chemise2

A Late 15th Century Italian Chemise Pattern

A brief how-to by Baroness Briana Etain MacKorkhill

A chemise or shift was the foundation of most multilayered garments. As such it varied from utilitarian to decorative according to type of material used and visibility. It was used in various forms from early 10th century to 15th century Italian through to the end of our period. The neckline varied to fit most every lady's needs. This particular pattern came from Dress In Italian Painting and has proved invaluable. It is simple, easy to make, and looks quite good when finished. It has a drawstring neckline and optional drawstring, tie or button cuffs. This pattern fits most adults (M to XXL).

You will need:

approx. 6-7 yards of 44" to 45" wide material

(muslin, gauze, cotton, lawn, etc. usually in white or cream)

tape measure

pencil

1 package of wide bias tape to match material

drawstring at least 60" long

1 safety pin

(optional - 2 buttons)

To start, take the following measurements. Make sure the subject is standing erect, but relaxed.

1.	Use the full back length plus ease to measure your material. Fold the material over at the top so that you have two lengths of material the length of the back. Do not cut these apart.
2.	Next fold open side to open side, still maintaining the full back length of material. Pin these so that they don't shift. (See Fig. 1).
3.	From the top fold, measure down the open side half the armhole measurement plus 2 inches, and place a pin there. This is pin A. (See Fig. 2).

4.	From the intersection of the center and top fold measure toward the open edges 1/4 the chest measurement plus ease and place another pin there. This is pin B.
5.	From pin B add 4 inches toward the outside open edges. Place a pin there this is pin C.
6.	Measure from pin C to the open edge. Take this measurement to pin A and measure back toward the center fold. This is pin D. You should have a rectangle looking armhole. (See Fig. 2) Pattern works best if armhole cut-out is no more than 6 inches. Put excess on the center fold.
7.	Again from the fold intersection measure down 3 inches. Place pin E there.
8.	Make a gradual curve from pin B to pin E. This is the neckline.
9.	You are now ready to cut. Cut from pin C To D To A. You now have armholes. (Save your cutout pieces). Cut from pin B to Pin E making your neckline. (After the initial chemise, you can use the cutout pieces as patterns, thus dispensing with all the measuring.)
10.	Take the arm length plus at least 2 inches for sleeve length and at least the full measurement of the armhole plus 4 inches. You may of course use more material in the width for added fullness in the sleeves. I've found it easy just to use the material width for very full sleeves.

Now you're ready to sew. Stretch out the armhole flat and pleat your sleeve to it. Disregard the flap to the side seam.

Pleating Hint: Take your sleeve and fold the width in half, mark it (make your and mark the very edges within the seam allowance), then fold each half in half, matching mark to mark, and marking each new one. When your sleeve is divided in 16 or 32 (depending on how big you want your pleats), do the same to the armhole, marking each fold the same number. Then match up the marks, flatten out the excess and you will have an equally divided and pleated sleeve. This also works quite well when pleating a skirt onto a bodice or waistband.

After pinning your sleeves, make sure both are pinned on the same side of the fabric. Then sew each, leaving the 1/2 inch seam allowance on either end free.

Next take right side to right side of the sleeve and sew the sleeve length in a 1/2 inch seam all the way up to the body of the chemise.

Next sew up the side seams on each side. These will not be connected to the underarm.

Now take the side seam and place it next to the underarm making a box pleat. Pin this from the outside so that it hangs closed and straight. (See Fig. 3). Sew on the outside straight across the pleat to secure it. You may have to blind stitch the pleat together just above the pleat seam.

Pin the bias tape to the right side of the neckline. (I sometimes put two buttonholes on the fabric about 1/4 inch from the edge on the center front so that the strings can be tied from the outside.) Unfold your bias tape and sew on the fold--it's usually about 1/4 inch wide--for the first pass. Turn to the inside and pin down leaving the other fold folded (this makes a real nice finished seam), sew and your have your drawstring casing. Using your safety pin, thread your drawstring.

1. Use bias tape the same way as on the neckline to form a casing so that a drawstring may be used;

2. Use the pieces that you saved in cutting out the armholes to form fixed cuffs that tie; or

If you choose the fixed cuffs that tie, fold the piece so that it has the fold on the short side, take your wrist measurement and measure 1/2 that measure from the fold. Mark both directions so that you have centered your wrist measurement on that cuff. Open your sleeve seams about 3-4 inches. Next gather as tightly as possible your sleeve onto the cuff starting at one mark and ending at the other. Sew this down and fold the cuff over and sew it down again. Make sure to extend the seam the entire length of the fabric so that your ties will be finished.

If you are going to use buttons and loops, just cut the pieces 1 inch larger than your wrist measurement and fit like above.