This close-fitting camisole with lace edging at top and bottom is a versatile wardrobe staple—it can be worn on its own with a skirt as a sweet summer top, or as an elegant accent under a suit jacket or cardigan in cooler weather. Front and back darts at the waist along with short-row darts and gentle shaping at the upper edge of the bust give it a feminine and eminently flattering fit. Strap width and placement vary proportionately, and tips are given in the pattern for tweaking the shaping in key areas for a perfectly tailored fit.

The garment is worked in the round from the waist up, then straps are picked up and worked from live stitches at the top edge—so there’s no seaming, and just a few ends to weave in at the finish. Substitute satin ribbon straps and lingerie fittings for the tapered garter stitch straps if you want adjustable length at the shoulders, or reinforce the knitted straps with a bit of narrow ribbon sewn on the interior for a couture finish. The recommended yarn has a substantial percentage of bamboo and silk, which gives a lovely drape and sheen to the finished garment; however, you could easily substitute any wool or cotton-blend sock yarn that knits up at the same gauge with excellent results.

The Cecily camisole is sized with about 1.5-2” of negative ease through the bust for a sleek fit, but the shaping at waist, hips, and bust makes it easy to adjust the finished garment to your shape if your dimensions vary from the average in these areas.

Current version of pattern (120610_1.pdf) includes charted AND written instructions for the Lotus Lace motif used at the top and bottom edging.