Lacy little drawers ;)

I started off last week making shorts, and by the end of it I had accomplished sewing my first few pairs of undies, drafting my own patterns and learning that you generally need a LOT more fabric than you'd like to think you do when making unmentionables.  Now there's a reality check for you...

So I had this tablecloth.  It was huge, lacy and had a few holes in it, but I knew it was destined for greatness.  What's not to love about sheer mustard yellow and lace, right???

Yeah, maybe not so much with the yellow chairs...

But I loved the scalloped edge.

After making a camisole and shorts set, I thought I'd like to try a little nightie and tap pants set with this fabric.  I especially LOVE how the shorts turned out. 

I drafted this pattern using a jammie bottoms pattern for reference, but cut them to look more like low waisted undies that are only fitted at the top.  Very cheeky indeed.  :)

Next I came across some polka dots in the fabric stash.  It's amazing to me sometimes when you pick up a piece of fabric, it seems to take on a life of it's own.  Somehow they transformed into this little set! 

Speaking of cheeky, the thong sort of just happened.  Maybe it's just because I ran out of fabric.  Either way, I will never wear these.  I don't even know if I own a thong anymore.  I don't think I have since I was in my early twenties (I've had two kids, so I generally opt for the sausage casing Spanx when I get all gussied up and don't want a panty line (Sorry if I burst anyone's bubble - but all this?  It's an illusion...)).  Maybe that's too much information.  But thongs to me seem like the most impractical of all undergarments.  Okay, rant over.  So, knowing all this, I still somehow managed to sew one up and don't totally hate it.  Because come on, how cute are polkadots, ruffles and bows?

Underwear making is fun.  :)

Ooh la lingerie

Last week was my first adventure in making lingerie.  I am not a big lingerie-wearer (sorry to disappoint) but I do have a special affection for vintage peignoir sets, nighties and chiffon.  A friend gave me a sweet blue nightgown she uncovered at the thrift store.  Someone had perhaps tried to tea-stain the lace, giving it a great vintage look.  While it was lovely to look at, the gown wasn't very practical.  It was long and flowy, so of course I immediately went at it with my rotary cutter and scissors, and thusly transformed it into a lacy little tank and shorts and this very flirtatious (ahem) chemise.

Making the chemise was very easy.  I cut across the width of the nightgown, and then marked a point along the cut 3 inches in from the side seam, and another 7 inches down from the top on the side seam on either side.  From that point I cut diagonally from the points at the side seam to the points at the top.  I finished the seams, and then folded the top seam over to create a casing at the top for the adjustable drawstring straps.  Lucky for me, I had some blue seam binding left over from another project, so I closed it up with a simple seam and ran it through the casing for straps.

The lace top was finished with a seam at the bottom edge of the lining.  Modifying a pattern I already had for pajama bottoms seemed to work just fine.  Thankfully the stretchy fabric was somewhat forgiving - I didn't make a practice pair before cutting, and I had very little fabric to work with!  Somewhat cavalier of me considering I've never made anything close to pants or shorts before, but it all worked out in the end.  :)

Tomorrow I'll share another creation made from an old tablecloth!  Sounds not so great, but trust me, it's lovely.  ;)