Multiple Christmases ago, my grandmother gave me a pattern set that include a chemise, corset, and petticoat in it. She also provided beautiful fabric, ribbon, and thread for me to use to make the chemise. It obviously took me quite a while to get around to actually doing the project, and when I did, I decided to make a mock up first so that if something went wrong I wouldn't have already used the nice fabric (a decision I'm very glad I made now).
Grabbing a floral bedsheet that didn't have a future project attached to it yet, I laid out the pattern and started putting together the garment. As I progressed through the instructions and steps in the creation process, I felt that something was going very wrong. Losing hope that it would be the perfect chemise, I finished the project, and hated it. The sleeves didn't sit on top of the shoulder, the way it was gathered sat weirdly in use, and the arm syces just weren't comfy.
It sat on a shelf in my closet never getting more than a try-on until an event in December when it worked perfectly as a base layer in a gown (hoop, bodice, skirt) I made for an event. Though I haven't had any other uses for it since then, I am glad I made it, for I don't know what else I would have used as a base layer for that gown. I do plan on using the fabric from my grandmother for a different chemise or for the fashion fabric layer on a corset in the future, so I am very glad I didn't use it on this chemise.
(Paragraph added Jan 1st)
Materials:
-floral bedsheet
-2 hooks & eyes
Comments