Alterations

Yvonne Bra Kit All Sewn Up

~ Michelle

I finished sewing up the very pretty Yvonne kit from Bwear. And I’m very happy with it. This is again with the few tweaks I’d made to my pattern, and I’m so happy with those tweaks as well.

This is such a pretty kit, and I have enough fabric to make another bra – all I will need is another finding kit. Honestly, this is a very generously supplied kit. 

Sewing this up, I had an idea to redo something I’d done for a BMS Challenge back in 2018.You can read the whole post here. Below you can see I split the upper cup.

I really liked this design feature and I’m not sure why I haven’t done it more often. That is on the Ruby pattern, but I’ve been using the Freja pattern lately. 

You can see from these images the upper cups are shaped differently. The Ruby has a straighter upper cup. However, I think this would be worth trying after all it’s just adding another seam. 

With the lace edge, this will look amazing! The bra will be mostly the floral design lace with just the edge of the upper cup lace. It will give it a completely different look. Isn’t this fabric gorgeous! And the cradle is the same floral lace fabric. I really like this kit. Here you can see the bra from the side. Hmm, makes me wonder if there is floral power net out there…

I have one more bra to show you this year, and then I want to be a bit more proactive with some projects that have just been waiting for me for 2026.

Happy creating!

Sure Fit Designs Take Two

~ Michelle

Last week I shared my Sure Fit Designs sloper. It was too big, the bust dart was too low. Seeing as both my friend and I were both dealing with the same issues, I put it down to user error. It was our first attempt, so I could only get better.

So I started over. I measured everything again, and my bust and waist measurements were a bit smaller this week.

 I redrew the whole pattern, and cut it out and it’s fitting much better.

There are still a couple of changes I plan to make. My bust measurement came out to a half number, and I think I’ll round up for my next one rather than use the half.

And of course lengthen it to hit my waist.  

As well, that waist dart is coming up too high. The lengthening will fix that.

Still, this is much better than the first attempt.

Happy creating!

A Foam Angie’s Twin

~ Michelle ~ 5 Comments

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!

A Gorgeous Margareta

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

I was really happy with the alterations I made to my Margareta pattern. Things fit before, and honestly after so many years struggling to fit my Omega shape, I was really weary of more alterations. So I was accepting good.

But better is better. This is a kit I bought last year and I just love it! It’s a teal color with ivory floral lace. It was a kit of the month in January or February, and I’d been saving it. I used some of the lace along the power bar. I love this look. The solid color behind the lace just gives it a really different look. The upper cup is sheer, but the power bar is detailed as well. The kit came with ivory power net, and an ivory findings kit.   The ivory looks lovely with this teal color, and of course the lace is ivory, so it all goes together very well. This kit didn’t come with a bow, but it needed a bow! You know me – it has to be bow worthy. I’m going to need to stock up on bows.

I’m thrilled with the shortening alteration I did, and I already have my next bra cut out.

If you’ve been where I was, don’t give up! Sometimes changing the pattern you’re trying will help, sometimes it’s just one more little alteration and you’ll be really happy with your bra-making.

Happy creating!

A New Pistachio Margareta

~ Michelle

With the very happy alteration to my Margareta pattern, I just had to make another one right away.

I used a lovely Pistachio kit from B,Wear. This is the Midsummer bra kit, and I love this color.   I have to tell you, when I opened this kit. I wondered what the stable fabric was. It is so soft! Then I realized this is the new soft Nylplex B,Wear is carrying. It’s lovely!

Okay, enough about all these other wonderful things, here’s my new bra. This is the Margareta, again. And I’m thrilled again.I adore this color! I have looked for a cotton Lycra the same color. I did find some that’s a bit darker, so I think some matchy-matchy will be next on the sewing table. The power net in this kit has a sheen or glimmer to it. It is very pretty.   

The power net looks lovely with the shimmer of the straps.

Yes, I’m very happy with this. It turned out as lovely as the first Margareta did. So far this pattern is winning the favorite pattern for me. We’ll see what happens when I revisit the Freja, but for now I’m thrilled to have a great fitting pattern.

Happy creating!

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!

Em’s October Bra

~ Michelle

I saw this lace and knew it was for Em. After sending her a quick photo, she confirmed this was perfect for her.

This lovely butterfly lace comes from B,Wear’s shop. Isn’t this lovely?

Seeing as the Watson is my favorite bra to make for Em, this had to become another Watson. I made a lace-edged cup again, and kept the scallops along the bottom as well. I even cut out a little lace butterfly to add as a detail at the center front. Em doesn’t need support in a bra, but she needs comfort. So again for this Watson, I’ve used the stretch lace throughout the bra – including for the back band. There was a little bit of lace left over, and I thought it would be just enough to make Em a pair of panties to go with her new bra. A girl needs her matchy matchy after all. These are the Clover Briefs with lace at the upper edge. I cut out a second little butterfly to add at the center front again.

I’m not sure if you can see, but I had to add a seam to the front of the panties. There wasn’t quite enough lace without seaming the pieces together.

So for the back of the panties, it had to be cotton Lycra. 

   It all still coordinates well, and I think the set looks adorable. Em loved it. And yes, she got it a bit early.

There are a few other projects on my cutting table, so I got this to her first.

Happy creating!

Being Innovative with a Finding Kit

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

So. My Michelles Special Freja. Do you remember I didn’t add upper cup elastic? 

It should have looked more like this with thin elastic along the upper cup: Or like this: But it shouldn’t have looked like it did.

I also didn’t have any thin elastic in my stash that would match the findings in that bra. I actually used it up making the second bra with that lace, my newest Margareta.

So, what is a girl to do?

Something I’ve done before, and suggested in my classes, is if you’re not using the neckline trim elastic – use that! Carefully cut off the scalloped part, and you are left with a perfectly usable thin strip of elastic. Perfect for along the upper cup.     Yes, that worked just fine.

Once that was done, I had a lovely long strip of scalloped elastic. Then I had another thought. I could sew it along the strap elastic to add a pretty detail to the straps.    I love it! I may just do this more often. However, I do hope the next time I do this I’ll do it when putting the bra together – rather than doing it after the bra is finished. I love the strap detail.

Happy creating!

Michelles Special Part Two

~ Michelle ~ 6 Comments

It was my turn to sew up something with my very special kit!

I decided I would stick to what was in the kit. Often, I open a kit and inspiration will strike and off I go. However, I fell in love with the bra shown on the website, so wanted to do my best to create something that looked a lot like it.

Isn’t this so pretty? Yes. I wanted a bra like this.

I decided to make another PUG Freja. I really do like that pattern and it’s shape and design.

However, the upper cup was a little bit too long for me. It was time for me to adjust my pattern and sew up a very pretty Freja. This lace! It’s so pretty.

Yes, the newest alteration worked out well. I was a bit nervous as I’d never adjusted an upper cup like this, but I trusted the process of shortening it and it worked. 

 

If you’re wondering how I shortened the upper cup. I put the side pattern piece and the lace pattern piece together along their seam lines, and drew a line across them. I measured 1/4-inch and drew another line. I cut on the bottom line and taped the pattern pieces back on the upper line. I removed 1/4-inch from the upper cup.

After that I just had to ‘neaten’ the design lines up again.

I love the sheerness of this. The original used sheer cup lining under the lace. But I had used some of my lace for Em’s bra. I couldn’t recreated it exactly. As well, I am using a different pattern. Overall, I’m very happy with my new Freja, but…

I made a mistake, and it wasn’t with the adjustment I made. No. I made a different mistake.

Let me show you. Do you see it?

I forgot to sew on the upper cup elastic. I tried on my lovely new Freja thinking about how the new adjustment would make it fit. And my upper cups were all floppy! “What? What was wrong with my bra? How did taking 1/4-inch out make the upper cup floppy?”

Back to the sewing machine to fix this.

Happy creating!