The Not So Practical Pattern...

 



Blimey, it has nearly taken me 12 months to finish this set!!! I’ve just looked up on facebook to see when I actually started it and, apparently, I started it on the 1^st of January… Speed is obviously not a forte of mine. ;)

 

I must admit that the slip spent half the year shoved in box after several failed attempts of trying to complete it. All in all, the slip was rather a traumatic make for me!

 First of all, I had finished the slip perfectly (honestly, it was rather beautifully made compared to my other ‘attempts’!). I had done the hem, edged it with lace, and then tried it on only to discover it was about 4 inched too long and that it swamped me ‘up top’… it was, in my eyes, a disaster! I’m beginning to think that you didn’t need to add extra for the seam and hem allowance after all!

So, after having a mini fit, I took the scissors to hem, lopped off the 4 inches, unpicked the pretty lace (which was a nightmare) and put up the hem again- though, in the end, I decided to leave off the lace.

Then it spent a few more months in the box of doom until a couple of days ago when I decided, once again, to tackle the top ‘alf.  And after another failed attempt to sort out the bodice, I enlisted Ma’s help to fit it properly. When in doubt, call for Mummy!

The centre bodice detail and the new hem...

(really should have pressed the bodice... oops!)

 

 

My very pretty 10p lace!

 

 I’ve lost count of the amount of times I had to unpick those ruddy French seams to get it to fit properly!

 

 

A close up of my new powder puff hankie- I love the green and pink combo! 

 

 

Haha, not very lady like pulling up my slip like that. Ah well.....

 

Oh and let me now introduce the biggest knick-knacks in the world!

 

 

Aren't they peachy?

 

Now, the knickers were a little less troublesome, but not without their own issues.

After comparing the pattern pieces with some of my other pairs of French knickers, the mother and I decided not to add some of the seam allowances and also forgo the two (yes, TWO) dreaded plackets. In hindsight this was a mistake, but more on that a little later.

 

I'm rather fond of a knicker with a yoke. I think it makes them look swishy!

 



Right, the problem point! Now because I knew best and thought the pattern looked huge compared with the others, I decided I could get away without having any plackets at all and just have them with a bit of elastic at the back instead (the pattern called for elastic and two plackets) but....

I totally fluffed up the fact that elastic can only stretch so much, and when I got it fitting perfectly in the waist, I found I could no longer get the darn things off! (me struggling must have looked a real picture!)....

 

So in the end I compromised with the 'perfect' fit, as I couldn't face unpicking to put in a placket, and now have a pair of knickers that are too big in the waist.  Well, at least I can now get them on and off- which is a plus with a pair of undies, no?!

 

 I honestly dread the elastic failing on these knickers! :o

 

 I finished the knicker legs off with lace- adopting a method that I found on my first pair of vintage knickers. Rather enjoyed doing this bit... not so keen on the top stitching part, but it was quick and easy, so one mustn't grumble too much. ;)

 

So, what do you think? I know they wouldn't win any prices for skill or neatness, but I'm happy to finally have them in a wearable state!

Have you been making any vintage undies recently? I have plans on making more sets and also have another slip and knicker set residing in the box of doom, so I'll be back with more at some point in the future... possibly in another 12 months! ;)

 

Cheerio for now,

 

Your Tupney xxx

 

 

 

 

 ***

Sensible undies v. Swishy?

Posing in me sensible undies- 40's blue bloomers,

CWS woollen vest (bought at the weekend), and 40's woollen stockings.

What a catch, eh!