Tuesday, April 5, 2011

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!

35 comments:

  1. Super cute! I've been wanting to make one of these for pictures of my babe, just waiting for her to be able to sit up first! I'd love if you shared at my party:
    http://itssewforyou.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-sew-fun-tuesday-7.html

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  2. VERY cute! I actually bought one just like this for my daughters newborn pictures last year! :)

    Found you through Blue Cricket!

    livingcraftilyeverafter.blogspot.com

    Kelly

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  3. So so cute! Saw this post on My Backyard Eden! Great tutorial...if I get really brave I might try this for my baby girl.

    www.cheekydinheels.blogspot.com

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  4. Oh My Goodness! THis is WAY TOO CUTE!! Your model is adorable also!

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  5. Where do you buy the elastic lace? This is a great tutorial. Thank you

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  6. Wow, I'm so impressed. It is so beautiful!! I can't wait to have babies of my own so that I can dress them up. :)

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  7. what a cutie. I love the color.

    megan
    craftycpa.blogspot.com

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  8. Very sweet. Thanks so much for linking up to Beyond The Picket Fence.

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  9. Super cute! Thanks so much for linkin up. Can't wait to see what you have for next week.

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  10. I featured this on my blog!
    http://thecraftymamablog.blogspot.com/2011/04/weekend-highlights.html

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  11. Thanks for sharing, I hope you stop by the party again!
    http://itssewforyou.blogspot.com/

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  12. What a cute picture!! Love that romper! Thanks for auditioning for OMTWI!!

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  13. Oh my goodness, this is SO stinkin' cute! And I LOVE how easy it is to make. Any idea where I can find elastic lace? I've been looking online, but so far no luck. I haven't been out to Joann's or Hobby Lobby yet, but if I can't find it online, I'll look there next. I'd love if you could get back with me! Thanks.

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  14. I've been looking all over for the elastic ruffled lace ribbon too! I've been told to just add the elastic yourself...but I'd rather just find it. They had it in black at Hobby Lobby...but I'd like to find other colors...please if anyone knows let us know!

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  15. I found mine at JoAnns. They had a a few colors to choose from. Just look closely in the lace selections at JoAnns and you should be able to find some.

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  16. how do i measure the correct fit?

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  17. To make a different size you would measure around the largest part of the child's tummy. Then add about 1/2 an inch for sewing together in the back. That would be the legnth of your elastic lace. To find how much fabric you would need you would stretch your elastic lace (cut to your measurements) to it's full capacity and that is how long your silky slip fabric should be. Then when you sew it on it will bunch when the elastic isn't stretched out anymore. Let me know if you have any more questions.

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    1. I was wondering about the crotch seam, did you mean you just sew literally a line down the middle where the legs would be????

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    2. I sew two lines from the base to the crotch area and across the crotch base. Your stitches should look like a rectangle missing one side. Then cut a straight line up to about 1/2" below crotch.

      My problem in never knowing how long to make the torso area.

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  18. is the lace you used gathered down the center? I am only finding elastic lace that either isn't gathered down the center (would this bunch up on its own if stretched and sewn? yours looks like it was already gathered) or is gathered along an edge, not the center...i tried joanns online (don't have one locally) and I'm not really sure what to search for but I didn't find anything that looked like that...this is a great tutorial though, thanks!

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  19. also how wide is the lace you used? sorry if I missed it but I looked and didn't see that anywhere

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  20. i'm a photographer and crafter... i'm so glad i found this tutorial. i new i should be able to make one of these quickly and cheaply instead of having to buy them off of someone else. i might have to head out for some fabric and lace to try this soon. i'll probably make a toddler one too since my own daughter is 18 months and this would make for a very fun prop to photograph her in.

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  21. I saw one of the rompers at a festival today for the first time and Fell in love with it! I have a granddaughter who really needs some of these (like she doesn't have Too many clothes)....LOL The ones that I saw had a stretchy fabric for the lining! you can easily make your own elastic lace, just use elastic thread and sew on the lace where you want it to be stretchy! I hope this helps!

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  22. Love it! I'm so glad you shared. Thank you. 1 question. I'm a little confused on the seam for the legs. When you say sew it in the middle, it it an up and down stitch or just a little horizontal across the bottom? Thanks.

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  23. I don't really understand how you made the legs on this. Does your petti romper not go down her legs at all? Typically they are a few inches down each leg. Just curious!

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  24. I don't understand the legs either can anyone give me more detailed discription? Did she mean literally to just sew a line where the legs should be???? Thanks

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  25. You only sew a little line in the middle (about 1/2 an inch long) this makes a seperation for the two leg holes.

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  26. Just wondering how much this cost you? Trying to figure out if I save much by making it myself. Thanks!

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  27. This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Thanks for the excellent tips.

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  28. Thank you for the great tutorial, it's so cute!!

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  29. I have one of these lace rompers that are factory made, and all it is is a stretchy swimsuit type material and lace sewn around it using elastic thread.. I'm sure you know how to use it, but the elastic thread goes in the bobbin, regular thread in the top. This would allow you to not have to use stretch lace, giving you so many more options for colors :) If you'ld like a picture of the inside of the romper on how its made, let me know :)

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  30. Mommys Lil Angels I'd like to see that picture if you don't mind :)

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  31. you can usually find fairly inexpensive elastic (or stretch) lace on ebay

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  32. How can you increase the measurements to make 2t/3t to 5t? Is there a formula?

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