Sewing a chemise can be as simple, or as difficult, as you want it to be. This is version has a slightly more advanced finish on the neck than the simple chemise with drawstrings, but it’s got an easier sleeve. You will need your Simple Chemise Pattern. This method produces one of my favorite festive peasant chemises, but with a little decoration and nicer fabric, it also produces a neckline that’s a good fill for any square necked bodice.
During this demo, I use the following skills:
I apologize in advance: these directions are very similar to the drawstring chemise directions, and I’ve done a bit of copying and pasting at the beginning. (I can really only come up with so much to say about cutting rectangles….) There are some crucial changes, though, and I’ll try to make them good an obvious.
Please note: I’m using fully finished seams because, outside of Dollandia, chemises get washed. Ideally, they get washed a lot. I want to protect my seams from degrading in the wash. I’m using a similar, smaller technique to sew for dolls because I like the pain the way it looks. I’m a very hyphenated little girl sometimes….
Next: the sleeves….