A Nadine’s May Margareta

Just look at me go! Three weeks in a row. Hello!

This week I’m sharing another lovely bra kit I made into a pretty Margareta. 

You know, working out with my son not only changed the shape of my back, but my cups too. I’ve been working on getting things just the way I want again. And although things were fitting, they weren’t just what I wanted.

I think I’m one small change away from just what I want.

So, here’s the lovely kit I used for this bra.      That lace!

So here’s my Margareta. So, some of the changes I’ve made… I raised the bridge. Even though my wires don’t come all the way up to the top, this allows me to raise the upper cup up a bit and give me a little more coverage. Coverage that I need.

I’m thinking of adding some boning to the side of the bras as my wires don’t come all the way up at the side either. Thank you Omega shape. This bra kit was so lovely. I think the lace and lingerie satin go together perfectly. Doesn’t that go so well? It’s so pretty. And lastly, I didn’t like the looseness and bagginess on the display form. So I’ve pinned it here. You can still see the back well enough – but if you think this looks terrible, please let me know.

Until next week, happy creating!    

The Porcelynne Luna Robe

One of the projects I was working on earlier this year was the Porcelynne Luna Robe

Luna Pattern - image 1

It’s also available as a course and you get the pattern for free. 

For my first test I made a medium, but realized right away that for my comfort I wanted it to be looser. I think part of that is I’m very used to wearing knits. This robe is a woven pattern, but can be used for knits as well. I used this cotton voile fabric. Oh! I love the bright colors.

Here’s my Luna robe. 

I made a full-length robe. To me, nothing feels more luxurious than a full-length robe. Even though this is very light-weight, it will still feel wonderful.

It’s a lovely full wrap style. And it covers unlike some wrap tops or dress. This really covers and wraps. 

I couldn’t resist to make a hair scrunchie out of some of the extra fabric I had. That’s what’s sitting on the top of my dress form. 

The back has a lovely design to it. It’s not a rectangle pattern. There is style and design to this pattern, and honestly I love it!

Here is a closer view of the front. 

Here is a closer view of the back.

   This is really a lovely robe pattern. I actually think it’s the nicest robe pattern I’ve ever made.

I’m planning a matching nightgown, so stayed tuned.  

Happy creating!

A Midsummer Margareta

See! I’m really back.

This time I’m sharing a lovely pistachio bra kit called Midsummer. I used this kit to make a lovely Margareta bra.  

This kit is still available for you too. Oh I love this color! I was so happy when Bwear starting carrying pistachio. I’m still so happy I can still buy it in both findings and fabrics. I know I say this all the time, but I think it’s also safe to say we all have lace addictions in the bra-making world. So… isn’t this pretty? I love the lace and the color. I loved the lace so much I had to use some on the power bar as well. Just a little more lace to love.  And the back band. Just look at that power net. And matching hooks and eyes.    This kit came with silver rings & sliders, but B,wear has rings & sliders in pistachio as well. I think it’s my new favorite color.

That’s it for this week. Happy creating! 

A Wintery Angie’s Twin in Spring

Hello! I’m back with some things to share, and some things I still can’t share. I was busy testing a couple of patterns I can’t wait to share with you. I’ll be able to share those with you soon though.

This bra kit is a Wintery bra kit, but it was just so pretty I wanted to use it.

So, I’ll jump right back in. Isn’t this just the loveliest lace? Although it was a winter kit, I think it’s pretty all year long.     I’ll be happily sewing again for a bit now. And for me! There might be some more testing coming. But I need some pretty new bras. Or I want some new ones. The new ones always feel nicer to wear. One pretty surprise I had when I opened this kit was this lovely strap elastic. I thought this design added such a nice touch. You can see that pretty design all along the the back too.

The bra is fitting a bit looser on my display because I’ve been working out with my son for over a year now. And after having rather wasted muscles after an injury, I’m getting built back up. Strength is wonderful, even if it means going up a size in my band.

That’s all for this week, but I’ll be back next week again.

Happy creating!  

I’m Still Here

Hello! Just in case anyone is wondering… I am still here. 

I’ve just been very busy with things other than sewing, but I am sewing again. I’ll be back soon with more lovelies to share with you.

Michelle 

New Scissors

I shared with you that my favorite scissors broke. I tried two other pair of scissors but neither of them felt the same despite them both being similar size. The one pair were Singer scissors. They were embroidery scissors too.

However, the blades are thicker on this pair. I wouldn’t be able to do fine trimming with them the same way. As well they just didn’t feel the same in my hand. I found another smaller pair of embroidery scissors. Not a brand name this time, but the blades are nice and narrow. However, they’re only about 3″ long. The scissors I had were 5″, and again, they just don’t feel the same in my hand.

I tried doing a Google image search for them using the broken pair, but it didn’t turn up anything hopeful.

I decided it was time to search on ebay. It was then I remembered my MIL had spent years in Germany and loved Henckel brand everything. She’d bought me my Henckel knives when we got married. I still have those knives 33 years later.

That gave me a starting point. The first scissors I found were close, but not quite a match. The handles didn’t look quite the same on this pair. At this point I was so thankful I’d taken a photo. So I kept looking. And I found them. 

Same make, and same model number even. But I know these ones are the same as the ones my MIL had given me. These ones will feel right in my hand.

The only downside to all of this is it’s going to take over a month to get them. They’re coming from Japan. I’ll be a happy sewer again when I get them!

Happy creating, and my your favorite scissors never break!

A Foam Angie’s Twin

During my last class when I was teaching the Angie’s Twin pattern, I decided to re-fit myself in the pattern. I’ve been working out with my son and my size has changed a bit. It’s amazing what muscle will do!

So, while everyone was busy sewing, I tried on my size and made notes on what I needed to change for my pattern. I’ll just say, if you are an Omega shape, try B,Wear’s patterns. I find I need fewer alterations with hers than with some other patterns.

   I also used B,Wear’s lovely kit Eugenia. Isn’t this a pretty kit? I love the green. 

It being the middle of winter, I wanted something a little more than that gorgeous delicate lace to wear, so I added an inner foam cup.

Here’s my foam Angie’s Twin. I’m thrilled with how it turned out, but the pattern needs some tweaking.

It gapes along the upper band at the side, and I know I need that alterations, so I’m not sure why I didn’t remember when I was drawing this up. However, I didn’t.

Still, I’m very happy with this, and it’s still wearable. It’s just a little loose feeling.   I’ll be making adjustments to my pattern right away so I can make another Angie’s Twin. Honestly, this bra gives some great lift and shaping. My next project I won’t be sharing any time soon. I’m testing a pattern that will be released later this year, but I do hope to be back to my blog before the end of January with some things to share.

Happy creating!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year fellow bra makers! Did anyone do any sewing over the holidays? I didn’t. I took a big break from many things and am feeling refreshed again.

I actually decided to start the new year off with some bra sewing. I went to my sewing room and looked at what I had cut out, and have no idea what I was thinking but what I cut out would not work. And there was no saving it either.

I didn’t waste any of my time on it, I simply cut out a new pattern and it’s ready to sew.

I do have a couple of things to show you from December still.

 A dear friend asked me if I could help her. She’d bought some tights that she loved but they were too short. She bought some lace to lengthen them, but that lace didn’t work out. Would I help her? Of course.

I looked for an idea and found this one. She loved it.She asked if I could get her the shoes too. Nope. Just sewing the lace.

Okay, this I can do. I have the supplies already.Here are leggings. I saw her three times over the holidays and she was so happy with them, I saw her wearing them twice. That made me happy for both of us.

I also decorated my dress form for the holidays.

Most of the ideas I’ve seen out there were with live tree branches. Well that wouldn’t work in my home. Nothing like welcoming allergies right in! No. I had to come up with another idea.

Instead, I bought a hoop skirt and decorated it. Here’s just the skirt. It has a lot of bling and glitter on it. And lights too. She’s sitting in our downstairs window.

Hubby had some Home Alone-inspired ideas for her, but I told him no. She was pretty, not something to deter Joe Pesci!

Here’s the full view. I bought a glitterly red top, and added some gold costume jewelry to complete her look. I love it!

I also love that I can take this off  the dress form, put it away for the year, and put it on her again next Christmas.

Lastly, sadly, I lost my favorite sewing scissors. These were my MIL’s and she’s been gone 12 years now. I was very sad when I went to cut something and they broke in my hand.  I’ve replaced them, but they don’t feel the same. They don’t have the same sentimental attachment the others ones had. But they are working.

I’ll be back next week again with my newest make, and will share some of my sewing plans for the year.

Happy New Year and happy creating!

November-December Recap

Hello! I’m back.

I have to tell you, it seems my sewjo is on vacation. Or maybe on a winter break. But it’s not here. Still, I’ve tried to get a few things done. 

I cut out a lovely Flirt Skirt from some gorgeous crushed velvet.

 I was ready to sew but when I looked at my threat, I had no brown. So, a few days later I went to the store and got some brown serger thread.

I hope to get to my skirt and finish it this week.

Another project I finished was changing a nightgown into a camisole.

I bought this nightgown because I love animal print, but wanted it to be a camisole. I thought that was a pretty easy change, and it was. I added a pretty black lace to the edge and that was all it needed. Just look at this ruffle along the neckline. This was worth it. Of course I couldn’t throw out the precious fabric I’d cut off.

So, I made Em her November Watson. Oh, this fabric is so lovely and soft. She loves it.    

It’s just charming. I really do love the Watson pattern.

Another alteration was to a blouse I bought. When I tried it on, it was just too low. None of my camisoles looked just right behind it, so lace to the rescue.  I tried these two laces, and decided on the 2nd one. I think it’s perfect!    And lastly, Em and I went to a Grinch tree workshop. It was so fun.

This is something I’ve wanted to do for a few years now, and I just love it. We had such fun making ours.

Okay, that’s it for month. I’ll see you all again in January.

Happy creating, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

A Change in the Wind

I’ve been blogging quite regularly for the past 12 years now. That’s a lot. And I feel like some of my posts have become quite routine. That is not what I want.

So, I’m going to make a change.

Rather than posting weekly, I’m thinking of a monthly recap of what I’ve been sewing. I’ll still sew bras, but I also want to focus on some clothing items. 

This month marks my 12th anniversary of blogging, but it also marks my 1 year anniversary of working out twice a week with a personal fitness trainer. I’ve seen changes in my body and shape – not big changes, but changes still.

I’m going to have to re-do my sloper and update it.

So starting in November, you won’t likely see a weekly blog post.

Happy creating and thank you so much for following and being a part of this experience with me.

Michelle