Obviously the most worn items in just about anyone’s wardrobe is bound to be underwear… and so one is obliged to often update these things, even though you don’t get the benefit of showing of your new creations to your friends, much less the general public! I’m still using up small pieces of cotton jersey in my stash that are too small for anything else, thus this is another patchwork set. Oh, pattern? the Cloth Habit Watson pattern, adapted over time to become a long term favourite of mine.
The blue jersey was a remnant given to me by my friend N – in spite of the fact that I no longer accept fabric donations, honestly I have to get stricter about just throwing it out! however occasionally some pieces do prove useful. I had enough of the blue jersey for a partial set, but I always like to have two knickers to go with any one bra so I hunted about for more cotton jersey to make up the shortfall. I didn’t really have anything exactly suitable apart from white, but something in me found white to be unacceptable at the time so I whimsically decided to dye the white pieces.
I still have some dried calendula flowers which gives an orange dye, so tossed just 4 of them in with the pieces in a saucepan.
These are pretty potent things! The water looked very orange, however I was pleasantly surprised that the fabric became quite pink in the end! So pretty!
I used blue topstitching thread, and the small lace butterflies are leftover from this, previously made set. I carefully selected a blue butterfly for the pink undies and a pink butterfly for the blue undies and the bra, although the colour doesn’t show up so well in these close-ups.
For the bra cups, I like hand stitch the outer layer to the inner layer in-the-ditch along the seamline, to keep the seam allowances neatly in place. I try to keep the stitches even and as neat as possible, whilst also as invisible as possible … if this makes sense! but you can just see the stitches if you look really closely.
The knicker elastic and underbra elastic are all new, however the bra straps and closure are recycled from old sets. I generally find that these things can be recycled a few times, since it’s always either the knicker elastic or occasionally the fabric of the pieces that wears out the most quickly.
I made a dress, using this very precious piece of fabric that I have been too frightened to cut in to for years now … ok so I’ve just checked back and it first came into my life back in August 2015, FIVE YEARS AGO!! well it’s about well overdue that I made it up, hey…
I have just one thing left on the list, and I think I’m going to be able to manage it. And I love this dress! I adore the colour, and the style is right up my alley, so I’m so happy Yoshimi recommended the pattern to me all those years ago. 🙂
