One of the things that I wanted to do this year was to experiment sewing with different fabrics.
So moving away from quilting cotton I went to knit fabrics. I seem to have got the hang of them now. I made yet another Mission Maxi dress.
I love that pattern – it the 5th time I have used it. This is my favourite one yet and I wear it all the time.
So next, for something different I thought about sewing with lace. Susie lent me this book (Sweet nothings) which has lots of great patterns. There were at least 5 or 6 in there that I would make.
I first attempted the camisole. It is made with a knit fabric for the bodice, fold over elastic for the arms and stretch lace trim for the neck and hem.
Unfortunately it turned out a little big across the chest as I think I stretched it when sewing the elastic on. Then because I had nothing to lose and had written it off as a learning project, I got a bit carried away.
I added a wide band of stretch elastic to the bottom hem, thinking that it would look cute. It just made a short top look stupid. So then I decided the add the rest of the knit fabric to the bottom and finished it off with the stretch lace hem.
And viola – I have a new nightie.
It is still a little big around the arms and chest. I wouldn’t wear it to the shops, but for bed it is fine. It even passes the Would you answer the door in it? test (not clingy or see through). This is something I consider when buying my PJs – I do like to spend as long as possible in them.
The other two things I made from the book so far were a pair of undies
and a cami in some 18cm wide stretch lace.
I am waiting for some elastic for the straps to finish the cami. They both turned out fine. And I was surprised how simple and forgiving sewing with lace is. Not sure how much wear these two items will get. I am very much a Bonds/Triumph black, beige and white kind of girl. So I don’t think that I am going to start making my underwear but it is nice to know that I could if I wanted to!
I just saw these in your Flickr stream and was suitably impressed. Well done on all of it.
The nighty looks great and that cami is really wearable under a button up shirt or a sheer top. They are just lovely.
Before Christmas I looked at a simple shift nightie with lace trim, not unlike the one on the cover of the book, in Peter Alexander and was outraged at how expensive it was.
I went away thinking I could perhaps make that… but haven’t of course.
Where did you get the stretch lace from Donna – I’ve never looked for it but don’t imagine Spotlight stock anything that lovely.
All of it looks great – love the maxi – you are so trim!
Love the maxi too Donna, you are looking amazing! I love the “intimates” too, you do such an amazing job of saving projects that don’t necessarily go how you expect.