, where pockets would be attached. (In the 18th century, womens pockets were more like bags which were tied to the hips and could be accessed through skirt layers. Small pockets are a very modern problem) Though this petticoat is linen, wool petticoats were also common, and it was typical to wear more than one petticoat. As these layers were not seen, they could be made with old fabrics, and like the shift, did not need to be frequently washed.
“Petticoats mostly were used for structuring out a skirt rather than creating a hip silhouette, that would mostly be done by structuring garments… The reason people wear multiple petticoats was not usually for size, usually just for warmth.” -Mackenzie Broders