Golden Girl Watson Bikini

Just a super quick post for tonight.  I managed to squeeze in a few hours sewing on Friday night after a pretty big week.  We had a new guy at work start and it's been interesting to say the least.

I whipped up a quick Watson Bikini using some lace from Lincraft and my new gold dot FOE.  I couldn't let metallic sit around for too long without being used!  I'm going to need a matching bra but I haven't settled on a pattern yet.

Seriously, Watson Bikinis are my favourite,  They always fit just perfectly and I don't think it will be possible to ever have enough in my wardrobe.

This lace has a more cotton than synthetic feel too it.  It also has a good amount of stretch.  The recovery feels quite good so I have high hopes.

My favourite part of this pair has got to be this elastic though.  It is just something else.  I'm totally in love with it.  Good thing to as I have 100 yards to use!!

Have you sewn anything this week?

Emma

Sierra Bra

Something a little different today, when I first saw the Sierra Bra (a free pattern by Madalynne) I liked the look of it but I wasn't sure if it would look any good on me or be supportive enough to wear for more than short periods of time. I'm pleased to say I have been pleasantly surprised.

The pattern was really easy to sew up, to be honest the hardest part of the whole process was tracking down lace that was wide enough.  I couldn't find anything locally and had to order online, not that I'm really worried by that :).  I ordered this amazing navy lace from Booby Traps, it is super wide (25cm) and utterly gorgeous! 

The only change I made to the pattern of the Sierra was the strap placement.  The pattern uses a halter strap, however I just don't find it practical, so I just made normal straps and attached them onto the back piece.  I dyed the elastic (Rit dye - 1tsp Scarlet & 1tsp Taupe in 4 cups water) to this peachy colour.  It didn't come out quite as I wanted, I think its too much taupe so if I was trying to dye a peach colour again I would add a little more red.

I mean seriously though I just can't get over this lace.  The scalloping is to die for and it looks amazing on.  Like seriously amazing.  Love, love, love!  It might be rivaling this set as my all time fave.  The only issue is it's a touch too small, like an inch or two, but as I've just joined the gym I'm hoping I can get the fit better.

As you can tell I left the lace unlined, partly because I didn't have any appropriately coloured powernet, only white and nude neither of which would have been ideal for this bra, and partly because I like the lace plain. 

I also made a Watson Bikini.  I think this might be my go to underwear pattern.  Well maybe this and Betty, I still have a thing for high waisted underwear. I made a large which is the prefect size, the XL I made previously had a bit too much height at the front whereas this one is perfect.  I especially adore the scallops at the top, I think they make this pair!

Anyway, I recommend checking out the Sierra pattern if you have a smaller bust, especially as it is free.  I seriously doubt that I'm going to get over my navy addiction any time soon.  Though is there anything wrong with having a navy addiction.  It is such an amazing colour!

I'm sure there will be more Sierras in my future, in fact I already have another one cut out.  I'm also contemplating buying more of this lace, just cause it is that amazing in person.  Time will tell about that though!

What have you been sewing lately?

Emma :)

Patterns - Sierra Bra by Madalynne & Watson Bikini by Cloth Habit

Fabric - Booby Traps

Elastics - Lincraft & Booby Traps dyed using Rit Dye

Marvellous Mint Milliskin Marlborough & Watson Bikini

I purchased a couple of Watson Bra kits from Greys Fabrics a month or so back.  I bought one in white and one in pink and only got around to getting into one of them earlier this week.  I started with the white kit, but white is boring.  I've also got quite a collection of Watsons going on so I decided I needed to try another Marlborough.

Anyway, I started by cutting out the pieces of my Marlborough, a 38B this time.  Last time I made a 38A and the fit wasn't right so I tried a different size this time, however more on the fit later.

After I'd cut all my pieces I threw them in a dye bath with some Teal Rit Dye.  Head. Over. Heels. with the colour.  It ended up the prefect shade of mint.  The elastics came out a bit more blue, as did the powernet but it all ties in well, especially with the rigid lace!  The only issue is some small parts of the fabric didn't appear to absorb the dye as well as the rest of it.  There are some small imperfections but I had read about this happening so I knew it was a possibility.  Thankfully I'm not too worried about them.

Everything included with the kit appears high quality, I mean I won't really know until they have a bit of wear, but all signs are looking good to start with.  The lace for the upper cup is the same as I used in my first Marlborough.  I'm a bit in love with it.  Thankfully the dyed milliskin ended up a great match!

As I said before, I cut a 38B this time, the cups on my previous Marlborough just weren't right.  Saying that I'm not sure the cups on this one are that much better.  I don't seem to fill them but I also appear to be spilling out the top. I used the same underwires, but they fit well and appear to be the exact same as my well fitting RTW bras. I'm not sure if I'm going crazy but I have a feeling that the shape of my breast might not be suited to the shape of the Marlborough.  I'm not ready to give up any time soon, but I'm thinking about trying a new pattern next time.

I'm also going to be honest and say I had a bit of a struggle ensuring that there were no puckers when I attached the underwire casing, I sewed and unpicked and sewed and unpicked and it is still far from perfect.  I'm trying to believe that finished is better than perfect, at least in this case! Again I added a little blue rose, best $5 I've spent in a long time!

The back is powernet (also dyed, you can notice the difference in the colour and the way the fabric has reacted).  I used the three hook closure from the kit.  I do find it a little strange that the pattern requires a three hook closure when my cup size is so small.  It's not an issue, just an observation.

I lined the cup and bridge and all the seams are enclosed. The lining (one way stretch) was also dyed and it came out a similar colour to the elastics and casing.  It's funny how the different fabrics react differently and result in different colours.

I also covered the side seams with some underwire casing. You will also notice that the casing is a different colour, I didn't dye enough so I had to make do.  Thankfully no one will notice it. Especially as it can't be seen from the outside.

I made a matching Watson Bikini.  As I've said before, this is my new favourite underwear pattern so it was an easy choice.  The elastics are of course from the Greys Fabric kit.  The milliskin makes them lovely to wear and the little rose just adds a bit of a feature to it.

Anyway overall I'm still thrilled with this set and can't wait to get some use out of it.  I plan on working to perfect the fit, while trying another pattern in the mean time.  I'm leaning towards a Bolyston Bra, but who knows, I'm likely to change my mind.

What have you been sewing this week?

Emma

Sequin & Velvet Bra Collection

I'm just going to start by sating I love this collection.  As in head over heels.  This collections was inspired by this set by Ohhh Lulu.  I had sequins left over from a pencil skirt I made (which I apparently haven't blogged!) and when I stumbled upon Sarah's set on Pinterest I knew I had found its calling.  Then what I found navy stretch velvet on my last trip to East Coast Fabrics it was serendipitous.

As you can see I made two bras and two sets of knickers with this combination of fabric.  Can you tell I'm a little obsessed?  The bras are a Watson Bra by Cloth Habit and a Jasmine Bralette by Ohhh Lulu and the knickers are Grace and Betty both by Ohhh Lulu.

I had myself psyched up for these being awful to sew, thankfully the process went smoother than I had expected.  I pinned a lot, which is something I never normally do, and I do think it helped.

Jasmine was the first piece of this set I made.  I find this pattern really easy to sew, I think that its mainly due to the fact there are only four pieces that need to be sewn together to end up with a completed bralette.  

There were a few more pieces for this Jasmine, purely because I lined the sequins so I could enclose the seams.  Lets face it sequins on skin are scratchy,  To get all the seams enclosed I followed these instructions in the Watson Bikini Sew Along.  Obviously these weren't crotch seams but I've used this method a number of times now and it always pays off.  It gives a much nicer finish than exposed seams.  I didn't enclose the side seams but I'm not too fussed, I don't see this bra being worn all the time, it's definitely not an everyday bra.

I think this is my favourite Watson to date, but I'm not really sure I want to commit to that.  I mean it's hard to compete with this one and this one. Once again I made my standard 38A, in the longline version, however this one seems a little snug, still wearable, but a little tighter than normal, though I think I know the causes of that.

I think the snugness of this bra is due to a few factors.  Firstly I removed all give in the front of the bra by lining it with one way stretch mesh.  The bands are also lined with powernet as I did not think the velvet would be able to cope with the constant stretch.  The closure is also only two hooks in length not three and I honestly think that would make all the difference in the world. I plan on changing it when I can get my hands on one.  I have to order them online as no one in town seems to stock them.

The other change I made with this version in the addition of some boning along the side seams.  I've found my other Watson longline tends to ride up so the addition of boning should prevent this.Thankfully this was an easy addition but I do think it also contributed to the snugness of the band.

My favourite bit of this bra is the little rosette in the centre.  I think it makes it.

Grace by Ohhh Lulu was actually the first underwear pattern I bought.  While I've since discovered other patterns I love more this one will always hold a special place in my heart.  I used the same method as I did for the Jasmine Bra to enclose the seams.  The trickiest bit of this whole set was actually attaching the fold over elastic, it really isn't prefect, especially over the sequins but overall I'm still happy with it.

Until I tried the Watson Bikini I would have sworn Ohhh Lulu's Betty High Waisted Knickers was my favourite underwear pattern.  I think it still is to a degree.  Thankfully these turned out as I had expected and I'm pleased I chose to add them to this set.  I love the feel of high waisted underwear and a longline bra.  I think it might be my favourite combination so there was no way these weren't being included in this collection.

You probably deserve a medal if you made it to the end of this post.  There were just too many photos and I couldn't pick.  I hope you love this little mix and match set as much as I do.  I can't wait to break it out sometimes.

I now just need to come up with my next epic project.  So far its a quilt for a wedding present in May next year, so I have heaps of time (famous last words!). I'm also keen to try another Marlborough so we will have to see what inspiration hits.

Emma :)

Bra Patterns - Watson Bra by Cloth Habit and a Jasmine Bralette by Ohhh Lulu

Underwear Patterns - Grace and Betty by Ohhh Lulu

Fabric - Sequins about 18 months ago (for $10/m) from Spotlight, Velvet from East Coast Fabrics

Elastics & Hardwear - Stash a mix of Lincraft and Booby Traps

Paradis Latin Bra Set

I seem to be having a lot of those weeks lately.  The ones where nothing in life seems to go right or be simple and as a result I barely touch my sewing machine.  If I can clean up my house this weekend I have so much I want to sew!  Of course more sewing means more blogging so lets hope I can get that happening.  Worst come to worst I should have more free time next year so I can spend more time growing my blog.  That's the plan anyway, we will have to see if it all works out.

Anyway I have managed to squeeze in a bit of sewing over the past few weeks weeks.  This time I've got a longline Watson Bra and a matching Watson Bikini to share.  I'm calling this one my Paradis Latin Bra Set, after the cabaret show I saw in Paris on my Topdeck tour.

As you know this is not my first Watson (see the others here) and it sure won't be my last.  I already have one cut out and more than that planned.

I used a lace remnant I found at my local Lincraft.  I was still expensive at half price (I'm no Miss Maddy when it comes to remnant finding skills) but I had to have it.  I believe it's in the system as "Stretch Lace" making it a little hard to identify.

I made the bra in my standard 38A and the undies in a XL.  I lined the cradle of the bra with some red stain tricot left over from a kit from Measure Twice Cut Once.  I also used this fabric for the band.  The cups are unlined.  The strappings are elastic are all from Lincraft.  I used a non picot elastic for the band and it has given it a clean finish.  The inside seams are all uncovered so it looks a bit worse for wear on the inside but still looks quote okay from the right side.

The undies, which were the first Watson Bikini I've made, have quickly became a favourite and are in a fairly heavy rotation in my underwear draw (is that TMI??).  Either way I love them.  They are a fraction too big so I'm planning my next pair to be a straight large (as opposed to the XL).  I know that the stretch of the fabric can have an impact on this of course and this lace is rather stretchy so my size might vary dependent on the fabric choice.

I'm expecting many more Watson Bikinis in my future, and even a few more out of this fabric I think.  I'm hoping to have something a bit more luxe to share next week.  If I can get the time at my machine that is.

Til next time,

Emma

Watson Bra Set

 

 I made my first Watson Bra last week.  It's safe to say I'm converted!  I love it!  I made a 38A and am very happy with the fit.  I did take my own measurements and make a 40A but as soon as I tried it on I knew it was too big in both the band and the cup, thankfully going a size down fixed all those issues.

I made the longline style of the pattern.  I really love how it gives you both options in the one pattern, it makes it so versatile and really gives you so many options.

I really like how simple the back of this bra is.  Random note - This white closure only has two hoots, but I have a black one of the same brand and it has three.  Weird right?

As you can tell, I used my current favourite fabric, the same one I used to make my Emma Romper last week.  I'm so sad I'm nearly out of this fabric, but there will always be more fabric!  I'm also pretty impressed with how much I have got out of just over a metre of fabric.

I also made a pair of high waisted knickers to give me a matching set.  I hacked my Betty Knickers Pattern (from Ohhh Lulu) by tracing the sides onto the back piece and inserting lace at the join between that piece and the front.  I couldn't let the last little bit of elastic lace that I dyed. I am quite please with how they turned out.  

I am also really digging the high waisted undies and the longline bra.  I feel quite sexy wearing them if I'm honest.  And that is always a nice feeling.

Overall, I highly recommend the Watson Bra pattern especially if you are just starting out in bra making.  It is a really well written pattern, giving complete instructions, right down to stitch length!  I can't wait to share what else I make from these patterns!

Have you ever found a fabric that you just can't get enough of?

Sunday Stash #4 - Bra Making Kit

As I've mentioned before I've been wanting to sew my own lingerie. I've succeeded in making my own undies, but I have yet to conquer a bra.  One of the hardest things is trying to get all the items you need.  Until now.

I purchased this amazing bra making kit from Susan at Measure Twice, Cut Once.  Let me tell you the camera does not do this justice.  It is incredibly vibrant in person and will look amazing when I've finished it.

Susan also has other colours listed on her website from time to time (She had a grey one a while ago that was to die for!).  I can't wait to get stuck in and get this one finished!

I'm also linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash today.

Everyone Deserves Pretty Knickers - Betty Knickers

As I've mentioned before I'm a little in love with Ohhh Lulu's patterns and creations, I've already used her Grace Knickers pattern a few times before.  This time I used her High Waisted Betty Pattern with some nice results.

 

The pattern is similar to Grace in the way that they have panels of stretch on the sides. The major difference being obviously that Betty is high waisted. In the interests of full disclosure  the instructions weren't particularly comprehensive there were enough to work out what needed to be done

I'm going to be completely honest and say I've never own or worn a pair of high waisted undies before but I think I'm a little in love. I probably wouldn't wear them to work everyday but for something a little different these are amazing. I'm actually really digging wearing them under high rise jeans.

For my first pair I used a cotton jersey (given to me by a friend) and mesh for the outer panels. While the fit isn't perfect (I cut an extra large) I'll probably try a Large for the next pair if using stretch fabrics. I'm hoping that that will help with some of the fit issues and make them a little tighter fitting.

Using the cotton for the main panelling feels amazing. I plan on making more than one pair out of this fabric for sure!

I used a Ric Rac elastic around the leg holes and fold over elastic for the first time ever on the waist. I'm not sure I attached the elastic correctly and I stuffed up by putting the join at the front not the back, thankfully a bow distracts from it.

Overall I do recommend this pattern. The fit is good and the high waist is a thumbs up in my book. I'm planning to make many more, especially out of Jersey!