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Idea Board for Italian Camica

Posted on Feb 1, 2018 by in Camica, Idea Board, Italian | 0 comments

My first sewing projects when I first started going to SCA events were four Chemise and 2 skirts to go over them. I had NO idea what I was doing. They fit horribly. I can barely move my arms because they lack gussets and the arms suck. They are terrible. Now, five years down the line, I am still using them because I have not replaced them. As most of my dresses are Italian Gamurras and I plan to make at least several more Italian Gamurras or Sottanas I figured an Italian style camica would be a good place to start.

To that end, I purchased a pattern this time. Margo Andreson’s pattern line is fabled to be amazing so I bought the The Italian Lady’s Underpinnings and several other of her patterns to try. I wanted to make this special. Looking at some of the suggestions in the pattern directions and other inspirations I saw some ideas to add some pizzazz: lace inset seams and smocking at the neckline.

Lace inset seams, if you are not familiar, is when there is a strip of lace between each piece of fabric that would normally be sewn together to form the seam. Here is an example I found:

I searched for a long time to find a suitable insertion lace. I finally found a simple one I liked at M&J Trimming.

Smocking is a way to gather in fabric so it can still stretch and gives it a lovely pattern.

I figured I would do this with black thread of a sheer white fabric (crushed voile) and get a lovely effect but still have a neckline with give.

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