Sooo….. I’ve been making underwear, and recently have produced two new sets; one is sorta Oo-la-la while the other is more of the Serviceable variety.
Madame Serviceable? you’re up first!
“Pretty” is all very well but we all need some plains in our lives too, right? I still think this set is kinda classy 🙂 Of course I’ve been wearing it a lot! because it’s absolutely awesome under all my winter white sweaters and Tshirts, which I wear such heckkuva lot it’s not even funny. Rest assured though, I took these photos when it was all fresh and brand new, hot off the machine and not yet been worn.
Patterns; MakeBra 2610, which is apparently now renamed DL03; so I’m going to start using that tag instead… and all four pairs of knickers in this post are the Watson briefs.
Materials; light caramel stretchy stuff from Fabulous Fabrics, all other materials are from my MakeBra basic kits. The foldover elastic on the waist of the knickers is a different type from that I used for the legs, because in between the two basic kits I’ve bought through them, they seem to have changed their supplier or something. I didn’t have enough of either elastic to do everything on both pairs of briefs, but I had enough for this arrangement. They’re close enough to identical that I can live with it 😉 The waist elastic is a teeny little bit “shinier” than the leg elastic. The little ribbon bows are rescued from off of an old lingerie set, also me-made. Yep, when I toss out an old lingerie set, I usually salvage the little decorative bows off it, because A) it’s not like they get dirty or worn out or ruined or anything through wear, and B) they’re kinda fiddly to make so it’s worth the few seconds it takes to pick them off to keep for a new set. Waste not want not!
Madame Oo-la-la…
I bought this neon yellow bra kit from Measure Twice Cut Once… and was rather thrilled that I managed to get not just the bra but two pair of knickers from it too;yay!!! Stingey economical cutter; yet another of my middle names…
hehe; I finished the set late at night and then just slung it all over Bessie in a hurry. The next morning it gave me such a laugh to see her “wearing” these pretty frilly nothings all deshabille and “twas a wild-night, eh?” like this!! 😀
The bra design is my own; I just wanted something flimsy and a bit of whimsical frippery. In summer I don’t always want or need to wear the foam-lined “Tshirt” bras that I favour in winter, and can just happily live in the more lacey, pretty and fun designs. Just one more reason to love summer!!! Anyway, I just draped the lace directly on Bessie and ad-libbed it, and I couldn’t be happier with the result! I think it turned out really pretty and almost more like a sweet little camisole than a bra. Don’t worry, it’s definitely going to be worn as a bra, though! even though it’s lined with beige power net it’s still quite see-through.
It’s not a super supportive thing, but realistically I have no need for a super supportive bra anyway. I still think it’s pretty stable though; I stitched the clear elastic that came with the kit along each side of the cups; so they won’t stretch out, and stitched a little strip of bias-cut white linen in with the side seams. I trimmed the linen strip right down before encasing it within the side seam, so it doesn’t show…. and this stabilised the side seams and makes them nice and strong, and they won’t stretch out either.
Inner workings: 1) hand flat-felled seams within the cups and clear elastic stabilising; and 2) linen bias-strip to stabilise the side seams(above) is then sewn to be enclosed inside the layers (below)
There was enough of some neon yellow bra elastic to do one pair of knickers around the waist, the other has a strip of the leftover neon yellow lace at the top. After that, I had to resort to things from my stash; obviously I didn’t have any matching lingerie elastic for the legs and had to resort to white. I don’t hate the white, but don’t love it either… I kinda wish I had made some attempt to get hold of matching lingerie elastic but I’m an impatient person and really wanted to just get them made and done!
Lol!…..Bessie’s look…classic!
😀
The lace set is really pretty but I know what you mean about plain! I am pretty much a plain girl at heart. You can’t go past a flesh coloured set in summer.
Yes! I wear a lot of white, so a plain, light-coloured set is pretty much a must-have 🙂
The neon is such fun! Lovely underthings!
Thank you! it is rather fun, isn’t it?!
The caramel set is pretty in its simplicity….. and the lace definitely has the high ‘wow’ factor! Both are lovely!
thank you so much, Lisa! xx 🙂
Both sets are lovely, but that “plain one” is to die for.
thank you! I’m so glad the plain one is getting some love too 🙂
OMG !It’s just marvellous !
I’ll want do the same ! I’m jalouse ! They are amazing
thank you so much, Liochka! 🙂
I love both sets. You have done an amazing job (as always)!
thank you so much! Making lingerie is addictive! 🙂
I like the first one and of all the knicker making efforts I have tried, fold over elastic on the legs and something nice round the top is the combo that is working for me at the moment. I think I have been over stretching the leg elastic because the leg holes have been too tight but with FOE it has been much better and I have stretche d it less. Thanks for sharing, my underwear making inspirational blogger! Jo x
thanks Jo! I’m less in love with FOE than I am with lingerie elastic, but it’s ok every now and then. It’s nice to have different things in the smalls drawer! 🙂
Both sets beautiful in their styling. I’m afraid if I ever tried this it would be a lumpy bunchy mess under my clothes – not a good look, heh. I especially like neon with the feminine twist. Oooh, lovely. Aren’t you tempted to throw up your top in public and say, “Look what I made?!” I doubt whoever carts you away would let you make appropriate clothing for your new digs. Heh. So yes, best to show us here. Did I just write this? Hahaha.
Melanie, you’re the best! Getting carted off would be absolutely cool with me if there was a sewing machine, and unlimited supplies of lace, and pretty fabrics, and… siiiiiggghhhh *drifts off into happy day-dreaming* *seriously considers going out and flashing the innocent public*
Lovely sets! I wish I could understand better what you did on the side seam on the neon bra, where you say you applied the bias linen strip. I have a similar pattern from an old Burda (12/2005), which, instead of a proper band uses just an elastic. I made it once before, and the elastic does the job ok, but I would like to replace it with a proper back band as it’s more elegant, but I’m not sure how to attach it to the side of the cup.
thank you Olga! In the picture; the cup/band at the top right is Stage 1; and shows the side seam with the linen strip sewn on and trimmed right down to be skinny. At bottom left in the same picture is the other side cup/band showing Stage 2, where the band has been folded back over the linen bias strip, and sewn down to enclose it. I hope that explains it?
Both of your sets are so lovely and each one is very necessary. The plain one probably is indispensable and you made it so well! The lace one is so chic and will be a joy to wear in summer with woven little tops or dresses.
thank you SaSa! Yes, it is very nice to have several things to choose from, and in different levels of seriousness and playfulness! 🙂
Such beautiful work Carolyn. Alas I only ever see under wires in my bountiful future!
thank you Lesley! Actually I do prefer underwires for me too, although I don’t really “need” them! 🙂
Both are lovely. Handmade underwear is the best!
thank you Sue, and I agree!
These are great! I laughed out loud when I read about Bessie’s wild night. LOL I have made plenty of bras, but I have not gotten into the undies sewing for myself. I should. I priced some in the store the other day and didn’t like the price for even the plain ones.
Thanks Shirley! Well, if you’ve made plenty of bras then believe me, undies are a doddle! I say, go for it!
Both sets are very pretty 🙂
thank you, Kay 🙂
Very pretty! Love your work.
Thanks so much, Jean Margaret! 🙂
Both sets are fabulous! Your workmanship is impeccable.
thank you so much Tomasa! 🙂
Beautiful sets and I need to stop procrastinating.
thank you Sharon! Ha! honestly, it’s not that hard, you’ll be surprised… and then rapidly become addicted, like me!
Beautiful work again! I love both sets.
thank you very much, Olivia! xx 🙂
One day I will sew my own underwear ….one day I will sew my own underwear. If I keep saying it, it might just happen. But, it will never surpass these wonderful sets.
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