Monthly Archives: August 2012

I’ve made another lingerie set  🙂

And I used this terrific bra pattern!   Kwik Sew 3300.  I browsed through the veeery few patterns there are on offer and chose this one as the cutest, and the closest in appearance to the sort I like to wear.  I am happiest in a streamlined little bra, with underwires, and cup inserts or at least a thin layer of padding.  Personally I cannot wear ones that have just one single layer of flimsy fabric, or just lace.

This pattern does not cater for a cup insert, so I sewed the pieces such that I could put some in…  I trimmed the inserts to fit inside the cups exactly and put them in just before attaching the underarm and back elastic edging.  Incidentally, I found (by sitting on the floor of Spotlight with my half-finished bra, comparing it to all the cup inserts…)  that the Birch’s size 16 cup insert fits the 34A cup of this pattern pretty well! it has the perfect depth and just needs a small slice trimmed off each side.  Win!   To stop the inserts from folding up inside or becoming twisted up through washing I invisibly pick-stitched each to the cup lining, around the whole perimeter at about 5mm in from the edge of the insert.

For the two pairs of matching undies I used a swimwear pattern I’ve had for a while; McCalls 2772.  I’ve made five pairs of bathers from this pattern over the years, the latest two pairs here and here, so I know it is a perfect fit for me. 
These panties are made up using the pattern pieces for view E bikini bottom.

I see no problems with using a bikini pattern to make undies, in fact I think it makes good economic sense, since you are kinda getting two for the price of one, no?  All the bra and undies patterns I looked at had either bra or undies, and very few had bra and undies together in one pattern… and the one or two that did unfortunately were not the style I was looking for…  The swimwear pattern I used is not available anymore but I noticed this one, McCalls 5400 … and this is a great pattern since you are getting bathers and undies all rolled in one pattern!

The best thing about lingerie sets of course, is that they use the teensiest lengths of fabric!  I love this cotton jersey knit, in a warm light yellowy-grey marle, than makes me think of gym gear and sweatshirts.  This fabric is partially leftovers from my Pattern Magic 3 Clipped Wings Top and I just had to buy a little extra, which then enabled me to cut out two pairs of knickers.  This worked out well, because I think two pairs of undies per bra is a good ratio to live with.  The panty liners I cut from an old Tshirt.

The decorative stitching for the picot edged elastic looks so pretty, yes?  This is the suggested finishing method for the bra, and I am so pleased at how attractive those triple-stitch zig-zags look.

I sewed a white button decoratively on each item.  I think the plainness of the humble button, its innocence and lack of pretension, better suits the sporty fabric and simple style of this set than anything frilly or feminine.   
Y’know what the fun bit is…? I am really looking forward to choosing interesting fabrics and trims for future sets… I think I’m staring down the barrel of a new sewing addiction!

Before y’know it, I’m going to be churning out beauties like these….

…haha!  Just kidding!! ;D

Pattern
Description:

Underwire bra has back from power net, edges finished with elastic, and shoulder straps from tricot.  View A cups are made from lace and tricot, and view B cups are made from tricot.

Pattern Sizing:

Sizes 32, 34 and 36 with cup sizes A, B, C, D; and size 38 with cup sizes B, C, D, DD

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you had finished sewing it?

in essence, yes

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes!  The instructions are fantastic, very clear and straightforward.  The method for attaching the picot elastic along the edges turned out really pretty, I love it!  I used the same method for the two pairs of matching knickers too.

What
did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

This is a fantastic pattern!  I wasn’t sure about my size to start with; there are no clear directions about selecting your correct size; just directing you to “select pattern size by your purchased bra size”  In Australia our sizes are 10, 12, 14 etc, so I wasn’t sure what this actually translated to in European sizing.  I found a conversion chart here.

The pattern sheet is really well set out, with all the pieces for each size clustered together in separate sections.  Brilliant!  Much easier for tracing out your own size.  Which I actually did, for once  🙂

The pattern doesn’t make provision for cup inserts, and I prefer to have cup inserts; but it wasn’t difficult to work out how to put them in.

Fabric
Used:

Cotton jersey knit, underwear elastic, small scrap of cotton for the underwire casing.

Pattern
alterations or any design changes you made:

I didn’t need to make any alterations to the pattern, it is so well drafted! but I did put in cup inserts, a personal preference, and omitted the lingerie rings and strap adjusters for the straps.  I don’t think adjustable straps are necessary on a bra that has to fit only me. I just make them the right length to start with!   And if they do stretch out eventually over time it is pretty easy to unpick them at the back and shorten them a little bit.

Would
you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Yes, and yes!

Conclusion:

An absolutely fantastic pattern!  I was worried that making a bra with underwires and cup inserts would be fiddly and difficult, but I breezed through this project! because the beautifully drafted pattern pieces went together so well and the clear instructions made it easy, and dare I say, fun?  I’m really looking forward to my next set now.  I cannot wait to check out my fabric stash for small scraps of interesting fabric to use  🙂