Striped Chemise - DONE

Well, the chemise has been done for two weeks now, but I am just now getting back to the blog.

After marking the the lines with the washable marker, I used the very thin (1/4 inch wide) black satin ribbon and stitched along the marked lines with a zigzag stitch. Getting the right size zigzag stitch is somewhat difficult, but is a key part of getting the ribbon to lay flat. If the zigzag is too narrow or you are not sewing straight, then the ribbon will end up looking slightly scalloped in shape rather than straight. The second stripe from the bottom shows this somewhat 'rippled' effect.

I was a bit miffed about this rippled effect initially but then remembered Mistress Constanzia's sewing mantra --

If it can't be seen 10 feet away or by candlelight, it isn't worth worrying about!

I really like that rule. :)

After sewing on all of the stripes, I put the shirt back together and finished the edges of the sleeves and neckline with black binding. I am pretty happy with the final result (pictured at right -- kindly ignore my headdress and red face. It was hot and my headdress was slipping off the back of my head -- Note to self, must make better headgear!).

So, what did I learn in doing this?

1. I need more work sewing a straight line! I have therefore decided that every chemise I make for myself, for the foreseeable future, will be a striped chemise. Putting the stripes on is an EXCELLENT exercise in sewing straight. Besides that, until I can work out the exact setting so that the zigzag doesn't cause a ripple, I vow to keep practicing.


2. Stripes are not overly hard to put on (if you don't worry about the ripples) but do alot for adding some non-shiny 'bling' to a Spanish oriented SCA outfit.

Next personal sewing project: a lightweight, Tudor style "payre'o bodies' (corset) out of linen and a farthingale (Spanish style hoop skirt).