So, Mum was coming up to stay recently and we were going to be doing some sewing together… for a variety of reasons I didn’t want to be doing my Christmas sewing, the biggie being that I needed a little break from all that #exhausted #needsomeselfishnessSTAT
Anyway, I decided I wanted to just whip up something quick, fun and easy. A simple lingerie set. So quick! Such fun! So easy! And, I reasoned; I have a billionty-one lingerie bits and pieces on hand already, so I could easily shop my stash and avoid any last-minute dashes to the fabric store.
Obviously when anyone sets out to do such a thing, a last minute dash to the fabric store will be an absolute certainty. Ha!
So I had this small piece of neon yellow bamboo knit (Fabulous Fabrics I think), always intended for lingerie but never-got-around-to-it; and some bits of both white and black elastics, enough of the both together to cobble together a bra and two sets of sorta matching undies. For the set to look cohesive, I used both white AND black elastics on all pieces… so it’s kind of a case of nothing matches so everything does. I do really like black ,white and yellow together though, so I think it turned out very nice.
The difference between the two pairs of matching knickers is subtle, oh so subtle! but it’s there. One pair has black elastic on the waist, and white on the legs, the other has white elastic on the waist and black on the legs. Subtle!! To further emphasise the black/white dichotomy, I used black zig-zag topstitching everywhere there was white elastic, and white zig-zag topstitching everywhere there was black elastic. This was not a totally successful ploy, since the white zig-zag stitching basically disappears into the yellow and you can’t even see it, but hey.
On another note; high contrast black zig-zag top-stitching on yellow is a deeply unforgiving exercise. Much quality time was spent with my seam-ripper.
I’d planned to use a few little plain black and plain white ribbon bows in my stash, saved from old lingerie sets… but inevitably I became more and more convinced that black and white ribbons were just not right, and more and more convinced that the only option was something black AND white. Like, gingham. In fact I decided that gingham was the only possible choice, eventually. At first I first made some ultra skinny rouleau loops with a scrap of gingham fabric from my stash – must avoid any last minute dashes to the fabric store!!! – and made some little bows, but they were just too bulky for the set.
Thus, the inevitable last-minute dash to Spotlight, for gingham ribbon.
It’s OK, I bought other stuff while I was there! Alway, but always; there’s a little list building up. (sigh)
Mum agrees that the gingham bows were exactly what the set needed. The only thing is, that since the gingham ribbon is sold by the spool only, I now have about 3m left out of a 3.5m spool to do something with. Lol! MORE RANDOM STUFF ADDED TO THE STASH WILL IT NEVER END
Oh! pattern… I used the cloth habit Watson pattern for all pieces, except I used my own method for ensuring that all seams in the bra are enclosed in the lining, and as usual cut the knickers front and crotch lining as one piece so as to eliminate that horizontal front seam. I love the Watson bra more and more nowadays; it’s funny; I’ve always preferred a slightly padded bra with a foam-lined cup, basically my whole life, but just lately I’m really into this soft, unwired, unstructured type of bra. Especially for summer, when I’m not wearing tight Tshirts. Sure, they result in the flat-chested look, but you know what? I’m at peace with that aspect of my body now. I mean, it’s what I’ve got, it’s me, my body is just my body; and I’m ok with it.
Thank you, Jane for being such a fab lingerie model… and now, back to sewing the Christmas pressies!!
I’m continuing on with my tradition of making a new set of bra plus undies for my thing. The last two years I’ve taken the humble frog as my inspiration, 
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.
Lately the smalls drawer is just looking the epitome of prettiness! I’m totally enamoured with this new set… ivory bobbin lace on a deep blue-y charcoal background, with delicate little black ribbon bows. A little old Hollywood, scraps from the cutting room floor…
Actually, I did the exact same thing with the MakeBra hipster briefs, which also has that same horizontal front crotch seam. grrr. Both panty liners are of plain ivory cotton jersey.
Fabrics and other bits and bobs; charcoal stretch bought from Fabulous Fabrics, eons ago. I used this for my 
Fulfilling a need. Plus, I’ve been making some winter boots and it has been such a freaking marathon, cue Munchen scream here, although I am over the difficult bit and on the home straight now, weeeee! anyway I just wanted to whip up something quick and pretty and girly and fun and frivolous. Lingerie! of course! Something to lighten the mental load.
Fabric and materials: I bought the pretty floral cotton-mix jersey and the lace-y knicker elastic from Fabulous Fabrics during their recent 20% off sale, and the deep teal/navy blue shoulder strap elastic and ribbon are from Homecraft Textiles. I’ve always loved the colour combination of deep blues and teals when mixed with pinks of any variety; such a pleasing colour combination. This set is pretty plain really, all the excitement is in the print. In a rather busy print like this, I prefer for it to do the talking and power down on any lace or decoration or any frippery bits and bobs to distract from it. That print is plenty!!
All the other innards and bits; the foam, hook and eye closure, rings and sliders, underwire casing and underwires are from my rapidly dwindling 
Well I reckon it’s the attention to the whimsical detail that becomes the most fun thing about making your own clothes!
Patterns; both knickers are the Watson briefs and the bra is my favourite pattern, MakeBra 2610. This is hands down the most wearable of the bra patterns in my collection.
