Stitching Celeste’s new drawers was much more fun than I expected. Maybe it was the pure relief of being finished with all the embroidery for four pieces of lingerie. Or maybe it’s just that they’re so stinking cute. Either way, I’m feeling happy.
The pattern is from a 1913 issue of LSDS. I chose it because it’s one you don’t see made up as much as some of the others. And since I did do some things differently from the original instructions, I thought I’d share what those “some things” were (in case any of you ever want to sew the same drawers).
The first thing I needed to do was adjust the size. A note on the pattern at the Bleudoor Pattern Library suggested the crotch depth wasn’t long enough, and I found this to be true. I englarged the pattern so that the depth as I cut it was four inches. I also added a 1/4″ seam allowance to each end of the waistband sections.
As usual, the sewing instructions were sparse. The side openings and the leg openings should be “hemmed”. That’s all you get. Which is a shame, because those leg openings are seriously weird in shape, and no picnic to turn under. The opening comes to a point at the crotch, which makes it impossible to maintain a same-width hem all the way around. I had to taper it to almost nothing at the crotch seam:
I did the side openings the way I often do. I stitched the 1/4″ seam, then turned under an 1/8″ and a second 1/8″ all the way down the seam, then slip-stitched it in place. It keeps everything smooth and neat this way.
For the waistband, I was able to find a scrap of my antique fabric with an intact selvedge. So instead of having to turn under a seam allowance before stitching the band down on the inside, I could just stitch the finished edge itself. This reduces bulk more than you might think.
Now for the most interesting things – my mistakes.
Not only did I put the back waistband on the front and vice-versa (whoops!), I added a closure. And evidently there isn’t supposed to be one.
This is why we read instructions first and not later, as an afterthought, while sipping wine.
The translated instructions state: There are four buttonholes to make: two on each side, at the ends of the two parts of the belt. The buttonholes are attached after a button sewn to the corset.
This means the corset is meant to hold up the drawers. But since I’m not making Celeste a corset, her drawers have to hold themselves up. Which is why they have uncalled-for buttons (which I happen to think are darling).
And here they are, front and back, in all their too-cute-for-words glory:
To follow along with the rest of Celeste’s lingerie trousseau project, click HERE.
And to see all of her current wardrobe projects, click HERE.