Author: Michelle

Beautiful Vibrant Bra

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

I saw this kit on B,Wear’s site and it’s simply called Vibrant bra kit. And it is vibrant! It’s gorgeous!Vibrant bra kit - fits most bras patterns like Lusamine, Margareta, Ruby etc. - 3I saw it and loved it immediately. I knew I wanted to have a beautiful bra using this vibrant kit.

Again, I’m making the Pin-Up Girls Freja pattern. It’s my current love.Oh! (you’ve heard this before) I love this! I was thinking as I was finishing this bra that it doesn’t seem to matter how many bras I’ve made, I still fall in love over and over with the lace, and the pattern, or how it looks when it’s finished.

Here’s the side view:That peek of fuchsia elastic is just gorgeous! I love that.

It’s even lovely and vibrant from the back.I’m not done making a new bra wardrobe using the Freja pattern. I have two more kits sitting on my cutting table ready to be made up into more pretty bras.

I need to make some matching panties to go with all these lovely new bras. I’m a bit behind on those. You’ll see those soon.I recently purchased the Josey bra pattern for my niece. I don’t know if you’re aware, but according to an email I received from La Bella Coppia, the Josey pattern will no longer be available after the end of this year. Her website will be closing sometime in September.

The Josey is still one of my favorite patterns. If you don’t have it, there’s still time to get it for yourself.

Happy creating!

Gunilla Freja Bra

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

My most recent Freja is from a lovely kit I bought from B,Wear. I saw a gorgeous bra Bodil had made on IG, and sent her a message asking if there was a kit.Not long after that, this lovely Gunilla kit was available. I looked to see if this kit was still on her website, but unfortunately it’s not. It wouldn’t hurt to request it again though.

I loved the rich colors of this, and had to make it up in my current favorite pattern. Here’s my Gunilla Freja bra. Oh, I love this lace. I do hope I can get some more of it too. It would look wonderful with ivory or blue, but I have to say the red really makes it pop!

Here’s the side view.  Do you see that peek of ivory at the back? For a long time I wouldn’t make a bra if the kit didn’t have all matching parts. The band and straps had to be the same color. But I’m more open to coordinating fabrics like this set now. It gives me more options too. 

Recently, at the Sewing Bee, Lily of LilypaDesigns said she really likes B,Wear’s stabilized satin fabric. I think this must be that fabric.

In the past I’ve used the stretch satin Bodil carries, but this only had the mechanical stretch – no real stretch. It also feels firmer than duoplex, so would be a great option for those needing more support.

Lastly, the back of the bra.  I’m thrilled with a new pattern that fits me so well. I already have 3 more kits on the cutting table to make next. I do have plans to test a few more patterns, but I really love this bra pattern. 

Happy creating!

Silk Freja

~ Michelle ~ 3 Comments

After making those sumptuous silk tap pants, I looked at the scraps of silk that were left over. With some careful placement, I had just enough to make a bra.This lovely silk came from Lilypa‘s shop.

Here’s my silk and ivory bra. I used the Pin-Up Girls Freja again – you’ll be seeing a few more of them before I try another pattern.This bra is so soft and well, silky. It feels wonderful on!Here’s a close up of the bridge showing that careful placement I mentioned. I didn’t have enough material to put the bridge on the fold, which is what most patterns have us do. So for this, I added a 1/4″ seam allowance, and cut two pieces. Then I simply sewed the two sides together.

Here are the side views. The silk shows wrinkles more on my display than duoplex or lingerie satin does. Still, it’s lovely and fun.

Lastly, I used ivory findings and power net. There are different shades of green in the silk, and I had nothing that was going to go with that. Ivory was the most neutral choice.Have you ever made a silk bra? Or any silk lingerie? Oh, the feel of it! Luxury.

Here’s the bra and slip together. Lovely if I do say so myself. I don’t know how often I’ll be wearing these together. When I do, I’ll love it.

Happy creating!

Faux Silk Tap Pants

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

I really loved the Tap Pants I made, but wanted to make a couple of changes. I wanted them really flowy, and wanted to take the waist in a bit more.

So I had some faux silk fabric I’d bought on sale and thought it would be perfect for testing some changes to the pattern. It was.These are very flowy and I don’t think I’ll need to make any other changes to the pattern. And, I can finally throw out that terribly worn slip. The one big difference between the culotte slip I had and this is the old RTW one didn’t have a front or back seam. 

However, after looking at what was available in RTW, I wasn’t finding anything I was happy with. Most of what is out there now are compressive style shorts. I wanted something much more comfortable than that.

These fit the bill perfectly.

Happy creating!

Creative Bug Tap Pants

~ Michelle

I had learned about Creative Bug a few years ago, but really didn’t take advantage of the classes on there. Madalynne has a few classes on there. Gretchen Hirsch also has one – the Tap Pants class.Aren’t these just darling?

I had a very old culotte slip I wanted to replace. I thought this class would be the perfect jumping off place to replace that sad well-worn slip.

For my slip, I decided that I would use some special fabric I had. Lilypa had brought in some gorgeous stretch silk. I felt confident that I would get a well fitting slip because the class take you through drafting your pattern from your measurements.   Isn’t that lovely? When I first saw it, I just had to have some. And I thought this project would be perfect for this material. I love them! One thing I didn’t realize when I bought the material is the map isn’t all ‘right side up’. The continents are both right side up, and upside down. So if you see this and fall in love, be aware of this.

If you’re making a smaller garment, you may be able to get everything right side up. Otherwise, this is just the design. I made a mistake that was quite upsetting. I couldn’t believe I did it really. One of the class suggestions was to use pinking shears to keep the edges from fraying. Well, I love my rotary pinking blade and use it often to trim seams on panties. I just love the look.

So I happily grabbed my pinking rotary cutter and trimmed all my seams with it. Then. Somehow. I didn’t feel I had more fabric under one of my seams. I cut through the back of the slip! There’s nothing to be done about it now.

I’ve found a supplier for tricot with rave reviews. I plan to make a few more of these but can’t make them all out of silk.

Happy creating!

Freja in Ivory

~ Michelle

I was so happy with getting such a good fit with the Freja pattern, I made another one right away. Making this pattern is really inspiring me to clone and alter my favorite RTW Fantasie Vivenne. It’s one of my projects for during the Bee.

Here are the two of bras together, the pattern and the RTW bra.They are quite similar.

Here’s mine again from the side.

And here’s the back view.This lovely lace comes from B,Wear.

It’s a lovely left and right sided lace.Working with these lovely flowers made me remember something I’d been told. Always place your flowers so they are climbing up or growing up. If they’re growing downwards, your cups will look sad. And you don’t want sad looking cups.So I was careful when placing my lace to make sure I had happy looking cups and my flowers were all growing upwards.

Happy creating!

Pink Clovers

~ Michelle

To go along with my new pink Freja bra, I also made a pair of pink Clover Boybriefs.

I really do still love this pattern. This is one I make again and again. This one, then my TNT Kwik Sew 2286, and then the B,Wear’s Sigrid.I heard House Morrighan is working on getting a new website set up. But I don’t think it’s up yet. If you’re loving this pattern and want it for yourself she said you can email her on IG to get the pattern.I’m not sure if it’s the Barbie effect, but I’m really loving the pink right now. Normally I’m more a fan of fuchsia, but I’m really enjoying this set.

Although these look like a full brief, they are more a hipster on me than on my display.   Here’s the bra and panty together.I’m happy to have another full set to enjoy.

This second set of panties was sewn while watching the beginning of the Bra Sewing Bee. I have a little space set up with my computer, a cutting board, and my sewing machine.I took this photo while enjoying Nikki’s class on Fitting As We Age. I’m loving the Bee so far this year. I have a few more sewing/adjusting patterns projects planned for during the Bee too.

Happy creating!

Pretty Pink Panel Panties

~ Michelle

When I decided to make a new bra, I had no idea I was jumping on the Barbie trend, but that seems to be exactly what I did. I made a pink matching set.

My new Pink Freja bra needed some lovely pink panties to match. For the first pair I chose the Rad Patterns Panel Panties.  Panel Undies PDF Sewing Pattern Underwear Pattern Panty image 1 I’ve always thought these were so adorable.

For mine, I used a kit from BMS that I had.These were such cute kits.

My panel isn’t as forward as the original pattern as I used my favorite TNT pattern as my template. Kwik Sew 2286 and simply made a panel on the front for it. I might have to tweak it if I want those side seams more forward. I had used the pattern in the past.And I thought they were adorable. But when I looked for the pattern, I found the more recent version. 

Here’s the side view.You can see the seam is sitting just forward. With the seam sitting forward just a bit like that, it makes the lace trim match up better for joining it.

You can see on this older make the lace trim joins at a bit of a point. With the seam forward, it’s just a little neater.

And the back view. I have some solid pink cotton Lycra for a second pair of panties. I’m just not sure which pattern I want to make yet.

Here’s the full set together.     Some good news – my hand is healing and improving. So I’ll be back soon with more makes.

Happy creating!

A Perfect Freja Bra

~ Michelle ~ 4 Comments

I’ve just had the best couple of days sewing. My niece wanted to learn to sew a bra but we live in different provinces. So we did video sewing. We’re already talking about what and when we’re going to sew next.

My niece sewed up a Classic pattern from BMS. I wasn’t interested in sewing the same pattern though. What I sewed up actually came from Bodil of B,Wear. She had suggested I try the Freja pattern from BMS. She thought it would be a good fit for me.

FREJA Bra PATTERN A Pin Up Girls Original Pattern image 1I had tried the pattern once before and the cups were too small for me. I hadn’t gone back to the pattern. I decided it was time to try it again.

Here’s the first Freja I made.Oh, I loved the lace and the copper duoplex together. I was sad it didn’t fit perfectly. 

One of the reasons I wanted to re-try the Freja is one of my favorite RTW bras was the Fantasie Vivienne bra.  I loved the shaping of this bra, and the Freja is very close to the same shaping.

This time I went up a size in BCD and the cups are perfect!  Here’s my new Freja.I had this lovely pink kit from BMS so decided to use it for my second attempt of the Freja. It’s lovely!I could use the tip from Porcelynne on the side  here – to add another strip of channeling beside the wire channeling and add boning there. However, when I was wearing this it wasn’t bothering me that the wire is a little lower at the side.I’m really happy with how the Freja fits. Yes, there’s a little playing around I can do to help my Omega shape fit even better, but for an attempt I wasn’t sure would turn out better than the first time, I’m very happy.Next I’m thinking of making a pair of panties to match. 

It was wonderful to sew again. Wearing the splint, I’m slowly gaining movement in my thumb again. Thankfully, I can sew while wearing it.

Happy creating!

Porcelynne’s Eve Demi Cup Bra

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

Well, I did it. I finished my Eve demi cup bra, and I have to tell you it is incredibly comfortable.

It took a lot of work to find my perfect size and fit. I think I made at least 4 fitting bands to get it just right, then I must have made 6 (or possibly more) cups sizes and styles.

I was not getting that perfect fit with the Eve until we tried the demi cup. Than we found the cup style that fits me best.This lovely kit came from Porcelynne’s shop.

I can’t tell how wonderful it was to sew again. I just had to do it in bits. My hand is recovering, but it’s recovering slowly. Still. I couldn’t just not sew. I have a three different splints I’ve been wearing, and they’ve made it possible for me to do everything I need to do AND sew.

I have more sewing plans for the summer – maybe too many for how slowly I’m sewing – but I can’t wait to work on more projects.  Here’s the back of the bra. It has a nice curved U shape to the straps. Despite all the testing, this was a bit big for me. I think it’s mostly due to the fabric. I’d been using nylplex from Bodil’s shop for my test bras. This time I used the kit from Jennifer’s shop.   

One last mention, which I did mention before. This little strip of channeling beside the actual channeling is holding a piece of boning. Before I started to recommend this to everyone, I wanted to wear this and know it was comfortable. Honestly. I couldn’t feel it at all.

It’s a great tip for all the Omegas out there to get a better fit and get the coverage they need with smaller wires. It works!

Happy creating and I hope to be back soon with more makes.