Making the Bra Pt 4

My hair after 3 hours of dancing last night! What!! It was a sponge last night, soaking up everything and not releasing any moisture. Went into class looking cute, came out a big cotton ball :)

I never realize how many freckles I have until someone points them out.

Oh, the bra, right!

Making my own girdle 'cause no one said I couldn't! Pt 3

Hey, its looking better.

You know how in every sport movie, they always have a big game at the end. The team we are rooting for does not know if they are going to win this one, but by some great luck, they come back and score the winning whatever to gain success and win the game.

Thats how Im feeling about this project, except I'm not at the overcoming part to win the game yet.

Yeah, some words of advice, don't make a girdle when Aunt Flow is due to visit. Also, you might not want to keep trying it on and taking it off in 90 degree weather with no central air. Thats a bad idea too.

Other than that, well, there is no other than that.

But I am quite proud of my progress. I was skeptical at first, mostly the 'what the hell am I doing' vibe was creeping in on me, but the further I get on this, the more Im learning.

My goal now is to get it to wearable so I don't just stick it in my closet with all my other half worn foundation garments. And, Im happy to say, its looking and feeling pretty darn wearable.

I'm quite proud of the hook and eye instillation.

I lined the fold of the girdle with twill tape to cover up the sewing I was going to do.

I then sewed two rows of stitches using my zipper foot, and then covered the hook/eyes with another piece of tape and sewed in between each hook/eye.

After all of that, I stitched the covering twill tape down and now it looks all neat and clean.

I also basted in the plastic boning, and Im planning to sew that in soon.

No real rush now, I'm bloated as all get out.

I do want to cut down the bottom about 1" which was the plan. I knew it was going to be too long. I wanted the wiggle room, well, in the bottom, not in the garment...whatever.

I did however remove two panels of the elastic. Too much give. Next time (because I am totally going to do this again), I'm going to get some nice heavy powernet.

I'd say this is fun, but I don't like the uncertainty of not knowing if I'm going to be able to wear it. Oh well, we will see!

Making my own girdle 'cause no one said I couldn't! Pt 1

My cluttered side space.

*Sigh*, I need to clean that. Patterns I've pulled out just because, new patterns I haven't checked yet, patterns I need to put away. My whole brain has been on slow this week.

But I need to get into gear. I'm planning on wearing my Gardenia Dress this weekend and I want to make sure I'm shapely underneath it.

You all know about my horrid venture into the void of ready to wear foundation garments. Yuck, ick, and ouch. And, I'm sure by now you know me. I constantly run the mantra in my head, "If I can't find what I like, I'll make it."

Its pretty self explanatory, really.

I drew a basic girdle from one that I liked the fit.

I also added an under bust section 6" high and 38" around, the measure of my bras. I gathered the supplied I wanted to give this thing a try, and began cutting out the pieces.

As you all know, I face everything, so I took some triple washed muslin and lined each piece of the girdle with it.

I'm using ticking for the girdle.

Its a sturdy and cool looking fabric, and Im sure with a slip over it, the lines won't show. I like my foundation garments ridged, but not corset like .I'm planning four narrow panels of elastic (from that long waisted cincher I have) to add the ease. I think that's the beauty of being the size I am. Im squishy, so I can shape myself up how I wish.

For the actual construction I'm forgoing flat felled seams this go around and using binding tape folded over both sides of the seam not only to add support, but also to act as the casing for the plastic boning I'm going to use. I'm mimicking the boning placement on the OBG I sketched the template from, and just running it up for the torso part. I measured the girdle to not necessarily stretch at the waist.

I'm planning on sewing the elastic in and seeing if that is giving me a firm enough hold. If not, I'm going to sew the waist in place with the binding tape.

Right now I've cut out all the pieces and their muslin linings. Im going to overlock them all today, add the elastic, and give it a test wear before I add the boning. At least that is the plan.

I'll keep you all posted!

Notion Gizmos

Its Tom Waits tonight.

Yes, I loves me some sewing gadgets. There are all sorts of things out there to aide in sewing, and none of them are more interesting, or useful, than the vintage ones.

This first one is my plastic bobbin holder. Its seen better days, much better, but it was my mother's so it will never be replaced.

This next one I love simply for its graphics. Late 50s more likely, back when women were euphoric in their girdled dresses doing housework and such.

Speaking of girdles...Im leery of the elastic. Im sure its past its prime.

Same for this one, but lookit that hair!

Apparently home pleating was big. As well as the ways to do it. I find it interesting that now if you have enough yardage, you can just send off and have your fabric pleated.

I am all about that pleating measure thing, though. CANT wait to try it out!

And the bevy of self belt making kits. I have a lot of these. Many different brands.

Im also somewhat of a seam gauge collector. I LOVE the vintage ones, and this one (probably 60s) is my favorite. There isnt anything this thing cant measure!



This is the latest addition to my collection. I got it mainly for the calatin buttons, but look i the upper left, a SCALLOP RULER!!!!!! How awesome is that! VERY!
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