Lacey Petti Romper Tutorial

Update: I've had some questions about where to find elastic lace.  I found mind at JoAnns.  They only had a couple colors to choose from, but they happened to have the color I wanted.  So go check your local store :)

Have you seen these lacey petti rompers around?  They're getting pretty popular and I LOVE them!  They make such cute photo props for  newborns and infants.  I thought long and hard about what would be the best way to assemble one of your own and I have to say it turned out perfect!

The one I made will fit babies newborn-6 months (9 if the baby is on the smaller side).  But to make it bigger, just add a few inches to what I used. 

Supplies:

- Sewing machine and other basic sewing supplies (including thread to match)

- Satin Lining (I bought 1/3 of a yard for the newborn-6 months size)

- Elastic Lace (I bought 5 1/2 yards.  You need a lot!)

Making your own lace petti romper:

1) Do not pre-wash fabric.  This romper is meant to be a photo prop and will not be washable. 

2) Cut your satin lining to size.  My measurements were 13 inches long by 25 inches wide/around.

3) Finish your top and bottom seams by turning them under1/4 inch and sewing near the edge.  If you have a serger you can serge the edge first to prevent fraying.  If not, it's just a photo prop so it's not going to get a ton of wear and tear anyways.

4) Okay, now we're ready to start sewing on the elastic lace.  You want the middle of the elastic lace to be just below the top edge of your fabric as seen below. 

5) The lace needs to be stretched to full capacity as you sew.  Take it slow here so you can get a nice seam.  Sew it along the whole length of the garment using coordinating thread.  When you reach the end, cut the elastic off and we'll do the whole step over again (and again and again. . .)

6) Before you start sewing on your second line of lace make a chalk line to guide you. My seams (which remember are in the middle of the elastic lace) were spaced an inch apart.  Don't go any further than that in your spacing.

7) Continue in this fashion (making a chalk line and sewing elastic lace onto fabric while stretching to full capacity) until you have filled the whole garment from top to bottom.

8) Once you have all your lace secured to your fabric you will have a nice bunched up rectangle of fabric.  Fold it in half (right sides together) and sew it together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. 

9) Finish this edge.  I serged it because it's easy and won't show, but you could use any method.  You now have a nice lacey tube. 

10) sew a little line in the middle of the bottom to make the crotch seam.  I sewed a 1/2 inch seam.

That's it, you're done!  Now go try it on your little cutie and see how adorable she looks. 

I also  made the headband.  Super easy!  Just sew a little elastic together for the headband and buy a matching silk flower.  Take the flower apart and remove all plastic parts, stack the petals and sew them together in the middle.  I left the top petal off and hot glued it on after to hide my thread.  Then hot glue the flower to the headband.

To see everywhere I'm linking this, click here.

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I hope to see you back here tomorrow for Idea Sharing Wednesday!