Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products (27 page)

9.
Now for the bottom hem. Turn under ¼ inch and press. Now turn under another 3 inches and press. Pin and sew.

10.
This is the really fun part! You can add really pretty embroidered ribbon or rickrack or anything you fancy. I found some great vintage ribbon and sewed it on top of the hem’s stitch line. Two rows of rickrack look great, and you can sew them on with contrasting color thread. I used bright orange thread on a green ribbon.

Romantic Chemise

These little numbers can be pricey, when you’re lucky enough to find them in a boutique. But they are ridiculously easy to make. I made one out of a vintage sheet that I found for a dollar in a thrift store. The silky cotton fabric was covered with tiny, faded rosebuds—perfection!

HOW TO

1.
Fold your rectangle of fabric in half down the length of the yard, right sides together.

2.
Measure from the top of your shoulder to under your arm. My measurement is 7 inches.

3.
With tailor’s chalk and a ruler, measure a line 7 inches (or whatever your measurement is) down and 2 inches away from the seams. You are actually just marking two mini-rectangles in the top corners of your large rectangle.

4.
Cut out the mini-rectangles.

5.
To create a nonfraying hem at the top of the garment, fold over ¼ inch of the fabric and press, then fold over another 1 inch, press, pin, and sew.

6.
Fold over ¼ inch and then another ¼ inch of the raw edges of the armholes. Press and sew. Sew a ½-inch seam along the raw edge, down the length of the chemise, and finish the raw edges with either pinking shears or a zigzag stitch.

7.
Turn your garment inside out. Cut your ribbon in half and, using a safety pin, thread the ribbon through the front seam. Repeat for the back. When you try on the chemise, you may want to trim the ribbon a bit.

8.
For the bottom hem, fold ¼ inch and press, then fold over another 1 inch and press with a steam iron. Pin your hem and sew.

Lingerie Bag

I always use a lingerie bag when I travel. It’s practical because it prevents my bras and panties from floating all over the place, and it’s less embarrassing if your bags get searched at security. You can also toss in a lavender sachet or a bar of soap in a sock to keep your pretty pieces smelling lovely!