I haven’t posted an honest-to-goodness tutorial in a long time… but I finally got around to to it! lol. After posting this outfit last week incorporating a favorite 1920s chemise that I’ve converted into a top, I decided to make a tutorial on how to sew up your own version! I really love this style; it’s so timeless and feminine… something that I like incorporating into my wardrobe. Though the 20s isn’t the era I tend towards for daily outfit inspiration, the lingerie of the era was really quite gorgeous–all light, silky fabrics and beautiful lace! I used a lightweight lining material for my tutorial version, but I think this would be an excellent style to use a bit of luxe fabric… say silk twill or charmeuse, or even a very light linen. This is definitely a style that customization is encouraged–variations are endless!
[ click for a larger view. ]
I hope you’ll enjoy this downloadable tutorial; I made it into a .pdf so it’s easy to save and print to keep next to your sewing machine. (To save it to your computer, just right click on the image below and select “save as”. Otherwise it will open in your browser/Adobe!) Do let me know if you use it–I’d absolutely love to see your variation!
Wow, this is great! I recently was given a ton of chemises from the 20s and 30s. I have so many I don’t know what to do with them though…lol! have a great day!
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That top is just gorgeous! I can’t wait to try my hand at making one (we’ll see if it’s a little to hard for me yet though, I’m quite a sewing novice!).
Thanks so much for the tutorial, it’s so lovely of you to share this!
the top is so pretty!
Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge. You have given me some courage to actual SEW and not just collect sewing stuff!! Really liked the drafting part of tutorial, easy to understand. Thanks so much.
cute!!!
Wonderful idea. Thanks so much for the tutorial.
this is so generous of you, thank you! i’m definitely saving this to make sometime. i’m with you, i don’t really go to the 20s for inspiration that often (mostly b/c i feel the silhouette doesn’t work on me) but i started (why don’t i finish something…) a 20s-inspired dress last week which i hope to finish up soon; it’s been kind of an experiment!
anyway, thanks again!
Oh, what a wonderful tutorial! Thank you, Casey! I am going to plan on trying this with some gauzy cotton voile and vintage lace that I have leftover from making my wedding dress. I’ve been wanting a simple chemise style top. It’s really lovely!
Thats awesome! I’ll definately have a go at that! Thanks Casey
OOoh, and I just downloaded the pdf- so beautifully designed! (not that I would have expected any less from you!!)
THAT is adorable. I’m excited!
This is great! Thank you so much for all your hard work… I’m always on the lookout for cool projects that I can learn sewing techniques from and this fits the bill.
It came out great. I can’t wait to try it as well.
I really appreciate your printing this! This is the kind of incedibly useful (and not hard to make or customize) sewing project that can be hard to find a pattern for. I love the touches of pintucks and lace trip. I will definitely be making at least two when I get through a couple of backlogged sewing obligations. One question for you: if you were to make it without lace at the top, how would you recommend finishing the upper edge? By making a small facing, or some other method? Let me know if you have a suggestion! Thank you again–like your other projects this is well thought out and beautifully presented and I admire that.