Oh hai! So I’m suddenly and frantically trying to blog things I’ve made in a month WITHIN the month. Something I am lately failing at dismally!
However, not much to say really. I made a bra and two pairs of matching undies.
Bra pattern is my standby MakeBra pattern 2610, now renamed DL 03; and the two pairs of undies are both my favourite cloth habit Watson briefs. I used a lovely aqua-turquoise stretch lace from Minerva crafts, and a cream coloured polyester from Spotlight, the latter has been in my stash for yonks – also used for this set, actually. Pretty pink ribbon and all matching cream elastics from Homecraft Textiles. Foam for the cups from the MakeBra basic kit I purchased years ago. Rings and sliders recycled from an old, also made-by-me bra.
I did some slightly different with the cups this time, and instead of piecing the lace to cover the cups, I stretched it over the foam cups that I’d already covered with the cream polyester, pieced in the usual way. I did this because I didn’t want to break up the pretty design of the lace with obvious seaming. Always an issue with a pieced bra cup! When you seee bras in the store they don’t really have this pieced cup thing going on and I wanted to see if I could make it happen with my own homemade bras too. I had to very slight gather the bottom edge of the lace in order for this to work, but I think it turned out ok.
I didn’t have quite enough of the lace to cut the bra band out in one, single piece, so there is piecing towards the back of the band. However I think this is subtle enough that it’s not a problem.
Extremely eagle eyed observers might pick up that the hook and eye closure are on the wrong sides here!! Now this is the reason why I usually haul out an existing bra every single time and check FOR SURE before adding these, because the one time you don’t?!!…. Of course I only discovered this when I went to put the bra on for the first time….. DOH! I managed to get it on ok at the time, but before wearing it again I unpicked them and swapped them to the correct sides. My hands are like old dogs, and are not used to learning new bra-wrangling tricks like this anymore!
I made the bra and one pair of knickers to be total lace; but didn’t have enough lace for another entire pair of undies… but well I like to have the undies different from each other anyway. In fact, I decided I liked the half-lace undies more in the end! I carefully cut and appliquéd to get them all neat and nice. After my wedding dress adventures, I now consider myself a lace-applique expert, actually
So, items in my wardrobe I am currently very much in want, and need, of replenishing, are those that reside in my smalls drawer…. and with our Family Wedding just around the corner I reeeeeeeally wanted a lovely new set of lingerie for the Big Day! And of course, what better than one to tone in/match my wedding outfit?
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, 
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.
