Victorian Nightie Victorious!
The Victorian nightie project has had a big win. (See the first post on this odyssey here and then last week’s here.)
The pink floral wearable toile got trimmed up and finished off, and Teen wore it last night and gave it the big thumbs up! She’s still wearing it now, and says she likes the collar and short sleeves. She’d hoped it would be a little longer, but alas there wasn’t enough fabric.
To re-cap, the pattern is this one from Creative Dressing by Kaori O’Connor:
I ordered some cotton lawn in black and pale blue (decision to be made when they arrived), and meanwhile sewed one from some pretty pink floral in the stash. Lacking the correct amount, it had short sleeves and was knee length.
There were issues with the too-tight collar, but it got unpicked, neckline enlarged, and re-sewn partly by hand.
While there, I narrowed the collar and put lace on top.
We had some perfect buttons in the button jar, just the right colour and only three. They might be the same age as the fabric. Meant to be!
To gather the short sleeves, I ran a channel of bias binding inside the sleeve and threaded elastic through. Again, I think the bias binding was as old as the fabric.
As Teen and I are about the same size, I tried it on.
And here’s the girl herself, with a seated pose.
The actual, planned-for cotton lawn arrived in the post during the week. To the relief of my eyesight she picked the pale blue rather than the black. It’s already been pre-washed, and potential lace trims have been interviewed.
We’re going with the second from the top, and there’s exactly enough. It’s just like the pink nightie’s lace, so I won’t have to think too hard about it.
I might be able to use the Stoppax Hemstitching fork to add faggoting detail on the sleeves and body.
So it’s all systems go for next week 🙂
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Nice job! Looking forward to the long length blue version.
Me also – looking forward to cutting and sewing the blue fabric, and think it will be beautifully soft to wear.
What a relief it worked out and gets a thumbs up from Teen.
Agree – while I was fairly sure, there’s always a chance of something not quite right and discovered when the nightie is actually worn.
your work is beautiful,I love that book,bought it when it first came out and I dont believe it has aged at all
love that she is a cat person
hope you are feeling stronger now
love jane
Yes, I think that while the photography has understandably dated, the projects could easily be worn now. Have you made anything from it?
Congratulations on finishing this one! It’s been really fun roller coaster seeing the choices, issues and doubts then finally success and reflections for this project. Looking forward to the pale blue version!
Thank you! Yes, there were moments of “this is all too hard” but a blog keeps you accountable 🙂 The blue fabric is lovely – looking forward to cutting and sewing it.
What a beautiful nightgown (& models)!
Thanks Laurinda!
Hello Liz!
The nighty is perfect! You have done a beautiful job❤️❤️❤️
I can‘t wait to see the blue one! Best, Giul
Thank you, we are both very happy with it. Looking forward to the blue one – the fabric is lovely and soft.
That is a very pretty nightgown. The fabric, lace and buttons are perfect together. It should be comfortable to sleep in too, with the pleats creating a close-ish fit around the shoulders and loose fit from the bust down.
I have the book too and it’s excellent even though the designs are dated. My copy is ex-library and, when I looked for the nightgown pattern, I discovered those pages had been torn out! So I ordered another copy from World of Books!
She confirmed it was very comfortable to sleep in, and she liked the modest neckline and not-too-high collar.
Yes, it’s an excellent book with so much in it, and what kind of low-life tears pages from library books? Haven’t they heard of photocopy machines?!! I hope your new one is pristine.
I absolutelly LOVE the pink flowered gown… and I’d definetly wear with jeans to go out <3 (yes, I understand she is house bound, so it wouln;t make sense on her case).
Thanks for sharing your projects, your newsletter and blog entries brighten my "non-sewing" days, until I finaly finish another unergrad (I'd rather be sewing, but one needs $ in order to live in this expénsive Canada 😉 )
She asked me about that – could it be turned into a top? We folded up the bottom to see and it would make a very cute blouse.
Your current stretch of non-sewing days will make a return to sewing all the more sweeter 🙂
I hope the adrenaline of the pink success sustains you through the next 26 pleats!
Neat collar adjustment while maintaining the ‘look’.
Vintage bias tape is something I swoop upon in charity shops – so much nicer than even the cotton modern stuff. The colours are sometimes quite ‘ interesting’ though; I seem to have more yellow than could ever be needed.
Here’s hoping – it’s funny how quickly you forget what a drag tucks are until you’re doing them the next time!
I too swoop on vintage bias tape (or rather, Mr H does it for me atm). The best match for vintage fabrics is always vintage haberdashery, and I doubt I could have gotten such a good match with modern buttons and bias tape.
Gorgeous!!
Thank you! Fortunately Teen thinks so too.