Lace Vest

Lace Vest for DD

This turned out to be the "BIG" project of Christmas 2012.  I had such a wonderful time seeing it come to completion. It was the first time I ever caught myself sewing on Christmas Eve.  No, won't do that again...LOL

Total time - 40+ hours - prep time, stitch out time, hand stitching, resoak time and steam pressing (several times as it was being put together)

Thank you, DD, Kelli, for modeling after you opened it.  You look beautiful!

Close-up of front section... 4 sections for the front.

Back:  4 sections for the back...

Close up of back..

And a small tutorial of photos of how it was done:

I used the Bernina Jumbo Hoop per section

Close up of the fancy stitching:

I used Vilene Soluble Stabilzer,  2 layers,  and cut as much away as possible preparing for soaking:

Here are a couple pieces soaking in my BIG roasting pan, using luke warm water.

A couple more pieces soaking.  (yes, "8" pieces had to soak and dry) 

More soaking......

I lay them on paper towel to air dry. I did this twice. (And then one more final soaking after the Lace Vest is put together_

Pieces of front ready to be hand stitched together (even darts!).......VERY time consuming matching the pattern!  Thank goodness for magnifying lamps!!

The back after being hand stitched. You see two "dots"?  They are pins for my own matching of points. 

The front now put together:

 And then, of course the hand sewing of the front and back ready for DD.

As time consuming as this project was - I loved every aspect of it.  Would I do it again?  Absolutely!!
I hope this will be handed down to DGD one day.

Hugs