Addicting Bras

As this story goes the bra and lingerie rabbit hole is a deep, twisty, and long one.  But, of course, that rabbit hole is filled with lace and pretty colors so . . . yea, my juvenile side is pleased.  Though, this time I tweaked things to see where I could go with an already good pattern.

With that in mind, I made a quick fix, quick make body suit . . . yea, judge me later, as ya know there are times you just don't want to bother tucking in a shirt.  Also, the lines of it  . . . sometimes you just want a line that gets lost at the waist and only a body suit can do that.  

That's a sweet ass print . . . though, it's so damned cold these days I won't be wearing this one until there's a multi part thaw.  Though, I'll be in Europe next month . . . I foresee some body suit wear-age for sure.  And, yea, it's a near identical print run of the fabric Heather used on her samples.  I made my first Nettie in the white version of this print.  Judge. Me. Later. 

With that, my four way stretch fabric, worked well.  55 percent stretch, or so.  

I had half a yard left, or so, and some sizable chunks, so I did what every self respecting woman with a sewing machine and semi-fetish would do. . . I scrambled through my bag of lingerie scraps and findings and set out to see what type of Watson I could make.  Shit eating grin inserted here. 

Hello Spring Time Lover.  

Okay, first up.  I cut that bad boy to my standard alterations with my scooped lower cup and sewn with a half inch center seam.  That aside, the question is what did I do on the construction process? 

Well, I cut the entire bra from my four way knit.  Then . . . I cut the bands from some leftover mesh (it was from the Bra Supply Bag I used on my Cupcake Bra).  Then I hand basted that mesh to the knit.  

The second blue piece for the bridge is cut on the cross grain.  Why? That, my dears, is the stabilizing factor.  So, the bridge is outside layer cut on grain, like it should be,and a second layer of knit.  

And then I hand basted the mesh pieces to the knit pieces for the bands.  Yes, the bands are double layered on this one.  

But, we ain't done yet.  I had just enough pink stretch lace to make a bridge.  I hand basted that to the outside bridge.  Of course, this is also called how to take a simple project and make it slightly complex.  Complex . . . a relative term, as it still isn't complex.  

That hand basting: there's no ripple or fold on my bridge.  Yea, I'm too cheap and lazy to go purchase the adhesive spray.  There, I said it.  Yup.  Seriously, that basting is less than an episode of Friends on Netflix.  

Of course, I do a considerable amount of hand basting, as well . . . I'm a glutton like that.   

That ridiculously cute trim elastic is from my recent purchase of lingerie elastic.  Just some random pics, that I bought for just the purpose of mixing and matching.  Look closely and you'll see I tacked the overlap down.  Eh, that works for me and my shape.  I recommend it, but ladies with small girls probably won't have to worry about that. 

The white band elastic I purchased too . . . you'll see that again, I am sure.  The pink hook and eye, and the silver hardware on the straps, is *gasp* salvaged from a RTW I tossed.  What? I have no shame.  The bands and cups of that bra were shot, but the hardware was fine!  And . . . it matches.  I did have to use the stitch ripper to take out the zigzag from the RTW, and then I took a note from Tasha and zigzagged it in a few times. I had some perfectly matched hot pink thread and . . . I like the kitsch look there.   

When I sewed it all up, I did so on the serger.  Like I said before, once I got this fit down I was serger to the 411 on this bad boy.  I used three spools of standard thread with a fourth of spun wooly . . . top stitched in a pale blue.  Seriously, this entire bra was a hodpodge of things in my sewing stash.  Yes, it was one of those brillant plans.   

And . . . 

Seriously, the cutest one yet!  And . . . the three layer bridge and two layer band makes this bra subtly stable.  In theory I could insert a wire and make her a stand up gal, but  . . . no.  I like my Watson sans wire, and in all reality this is the perfect bra to wear when the girls balloon out and get big once a month.  Yea, everyone knows what I mean there.  

The long line stays in place more on this round, as it is more stable.  Of course, if you've been wearing a Watson a lot you've noticed (or at least I have) that my posture is better.  The better posture the better the band doesn't move.  Who knew posture was so important? Ha!  

And . . . Rosy Lady Shorts, as always.  These, since I was in scrap land, had just enough to squeeze on the cross grain.  Remember the four way stretch? Yup.  Worked like a champ.  The leg elastic is the same from the bra, and since I didn't have enough hot pink elastic for the waist I used white.  That waist elastic is from the batch I brought back from Holland last spring.  

And, with that . . . yes, I can source lingerie findings . . . and from scraps too boot.  

One can never have too many bras, and mastering a staple is a good sport skill to have.  It is also like a quick dose of instant gratification, as four hours for a bra and knickers is like crack to and addict.