Members note: Contact BonnyKDe@hotmailDOTcom to have your creations shown here!
I get excited this time of year because my favorite online sewing classes turn out their schedules. Seeing all those classes gets me to bring out my fabrics and laces and elastics to sew up some bras! If you are interested in learning about bra making, I highly recommend the International Bra Sewing Bee. Check it out here: https://brasewingbee.com/2022-details/
This is a new creation based off the Shelly pattern from Beverly Johnson in Canada. This is a four piece cup full band bra. I have altered the fit to fit my smaller wires. The fabrics came from a kit from BraBuilders.com. I really tried NOT to buy this kit-last summer, and kept putting it off after it was released, but I just couldn't resist such pretty lace. I finally got around to making something with it. I have plenty more, and could make matching knickers or another bra or two out of it. For the straps I covered some strapping I had with the duoplex, that is used here in the cradle. I really like covering the straps as it gives the whole bra a collective look. I am not sure how it happened, but I used a stitch and flip method for the top cup piece to attach the lining, then somehow the lace got stretched out and it gapes a bit while wearing. No issue though, since I can't see it with clothes on. One thing I forgot here was to add a separate powerbar, as I find I prefer it. I could also use a double layer of lining on the side piece as the Shelly kind of has one 'built in'. Still, this is one of my new favorite bras!
OOOhh la la! I love this one! This is a new to me pattern called the Josey from La Bella Coppia. This is also a four piece full band bra, supposed to be 'full coverage'. These patterns are for larger cup sizes, I barely make the size range of the smallest offering. Still, I made a test cup first in paper, then in fabric. I decided to go up one size in cup for the next fabric test. I felt fairly confident it would work out ok and set to cutting out in my fabric. For the cradle, because you know I need those smaller wires, for example the cup I was making here is the 30I, but the wire size per the pattern calls for 46. I use a 36 or 38 size wire depending on type, regular vs vertical. So you can see I would need to make a major adjustment to the wire line of both the cup pieces and the cradle to fit me. For the cradle, I literally took the two pieces of the cradle and overlapped them to fit about where my wire was in the seam line. Now, this may not be the 'right way' but it worked for me. For the cup pieces, I just shaved off some on the side and inner pieces, leaving the middle alone because it was already pretty narrow there. When I was done, and worn it a few times, I decided that maybe I should make the smaller size after all. I have already altered though the pattern for the next make so I am not sure I want to go back to drafting changes. Perhaps I will just make more changes to what I have prepared so far. I do have enough lace and fabric to make another bra just like this one. It is really pretty and these photos are just not doing it justice! I have had to make room in my lingerie drawer for all my bras and took out a stack that was shoved in the back of beautiful barely worn Panache. Those usually retail for about 70 dollars, and the bras I have been making are just so much more comfortable. I just love the fact that if I want a new pretty, I can just make it myself!
I have another bra to show you but the upload doesn't seem to be working. Remind me to try again later! I have made a couple tops but haven't taken pictures. On my tables is another bra, this time in an olive tulle, and also, I am attempting to copy a pair of pants that I really like. Fingers crossed! Till next time, keep clipping those threads ya'll!
Bonny posted 6/3/2022
Submitted by Ann: Here is a photo of the quilt Carole Martin made for a friend celebrating their trip to Italy. Used fabric fed thru her printer. Very cool! Thanks, Carole for sharing.
Pat made these reading pillows for her granddaughter for Christmas. She is very much into sharks, likes dragons, and loves to read! I bet she also loves her gram who makes special things just for her. Thank you Pat for sharing.
Posted by Bonny D on 1/29/2022
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Custom made for me by me! A lovely two layer, four piece cup, tulle bra. One of my favorite makes to wear.
Pretty on the inside.
This is another made for me bra. Made with a bees embroidered on black netting, with a black dot lining. You can see it adds some interest to the areas without bees. I added a bee to the center because my sewing was not pretty there. Happy accident? I think it is Bee-u-tiful. I love the gold against the black with the gold bees. Fits great and another of my favorite makes to wear. I have lots of this bee fabric left, let me know if you want a piece to make your own!
These next two came from kits that I bought a long long time ago. It is a cotton knit batik. Very interesting print. These are nice to wear, yet they don't hold shape for long. I have some left. I may make them again with extra support using special linings. The green is a two piece cup, and then purple is a 3 piece cup that I altered from the pattern from the green. Overall, the pattern changes I made for both were successful.
Here you can see the difference between a diagonal and horizontal pieced cup. The one on the bottom is a diagonal seam cup, where the cup seam that separates the top and bottom piece of the cup lands in the arm elastic. The middle shows that the horizontal seam where the seam is in the wire line. The same for the purple, but here, I raised it slightly for better visual and fit effect.
This was a fun project. Here is one piece of the pattern I had made using an old judicial robe as my copy. It was by special request, a gift, for a local judge who was retiring. I was happy to be part of it in this way!
This is my attempt to add a faux fur collar to an itchy sweater I had knitted. The sweater is made from yarn that I had spun at the Battenkill Mill, from fleece I had picked out at a Rhinebeck Wool event a couple years ago. I spent ALL day trying to come up with the pattern only to realize that the end result was too warm and bulky. I ended up not lining the sweater neck at all, and was able to wear it all day without fussing too much. FYI this is another sweater that took FOREVER. If you want to see another, see 2021 Show and Tell.
A work in progress. I have added sleeves and the lining after this picture was taken. I just have to add buttonholes, buttons and give it a good steam press. I might add some topstitching too. This fabric is probably wool, and it is very itchy. I am not sure how much wear I will get out of it, but really it was a muslin to try out adding my own lining, since the pattern did not come with a lining pattern. I made a full bust adjustment but ended up bringing it in anyway, I think the give of the fabric had a lot to do with it.
Grand finale! This was a special gift for a special lady in my life. I always wanted to sew something just for her. I had tried in the past, a dress, major fail. I didn't get past the muslin. This too could have been a disaster, and when I was finished, I thought it would be too small. She has reported that it fits! This is the prettiest Christmas gift I could give! I have some lace left to make myself something special too.
Posted by Bonny D on January 15, 2022
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