Andrea Schewe Design
  • Home
  • Costumes
    • Reader's Gallery
    • Fantasy Costumes
    • Theatrical
    • Historic >
      • Easier to make
    • International
    • Costumes for Kid's and Babies
  • Crafts
    • Home Decor >
      • Pillows
    • Fashion Accessories
    • Doll Clothes
    • For Kids and Babies
  • Blog
    • Past Blogs by subject >
      • My patterns by number
      • Sewing basics
      • Personal sewing Projects
      • Fashion History
      • Fun and funny stuff
      • Guest Bloggers
      • Crafts and Home Dec
  • Links
  • Contact

A summer nightie from my stash

8/15/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
In writing this blog, I have certainly have had the chance to make myself lots of new things to wear.  Since I have all this fabric at home, it's hard to justify going out an buying something when I can make it, not leave my house, fight the traffic, not find what I like, etc. etc.

I need a new skimpy little nightie to wear when the weather is hot like it is now. 
Picture
So, I pulled down some of my fabric boxes ...
Picture
And found these two cotton prints. I bought them a while ago for a Simplicity project and always liked how they looked together, but was told batiks don't photograph well, so they have been in a box for a couple years.
Picture
I couldn't find any pajama or nightie pattern for a summer nightgown.  So, I decided to use the slip pattern that goes under this dress.


You may wonder why I don't just make my own pattern.  Well, ever since I learned how to make patterns I don't complain anymore about how much they cost!  Making a pattern is not quick.  But, if you have a simple pattern to start from, making modifications is easy.

Picture
Picture
OK, the problem was, I had very little fabric, about 16" of the polka dot and 30" of the batik.  That makes a yard and a quarter and the slip pattern said it called for 2 1/4 yards!

Picture
So here is how I managed.  The bodice was supposed to be cut double, totally unnecessary for a nightie, so I cut it one layer and cut the straps on the crossgrain.  For the skirt, I just made it really short and added a small wedge piece on one of the side seams.  Piecing like this used to be done all the time.  I even have a blouse pattern from the 50s that tells you to piece the back near the side seam right in the guidesheet on the pattern layout.  People used to be much more conscience of economy.

See the piecing I did. I probably could have done a better job finding a bit of fabric where the print would have blended better, but who's going to see when I'm in bed?

Picture
The bodice had distinct bust darts which I didn't want for a night gown, so I rounded off the points at the bottom of the dart and will gather in the fullness to fit the skirt.
Picture
I finished the neckline with some bias tape and to please myself, I added a bow. Aren't all nightgowns supposed to have bows? And green rick rack in the waist seam to coordinate with the green in the print of the skirt.
2 Comments
Ann Wass
8/14/2013 08:51:49 pm

The best projects come from the stash! Love this one! (Reminds me of some orange summer pjs I made to take to camp many years ago.) And my stepdaughter once remarked that my nightie must be a Christmas nightie because it had a bow on it--I can now tell her ALL nighties have bows on them.

Reply
Ginger
8/17/2013 12:23:20 pm

What a fun nighty! Batiks are so much fun to use.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    From Andrea 

    I am a commercial pattern maker who is now "sewing over 50"!
    I love to sew and hope to encourage others to come back to sewing.
    The water is fine!!

    Archives

    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Archives by Subject

    To search for blog posts in specific categories, use the drop down menu above by hovering over the word "Blog"

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

    Andrea Schewe participates in Amazon's associates program.