Project: handkerchief top
Introduction:
I bought a parcel of random vintage textile scraps a while ago, which included a pile of cotton handkerchiefs. This reminded me of this wonderful handkerchief to top refashion by Sew Historically.
While I love Edwardian fashion, I decided to go for a more modern spin on Sew Historically's top and turned my handkerchiefs into a tank top with insertion lace.
(Image source) [ID: photo of a person modelling a white camisole top made out of handkerchiefs, followed by an outline of how to cut and sew handkerchiefs and lace into said camisole. Text: "Handkerchief To Top. Edwardian Handkerchief Camisole. www.sewhistorically.com".]
The project:
I have four white cotton handkerchiefs, but decided to use only three of them because one of them has a beautiful hand-embroidered monogram that I want to keep for study purposes rather than crafts. The other ones are blank.
[ID: three white cotton handkerchiefs. Two have been folded into triangles and are lying next to each other. A third one lies unfolded on top of the other two. The handkerchiefs have decorative white stripes crossing each other woven into the fabric at the edges.]
I started out by folding my handkerchiefs into triangles and playing around with shapes. I originally planned on making a matching yoke, hence the paper pattern on the photo below, but decided against it and went for straps instead.
I ended up with a somewhat similar layout as Sew Historically's top: I folded my rectangular handkerchiefs in half on the bias. Once laid out together, I got a rectangle that was sufficiently wide to cover my bust and has enough extra room to be slipped over my shoulders. I only needed two handkerchiefs for this, which meant I had a spare one for straps and extra details.
[ID: three white cotton handkerchiefs folded along the bias to form one large triangle and two smaller triangles. Put together, they form a rectangle. A paper pattern for a yoke lies above the handkerchiefs.]
I ironed my handkerchiefs, drew my cutting lines on them with chalk, then cut them up.
This gave me two large triangles for the centre front and back and four smaller ones for the sides. I could've just used four large triangles instead of two large ones and four smaller ones, but I wanted to add insertion lace at the sides.
[ID: two white handkerchiefs lying on an ironing board. Purple chalk lines have been drawn on both. The handkerchief on the left has one diagonal chalk line while the one on the right has two.]
I hemmed my raw edges and took a final picture of my pieces laid out flat so I had something to refer to in case I forgot what I was planning halfway the project. ADHD is fun.
[ID: three white cotton fabric triangles laid out as to form a wide rectangle.]
I attached my lace to my triangles with tiny whipstitches. The lace I used for this is a cotton lace with a simple design and straight edges of which I had two reels in my stash.
[ID: two pieces of white fabric lying next to each other. An end of white cotton lace is lying in between them.]
I sewed my lace and fabric together into a tube, then slightly gathered the fabric at the top and added a lace trim above the gathers. This concluded the basic construction of my tank top.
[ID: a white fabric tube made out of triangular pieces of cotton attached to each other with white insertion lace. The tube is slightly gathered at the top.]
I then used my third handkerchief to make straps and trims, and finished the top and bottom of my tank top with said trims and extra lace.
[ID: a white cotton tank top lying on a wooden floor. The top has white insertion lace and thin cotton straps.]
My new tank's all done! The top part is fitted to my bust thanks to the gathers while the bottom part is wide enough to slip over my shoulders without needing fasteners.
[ID: a white tank top made out of cotton handkerchiefs and cotton insertion lace, handing from a wooden hanger in front of a white background.]
Turns out my new top matches my summer petticoat. This means I now have the perfect hot weather underwear combo to protect my clothes from sweat.
[ID: a white tank top lying on a wooden floor, along with a white cotton petticoat with a button closure at the side and a long pointy lace trim at the bottom with flower embroidery.]
Conclusion:
The light weight cotton of my handkerchiefs is the perfect material for underwear and summer clothes. Combined with the ventilation of the insertion lace, this resulted in a great hot weather tank top. I can wear it as both a top and an undergarment.
A project like this is a fun way to use up old handkerchiefs or small fabric scraps. I kept my tank's shape simple, but you could add some shaping to the top if you want so it sits closer to your collarbone without digging into your armpits.
Adding eyelet lace like Sew Historically's version is also a great way to add versatility to a top like this. By running a ribbon through the eyelets, a top like this could be tightened or loosened on the fly. This allows the fit to accommodate for weight fluctuations.
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Tease Tidbit Tuesday 🫦
Tagged by @thewolvesof1998 @daffi-990 @wikiangela @disasterbuckdiaz Thank you loves 💖
I have zero explanation for this other than my brain latched onto a line from @thewolvesof1998’s snippet and spun it in a vastly different direction. So, uh, bon appetit 😘
Excitement and apprehension simmer under his skin. Twin currents spiraling together in an intricate dance along every nerve as he reaches for the dresser drawer.
For peace of mind, he spares a glance at his locked bedroom door to ensure it hasn’t slipped loose. He’s half tempted to walk across the room and physically check the lock. But that will only waste time he’s not sure he has. Christopher doesn’t need him as much these days but that doesn’t mean zero chance of intrusion. Especially if his son discovers a locked door.
Eddie could wait until tonight, after Chris is in bed, but it’s not a viable option. For all the waiting Eddie’s done, patiently holding back until the right moment, he decided he couldn’t anymore today. Not after continuously getting distracted while making a store list and doing laundry. Accidentally putting fabric softener in the wrong dispenser was the last straw.
He slides the drawer open and just looks at the neatly folded piles of socks and underwear concealing what he’s actually there for. Anxiety overpowers anticipation, making his heart beat faster and louder. As he pushes past it, thumbing through a stack of boxer briefs, a voice that sounds suspiciously like the priest from his childhood church shouts about sin and immorality. The voice becomes sharper when Eddie’s fingertips land on a distinctly different fabric.
Soft cotton is replaced by patterned lace. Still gentle, sliding between the pads of his thumb and pointer finger, but slightly rougher. The kind of delicate abrasion that feels pleasant against bare skin, like scratching an itch.
He continues to roll the material, not yet allowing himself to bring it into view. It was only a few days ago that he was able to get to this point. To touch and acknowledge the existence of the black cheeky shorts that he hid there two weeks before. It’s enough for now.
no pressure tagging @shortsighted-owl @eddiebabygirldiaz @stereopticons @spotsandsocks @elvensorceress @giddyupbuck @monsterrae1 @eddiediaztho @forthewolves @chaosandwolves @wildlife4life @heartshapedvows @loserdiaz @your-catfish-friend @statueinthestone @buddierights @911onabc @hoodie-buck @the-likesofus @fionaswhvre @barbiediaz @eowon @ladydorian05 @apothecarose @vanillahigh00 @rmd-writes @welcometololaland @lizzie-bennetdarcy @honestlydarkprincess @spaceprincessem @pirrusstuff @steadfastsaturnsrings @jesuisici33 @watchyourbuck @exhuastedpigeon @weewootruck @underwater-ninja-13 @messyhairdiaz @gayedmundodiaz and anybody else who wants to
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Unusual design for this summer kimono made by Berry Kôbô, using a transparent organdi insertion embroidered with a super cute chidori (plover).
OP stresses this design was super difficult to handle - seeing how sheer kimono+insertion piece are, I can easily believe that!
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