I’d read about the Sewy Rebecca bra on Sigrid’s blog. It’s one of her TNT (tried & true) patterns, and they look so lovely. She really does a wonderful job. So after admiring so many of her creations, I wanted to try the pattern for myself.
This is the stock picture from Sewy. Isn’t that a lovely bra? I ordered it from Sewy, which is a German web site. It was a while ago, so I can’t remember the whole ordering process, but I’m pretty sure I emailed them and they sent me a Paypal invoice. I didn’t have any problems at all with my order.
I did have a problem once I got my order though. The instructions are all in German! I started searching on the web. I’d read ELingeriA, had carried the pattern at one time and had a PDF instruction page in English. But ELingeriA had closed. Hmm.
My search continued. I made various attempts to get the instructions, but was beginning to think I would have to use Googe Translate and hope for the best. I did get the PDF from Renee at Miss Celie’s Pants.
I have my PDF English instructions. And for future reference, I am willing to share it.
It was time to sew. I had bought a really beautiful material packet from Merckwaerdigh on eBay. She’s in The Netherlands, but I’ve never had a problem with ordering from her either. She’s always very helpful, and has beautiful fabrics.
So, I have my pattern, English instructions and beautiful material. And I sewed. My bra turned out very well, but… Oh, there have been a lot of buts in this journey to sewing my own bras.
In this case, the cups are too small. I thought the ‘European’ sized bras I had bought in specialty stores were the same as European sizes. It turns out they’re not. This bra is definitely 1, and possibly 2 cup sizes smaller than I need. I am still very pleased though, with this very beautiful bra.
This is the front view.
And the side view.
I’m not sure why, but I didn’t take a picture of the back view. However, it was as pretty as the front & sides.
One last blog visit for this post: I did find a wonderful calculator to help me determine just what my real bra size is. It’s on Novita’s blog.
http://www.sophisticatedpair.com/bracalculator.htm
Happy creating!
Hi! I also have been searching for the Sewy Rebecca English instructions pdf for almost a year now. I’ve tried Google translating tools, but the results are very strange. I’d be so grateful if you would share the pdf with me. I’m sure I could muddle through but if you could email them to me, I’d be willing to pay for them. Thanks so much, in advance.
Hi Robyn,
I’d be happy to send you the Sewy English instructions. Google Translate was proving interesting. I probably could have done it – like you said ‘muddle through it’, but the English instructions take a lot of the pressure off. And the instructions were sent to me freely, and I will freely share them. I’ll send them to your email right away.
Glad you’re joining the sew-along. I’m quite excited about it and learning from everyone else’s projects.
Thanks, Michelle! You are a sewing angel! I’ve also ordered from Bra-Makers’ Supply and from Merckwaerdigh in the past. I guess the bra making world is a small one! 😉 I look forward to our Sew Along and following your blog, too!
Such a beautiful bra! I am trying my hand at a Danglez now.
Andrea, I was just on the Bra Makers’ web site and they have the Shelley bra in a pattern now – you don’t have to make it yourself now. It is very close to the Rebecca, so I would suggest it would be a great pattern to try.
I also found I went up a cup size from my RTW European bras to the Sewy. Thanks for the tip about the Shelly. I will have to order and try it. You’re making really beautiful bras!
Hello Miss Celie!
Thank you!
I was able to share the Sewy Rebecca instructions PDF you shared with me. Thank you again for that! I was really surprised the European RTW bras weren’t the same size as the European patterns. I really didn’t expect to be ‘bigger’ again.
I really love the Shelley pattern. It’s quite similar to the Sewy Rebecca, but it has one more seam in the lower cup. It’s very nice and fits well too. And the instructions are in English and really great. I look forward to seeing more of what you’re making too.
Hi….could you possibly send me the English sewy instructions as well? I’d be so grateful! I love your bras…your perseverance is inspiring!
Thanks so much, Pam! I’m glad my perseverance is inspiring – that’s what I hoped when I started my blog.
I sent the English instructions to you. They’re great instructions – they have a really nice way of layering the lining in the cups that makes it look as neat on the inside as on the outside of the cups. Very nice.
I’d love to see what you make.
Hello, could you send me english pdf instruction? I am not current in english but i prefer to read english than deutsch. I could try to translate in french and to friendly share un France. Thank your blog is inspiring !
Hello Claire,
I’ll send the English instructions to you today. And I’m so glad you find my blog inspiring. Thank you!
I’ve had the Rebecca pattern in my stash for over a year and haven’t been brave enough to make it up because the instructions are in German. My biggest struggle is that I can’t tell if I need to add seam allowance myself or if it’s already included in the pattern. There’s a note that translates to “7mm all around”, but I still don’t know which way to take that!
If you’ve still got the English instructions I’d be very grateful for a copy of them. Thank you!
Miss Thrifty, I’d be happy to send you the English instructions. When I first got the pattern, I was trying to use Google Translate to figure them out, but too many of the words are specialized words and it wasn’t working. It was a relief to get the instructions. From what I remember, all European patterns have to have the seam allowance added. That’s one thing I like about the Bra Maker patterns – it’s already been done for me. I’ll send the instructions today.
Do you think you could share the instructions with me too please?
Thank you!
Hello, SSM,
Of course I can send you the instructions for the Sewy Rebecca. Sigrid does such a wonderful job, doesn’t she? All her sets are works of art!
Thank you! You can see my email address right?
And yes! She does a really lovely job. I’m an avid follower of her blog!
Hi michelle!
Thanks for sharing your bra making journey. It so helpful.
I’m determined try “again” to make my own, I’m an impossible size.
Would you be so kind as to also send me the english PDF?
thanks SO much!
Hi Lyd,
I really know difficult to fit. That’s part of why I’m sharing this journey. Not everyone fits into standard sizes. Did you see my most recent post? It might be helpful to you. I made some bra muslins to fit over an existing well-fitting bra. That way I can see right away where the cup will not fit. It took me a long time to get the band and bridge correct too. BMS and Norma’s book both helped me with those. I’ve had to build my bras one piece at a time.
I’ll send off the sewing instructions right away.
Hi Michelle,
I am so happy to find someone who has the english instructions for Sewy Rebecca bra! Could you please send them to me? I have been trying to make a bra for my sister who happens to be a size 52A. This pattern has been the only thing I can find that comes close to her size. I want to give her a bra that she can feel confident in and I really hope this pattern will work.
Thank you so much!
Candice, I’d be more than happy to send the instructions along to you.
Hello Michelle,
great blog and sewing!
Do you still have the English instructions for the sewy pattern?? I would love to get my hands on them. I have a few of their patterns in German (which is my native language) I am happy to go over them and see if I can tweak them a bit comparing both versions. Greetings from Australia
Hi Kirsten, Yes. I still have the English instructions. That would be great for you to go over them. Although they’re better than not having anything, I think they could use a tune up. I’ll send them to you.