Month: October 2024

A Tweak to My Favorite Patterns

~ Michelle ~ 4 Comments

I’ve been happily sewing a few of my favorite patterns with my Omega adjustments and wearing them for a few years now.

About a month ago I decided to look at these bras on me and evaluate them and see if there was anything I could still do to improve the fit.

It turns out there was.

I mentioned it a few posts back. I decided to shorten my upper cup just below the strap attachment.     This alteration did help, but I took a critical look again, and realized I could do more. I could take more out.

I took my three favorite patterns: Margareta, Freja, and Angie and deepened the alteration.

I tried the Freja first. It was better, but I still want to work on that one a bit more.

Next up was Margareta. I decided since I wasn’t happy with how the Freja turned out, I would skip a few things on the Margareta – like the gothic arch, and finishing the channeling at the center front and sides.

However, I was so happy with how the Margareta turned out I didn’t want to take it off for photos! I did finish those channelings at the front and sides and took photos for all of you.

I’m thrilled with this and how it fits. I’m so glad I decided to take that critical look at my fit. This is so worth the changes! I adore this kit as well. It’s from B,wear. You can find it here.      

Yes, I’m really thrilled with how this alteration turned out, and I know I’m going to want to sew a whole new bra wardrobe now.

I thought you might want to see all the alterations I’ve made to the original pattern. Here are the Margareta pattern pieces with the shaded out parts on the pattern pieces. They include both my Omega adjustments and the new shortening adjustment. So, if you’re not completely happy with how your bra is fitting you, take a critical look and make one adjustment at a time.

Happy creating!  

Jean Jacket Transformation

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

I recently bought a jean jacket on clearance. Actually, I bought two of them. The price was just too good not to get two and then transform them both.

I don’t wear a lot of denim. I just don’t love it. But I was out shopping/looking with a friend and she took me to her favorite store. I fell in love with a jean jacket there.

I don’t know that I love the jacket. It’s the embroidery I love! It gave me ideas to do something similar. As well, the $300 price tag was a definite no-love.

So with that in mind, and then seeing the clearance. I bought two jean jackets for less than the price of one at regular price.

  It looks a little washed out, doesn’t it? Well, not for long. I also love this style, so was happy to play with it.

I bought a big pot, and some dye that would work with this fabric. It isn’t 100% cotton. 

I wanted a big pot to make sure the jacket would be submerged.

And the results: Oh! I’m so happy with this! SO HAPPY! It turned out beautifully.

I was so happy, I immediately started on the second jacket.

This one is teal blue.      I think they both look great! I was kind of thinking one might not look as good, and that would be the one I’d do some embroidery on, but I can’t decide now. I love how both of them turned out.

I’ll let you know which one ends up with some flowers. Which one do you think?

Happy creating!

Testing the Gunsan Pattern Take Two

~ Michelle ~ 9 Comments

There were a couple of changes to the Gunsan pattern, and I was happy to try again.

The first draft fit my friend perfectly and when I asked her if I could make a second test of the pattern for her, she said yes without hesitation.

For this one, I had to pull a kit out of my stash. Making my fitting bras has used up all my scraps. I gifted my friend the Sabine bra kit for this bra. Isn’t that a pretty kit? It’s prettier in person.

Here’s my second version of the Gunsan pattern.   I do wish I’d had a bit of a lighter thread color, but there is a bit of a violet sheen to the lace so I decided it was okay. My friend loves this bra. This is so pretty.

I used the sheer cup lining in the kit for the frame. 

   I did run into one problem when laying this out. The power bar was a little bit longer than my lace.

Then I remembered a great tip Emerald Erin had in a blog post a long time about. She drew the pattern part that was off the lace and then cut that out with a seam allowance and sewed it onto the existing cut out lace piece.

Here, read about it here.

It worked perfectly. You can’t even see where I joined the lace. It gave me the extra inch I needed and it really worked perfectly. Thank you Erin for that great tip.

One last view of this lovely new pattern. I don’t know if further changes were made to the pattern, but it’s been released now, and I can’t wait to try it for me. Next for me to to start altering it for Omega.

Happy creating!

Testing the New Gunsan Pattern

~ Michelle ~ 10 Comments

B,wear posted about a new pattern coming: Gunsan. I was fortunate enough to be able to test the pattern. It’s a lovely pattern!

It’s a darted one-piece cup. I was so excited to try this new pattern.

I made a decision before starting this bra. I LOVE to test patterns. I really do. But honestly, with all the alterations I need, it’s not fair for me to sew it for me. It’s not fair to take the pattern and make all the changes, and then give feedback.

So, I decided I would test the pattern as it is, and make it in my size – without any changes. Then I could gift it to my friend who’d had surgery last year. We’re the same size, but she doesn’t need the alterations for Omega. It was a win-win this way.

   I used the Patricia bra kit from B,Wear.  This is such a pretty kit.

Here’s my first make of the new Gunsan pattern. Another decision I made before starting was to not mirror the lace. (Shh. Don’t tell my friend. She doesn’t know about these things.)

Rather than trying to mirror, I made sure the larger motifs along the upper edge were in the same places and it gives a symmetrical look to the bra still.

My friend loves it. She was sending photos of her new bra to her mom and sister. This really is a lovely pattern. It’s nice to find a darted cup in a larger size.

And lastly, just so you can see how very delicate and sheer this lace is, I’ve laid it on my sewing desk for a photo too.      Stay tuned. There’s more to share on the Gunsan pattern.

Happy creating!