Merry Christmas Everyone! And a Happy Belated Hanukkah to my Jewish friends. My blogging has been very sporadic lately, and it seems the holidays come and go so quickly. On my end, this has been the Christmas that wasn't. It simply hasn't felt like the Christmas season, nor did it feel like Christmas today.
I can't pinpoint exactly why. Maybe it's partly the news. The economy, so many people losing their jobs--it leads to a general feeling of not being in the holiday mood. It could also be my friend fighting cancer and getting denied disability for the second time, while I know another person out of work since summertime who is enjoying year-long unemployment checks while gambling in Atlantic City, not necessarily even looking for a job.
It has been a year of friendship disappointment. There's nothing like lending a long-term friend a high degree of support, yet having their dishonesty and half truths cause people to question my credibility. I promptly terminated the friendship and all association with that person. While another person acted as if they wanted to renew a friendship after blowing me off last year, I simply refused to go there. It caused me to wonder why it was happening and what they wanted from me. I felt they were only doing it because of my connections with other people. Sorry, I'm not going to be used. So, a good riddance to 2009.
Except for one bright spot! That would be who I consider to be the most inspirational blogger of 2009. She's the one person who made me want to consider an aspect of sewing I have never had an interest in. That is, until January or February of this year. She is the person who sews absolutely beautiful bras! I was continually amazed by her better-than-Victoria's Secret bras. Her exquisite detail and beautifully selected fabrics and laces were incredibly inspiring, and I even asked her if she would consider offering a class on PR on bra construction. Instead, she opted to create a lingerie sew along for interested sewers on bra construction. This busy lady graciously offered her expertise and time (of which we know there is so little of) and helped out all of us in creating beautiful bras, sharing ideas, and learning about fitting bra patterns.
If you don't know already who is, what I consider to be, THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL BLOGGER OF 2009, I'll tell you :) . It is...Sigrid.
Before this year, I never had any desire to sew up a pair of panties, nor a bra. But it is her work that provided me with the inspiration to sew up beautiful panties and a bra. I've sewed up two pairs of pretty lacy panties and one bra. The bra was a muslin, but I'm going to make the same bra as a back closure instead of a front closure one. On a side note, my days of front closure bras came to an end the day I was in the middle of teaching a high school class, and my bra became unhooked as I was writing on the chalkboard LOL. It was made worse by the fact that I had on a dress that was close-fitting from the waist up. Not a good experience as a C-Cup woman as one can imagine.
Anyway, I made plenty of little mistakes and ended up with little holes on the back band from seam ripping. Not to worry. I will make my beautiful bra in early 2010. However, it wouldn't have happened without Sigrid. Therefore, she gets my admiration for providing inspiration in an area of sewing I have never had an interest in before. And to accomplish that, one must produce outstanding work to the point that it creates a desire to do the same in another person. To never have an interest in lingerie sewing to have a strong desire to make beautiful bras and panties because of one person's work is a testament to her outstanding work.
Way to go, Sigrid!
Showing posts with label bras. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bras. Show all posts
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Quick Sewing Update!
Yesterday I FINALLY put in my order to Sew Sassy for bra making supplies. I was supposed to do that two weeks ago but hesitated every day thinking there might be one more supply to add to the order. I finally placed the order and am happy about it. Next week I can get my bra done and work on Bra version 2.0.
Started a second pair of lacy panties in royal blue with black lace. Had to stop because I ran out of plush finishing elastic. Waiting for that in my order. I modified the panty pattern tweaking it here and there. Added a little bit of width at the back booty area near the crotch/back piece horizontal seam, narrowed the upper width of the back piece a smidge, raised the center back a little bit, and shortened the crotch piece about a 1/2". Let's see where these pattern alterations take me. I was thinking on my third try to cut the width of a size XS at the mid/upper side seams. We'll see. Here's the KS panty pattern I'm using, the style is the green illustration:
My swimsuit muslin has been tweaked. You'd think in nylon/lycra I wouldn't have to do anything, but no.... When am I ever able to get around alterations??? The KS swimsuit pattern as altered according to my back waist and crotch depth, but there is way too much length at the front between the shoulders and bustline. It's far too low. Then the bra shelf is far too low as well. You wouldn't believe how much I had to shorten the bra shelf, which put my boobs dangerously close to the upper edge LOL. Bra cups won't work in a bathing suit that low cut so the upper edge had to come up.
Bra cups are a mystery that is unraveling for me. I've never used them before in anything so that is a learning experience. I'm very happy to be involved in the lingerie/bra making sew along because it's very helpful as I try to work in some sort of shelf bra in my swimsuit. The bathing suit style is more of a "Baywatch" type of swimsuit in that it is a one-piece tank front and it has a low back with high-cut legs. Here is a pic of it:
At some point, I'll try to get a pic of my bathing suit muslin. Maybe within the week.
Also, my friend, Pat, just finished her Cape. It looks great! Right now I'm helping her make a matching skirt. She also has enough to whip up a vest. A complete outfit! She's going to look great in this.
Future plans for the month? A maxi dress. I have the McCall's pattern picked out, the perfect fabric picked out from my local fabric store, and I'll be the first one in my town (at least I think!) to wear one around town. The pattern will likely be a one-hit wonder for me. The maxi dress will be in this summer, and probably out in the Summer of 2010.
Started a second pair of lacy panties in royal blue with black lace. Had to stop because I ran out of plush finishing elastic. Waiting for that in my order. I modified the panty pattern tweaking it here and there. Added a little bit of width at the back booty area near the crotch/back piece horizontal seam, narrowed the upper width of the back piece a smidge, raised the center back a little bit, and shortened the crotch piece about a 1/2". Let's see where these pattern alterations take me. I was thinking on my third try to cut the width of a size XS at the mid/upper side seams. We'll see. Here's the KS panty pattern I'm using, the style is the green illustration:
My swimsuit muslin has been tweaked. You'd think in nylon/lycra I wouldn't have to do anything, but no.... When am I ever able to get around alterations??? The KS swimsuit pattern as altered according to my back waist and crotch depth, but there is way too much length at the front between the shoulders and bustline. It's far too low. Then the bra shelf is far too low as well. You wouldn't believe how much I had to shorten the bra shelf, which put my boobs dangerously close to the upper edge LOL. Bra cups won't work in a bathing suit that low cut so the upper edge had to come up.
Bra cups are a mystery that is unraveling for me. I've never used them before in anything so that is a learning experience. I'm very happy to be involved in the lingerie/bra making sew along because it's very helpful as I try to work in some sort of shelf bra in my swimsuit. The bathing suit style is more of a "Baywatch" type of swimsuit in that it is a one-piece tank front and it has a low back with high-cut legs. Here is a pic of it:
At some point, I'll try to get a pic of my bathing suit muslin. Maybe within the week.Also, my friend, Pat, just finished her Cape. It looks great! Right now I'm helping her make a matching skirt. She also has enough to whip up a vest. A complete outfit! She's going to look great in this.
Future plans for the month? A maxi dress. I have the McCall's pattern picked out, the perfect fabric picked out from my local fabric store, and I'll be the first one in my town (at least I think!) to wear one around town. The pattern will likely be a one-hit wonder for me. The maxi dress will be in this summer, and probably out in the Summer of 2010.
Last, but not least, I have been commissioned to make my niece's Christening outfit for her infant son from her wedding dress. Wish me luck! I'm not a baby clothes person so this will certainly be an interesting endeavor. I'm starting that in a week or so. Her wedding dress is in my front closet ready to go.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Quick Update
Yesterday I spent most of the day at a softball tournament. I love the tournaments. There something about the air, the field, and the ball game. It's really an all-American sport. I know soccer has surged in popularity the past 20 years but personally, I much prefer watching a baseball or softball game over a soccer game any day. Just my preference. Yesterday's games were for seed, today is for the championship and it's a single elimination tournament--one loss, done for the day. Most of the ones we go to are like that.
For some reason, when you sit on the sidelines as a parent you feel exhausted at the end of the day. Maybe it's nerves. Maybe excitement. Maybe disappoinment. But when I got home at 7:30 (picked up two pizzas before arriving home), I was very tired. I *thought* about helping DS#1 with his school project but deferred the work until today.
If I'm lucky, I will cut out a muslin top. First things first, laundry and cleaning. Baseball practice tonight. Somehow get dinner done too.
Addressing other issues, in my previous post I talked about this great bra in my drawer. Sherril posted the response:
"I know why you're keeping that old bra. It's so you can cut it apart, steal the underwires from it and take the back hooks. You already know the underwires are your size and no reason not to re-use them."
Isn't that an awesome idea!!! That never occurred to me. Funny how the obvious always seems to elude me.
Kim also posted:
"If you model your bra when completely, you will have my utmost respect for life! I wish I could model a bra, but you look like you could pull it off."
I've been wrestling with this. Headless shot for sure. Hands strategically placed to hide wrinkled post-baby belly skin ;) . Actually probably two separate shots. We'll see Kim, we'll see LOL. Haven't decided on that yet.
On the prom dress post, Kim asked:
"...I have to ask you, did she stuff her bra, because all the little girls at my daughters prom were rearranging their well endowed areas before every photo! LOL! To be young again...... "
This is funny one. That fave Frederic's of Hollywood bra? When I bought that many years ago, I also bought those stick-on bra cups for special occasion dresses and tops. Never used them though. So I told her to use them for that dress. There was a hollow area below the boobs (teens are WAY too perky!) so when she was modeling her dress, I told her it just didn't look quite right. I manually took the fabric with her boobs in it and rearranged them to show them how they *should* look to fill out dress. She was saying, "Mom! What are you doing?!?!" I told her you have to push and angle your boobs just the right way for the dress. Then I brought out the stick-on cups and told her that's what she should use.
On prom day, I'm taking pics, then videos. Before the video I told her she had to peel off one corner of the cup as it was noticeable from a side angle view. Then while I'm taking a video (she didn't realize it at the time), she walks over to me and starts correcting her wardrobe malfunction. Gee girl! Give me a heads up so I can pan away!
She told me after the prom, she and this other girl peeled them off halfway through and threw them away. Someone else was wearing the stick-ons as well.
Yeah, Kim, to be young again...and not have to worry about support either ;) .
Well, it's a bright and beautiful day in the Pocono Mountains! And I'm off to spend it indoors cleaning. I hope everyone else is doing something wonderful...like sewing!
For some reason, when you sit on the sidelines as a parent you feel exhausted at the end of the day. Maybe it's nerves. Maybe excitement. Maybe disappoinment. But when I got home at 7:30 (picked up two pizzas before arriving home), I was very tired. I *thought* about helping DS#1 with his school project but deferred the work until today.
If I'm lucky, I will cut out a muslin top. First things first, laundry and cleaning. Baseball practice tonight. Somehow get dinner done too.
Addressing other issues, in my previous post I talked about this great bra in my drawer. Sherril posted the response:
"I know why you're keeping that old bra. It's so you can cut it apart, steal the underwires from it and take the back hooks. You already know the underwires are your size and no reason not to re-use them."
Isn't that an awesome idea!!! That never occurred to me. Funny how the obvious always seems to elude me.
Kim also posted:
"If you model your bra when completely, you will have my utmost respect for life! I wish I could model a bra, but you look like you could pull it off."
I've been wrestling with this. Headless shot for sure. Hands strategically placed to hide wrinkled post-baby belly skin ;) . Actually probably two separate shots. We'll see Kim, we'll see LOL. Haven't decided on that yet.
On the prom dress post, Kim asked:
"...I have to ask you, did she stuff her bra, because all the little girls at my daughters prom were rearranging their well endowed areas before every photo! LOL! To be young again...... "
This is funny one. That fave Frederic's of Hollywood bra? When I bought that many years ago, I also bought those stick-on bra cups for special occasion dresses and tops. Never used them though. So I told her to use them for that dress. There was a hollow area below the boobs (teens are WAY too perky!) so when she was modeling her dress, I told her it just didn't look quite right. I manually took the fabric with her boobs in it and rearranged them to show them how they *should* look to fill out dress. She was saying, "Mom! What are you doing?!?!" I told her you have to push and angle your boobs just the right way for the dress. Then I brought out the stick-on cups and told her that's what she should use.
On prom day, I'm taking pics, then videos. Before the video I told her she had to peel off one corner of the cup as it was noticeable from a side angle view. Then while I'm taking a video (she didn't realize it at the time), she walks over to me and starts correcting her wardrobe malfunction. Gee girl! Give me a heads up so I can pan away!
She told me after the prom, she and this other girl peeled them off halfway through and threw them away. Someone else was wearing the stick-ons as well.
Yeah, Kim, to be young again...and not have to worry about support either ;) .
Well, it's a bright and beautiful day in the Pocono Mountains! And I'm off to spend it indoors cleaning. I hope everyone else is doing something wonderful...like sewing!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Cold Turkey Grumbles!
Oh...it's been so busy at my house. Notice I did not say "sew" busy. That is truly unfortunate. It makes for one unhappy mom.
However, things are in the works. A muslin summer top is about ready to be cut out, swimsuit fabric ordered, bra and panty patterns and notions ordered, a dress is in the planning stage so when I get some time, I can make a move on things. I'm looking at that pattern making website someone posted about at Patternreview where I can input my measurements and create a custom swimsuit pattern. Here's the link: http://www.patternschool.com/ . There's some really great info/great reading on that site.
I'm very excited about sewing a bra! I love the pattern I ordered (Elan B540) shown below as it reminds me of this great Frederic's of Hollywood bra I bought years ago. It's simply too old to wear anymore, but it was a great-fitting bra and pretty too. Still in my drawer in fact. It's just darn hard to part with a good one, and there's no reason for me to keep it but it's there, right in the back getting my admiring glances from time to time.
I have yet to catch up on blog reading. Just when I think there's going to be time, it disappears. Then I wasn't feeling well for several days, had stomach rumbling and lost my appetite for a few days. That's pretty rare since I love to eat. Guess that wasn't a bad thing 'cuz when I put on my summer dress I made last year, I found out that no shapewear was necessary!!! It's a great feeling when those powernet panties can be left in the drawer.
Which reminds me. I was a "victim" of gym member's poor etiquette today. I was on the elliptical today, the lady in front was on the recumbent bike with her headphones. Then...she starts belting out the tunes! (One of my pet peeves!). PLEASE...you're not Beyonce, not Taylor Swift, nor Kelly Clarkson so SHUT UP! My reminder to myself, "Must bring own ear buds...must bring own ear buds...(repeat 10X) ".
Then, another lady reads a magazine and hogs up a piece of gym equipment for no less than 10 minutes! It's the only machine I'm waiting for, too, before going home. So when she's finished, I jokingly said (in a friendly way), something about her warming up the machine for me. She looked at me like I had two heads. So I said it again (she had ear buds), and again, she gives me a drunken stupor look. Is it me? Yes, I was wearing deodorant today ;) . Maybe it's a full moon. Who knows?!
My last "issue" of the day? I spent the entire day mulling over bra notions at Sew Sassy. So I finally finish putting things in the shopping cart, enter all the info, click on Submit, and constantly get an error. So I either have no order or 3 orders. Had to type an email of what I wanted and tried to get to the bottom of this matter. Very frustrating!
However, things are in the works. A muslin summer top is about ready to be cut out, swimsuit fabric ordered, bra and panty patterns and notions ordered, a dress is in the planning stage so when I get some time, I can make a move on things. I'm looking at that pattern making website someone posted about at Patternreview where I can input my measurements and create a custom swimsuit pattern. Here's the link: http://www.patternschool.com/ . There's some really great info/great reading on that site.
I'm very excited about sewing a bra! I love the pattern I ordered (Elan B540) shown below as it reminds me of this great Frederic's of Hollywood bra I bought years ago. It's simply too old to wear anymore, but it was a great-fitting bra and pretty too. Still in my drawer in fact. It's just darn hard to part with a good one, and there's no reason for me to keep it but it's there, right in the back getting my admiring glances from time to time.
I have yet to catch up on blog reading. Just when I think there's going to be time, it disappears. Then I wasn't feeling well for several days, had stomach rumbling and lost my appetite for a few days. That's pretty rare since I love to eat. Guess that wasn't a bad thing 'cuz when I put on my summer dress I made last year, I found out that no shapewear was necessary!!! It's a great feeling when those powernet panties can be left in the drawer.
Which reminds me. I was a "victim" of gym member's poor etiquette today. I was on the elliptical today, the lady in front was on the recumbent bike with her headphones. Then...she starts belting out the tunes! (One of my pet peeves!). PLEASE...you're not Beyonce, not Taylor Swift, nor Kelly Clarkson so SHUT UP! My reminder to myself, "Must bring own ear buds...must bring own ear buds...(repeat 10X) ".
Then, another lady reads a magazine and hogs up a piece of gym equipment for no less than 10 minutes! It's the only machine I'm waiting for, too, before going home. So when she's finished, I jokingly said (in a friendly way), something about her warming up the machine for me. She looked at me like I had two heads. So I said it again (she had ear buds), and again, she gives me a drunken stupor look. Is it me? Yes, I was wearing deodorant today ;) . Maybe it's a full moon. Who knows?!
My last "issue" of the day? I spent the entire day mulling over bra notions at Sew Sassy. So I finally finish putting things in the shopping cart, enter all the info, click on Submit
Friday, August 22, 2008
New Projects
This morning DD#2 asked when I was going to make her second pair of pajama pants with the fabric we bought back in March. I told her, "Maybe today." So today I cut out her pair in the flannel-backed satin I bought from JoAnn's with a Simplicity pajama pants pattern--same one as before.
Also, I cut out a pair of capris with the computer-generated pants pattern from (maybe?) the Wild Ginger website from about 3 years ago. In a sudden brainiac (or maybe brainless) moment, I decided to pull out the Hot Patterns Jeanious Jean pattern that I haven't whipped up yet. What I did was copy the crotch curve from the HP pattern onto my computer-generated pattern. I tried the pattern on in tissue and am hoping for the best. The backside looked pretty good when I turned around in the mirror.
That's pretty much it for today. I wore my blue knit top with the black band with crystals out today. One of my friends gave me a compliment on my top too. That made me happy. The unhappy thing is finding the right bra where the bra straps just won't peek out. I was at Walmart yesterday and was looking at the stick-on bra cups. Only problem was virtually every box was open--they were all picked over! I'll have to look online for them. Any suggestions as to where?
Either that or make my own special type of bra. Someone reviewed a good bra book at Patternreview the other day and I'm hoping I remembered to save it to favorites. Bras are so darn expensive anyway, although the idea of making my own bra for the heck of it doesn't do anything for me. Just need one or two special ones with special straps that go a specific way with certain styles.
That's all for now. I'm beat and have to get to bed.
Also, I cut out a pair of capris with the computer-generated pants pattern from (maybe?) the Wild Ginger website from about 3 years ago. In a sudden brainiac (or maybe brainless) moment, I decided to pull out the Hot Patterns Jeanious Jean pattern that I haven't whipped up yet. What I did was copy the crotch curve from the HP pattern onto my computer-generated pattern. I tried the pattern on in tissue and am hoping for the best. The backside looked pretty good when I turned around in the mirror.
That's pretty much it for today. I wore my blue knit top with the black band with crystals out today. One of my friends gave me a compliment on my top too. That made me happy. The unhappy thing is finding the right bra where the bra straps just won't peek out. I was at Walmart yesterday and was looking at the stick-on bra cups. Only problem was virtually every box was open--they were all picked over! I'll have to look online for them. Any suggestions as to where?
Either that or make my own special type of bra. Someone reviewed a good bra book at Patternreview the other day and I'm hoping I remembered to save it to favorites. Bras are so darn expensive anyway, although the idea of making my own bra for the heck of it doesn't do anything for me. Just need one or two special ones with special straps that go a specific way with certain styles.
That's all for now. I'm beat and have to get to bed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)