Sunday 26 February 2012

Sewing Your Own Unmentionables...

Whatever you want to call them, unmentionables, knickers, pants, bras, underoos. I've been thinking about sewing my own underwear.
Bra's seem to be a problem for a lot of people but I'm a girl in between cup sizes (yeah, how does that happen?)  It started a little while ago when Wonderbra (of all companies) discontinued the best bra i've ever had (probably because it had no padding)
Nevertheless after seeing some fabulous handmade lingerie I have been on a search for supplies and patterns.
I bought "The Undies Book" By Nanette Rothacker on Amazon second hand and started leafing through. She has scaled down versions for you to draft yourself but as I'm starting out I've ordered a pattern from Merckwaerdigh on Ebay. Apparently they also sell on Etsy.
I also got some starter supplies at Elingeria . Weirdly I could only find one Canadian site and those two European sites to buy supplies! Lucky i'm in the UK so shipping isn't too painful!

After a bit of an altercation with a lady in the haberdashery in Brighton (telling me I couldn't dye my elastic.) I was a bit perplexed at how limited supplies were. I need some emerald green straps but I can't find them anywhere.

There has been some beautiful underthings being made in the blogisphere including:
Sarai's Pin up girl Bra from The Coletterie 


These fabulous 3 are from Novita at Very Purple Person I can't wait to get started and I've been stashing ideas on Pinterest. (Btw your more than welcome to follow me on there! I love looking at everyones boards!)





Have you ever made your own underwear?

10 comments:

  1. Um yes, and I've written many times about it on my blog. Let's just say, while I've made many really lovely bras, not one of them has fit well enough to actually wear. Good luck to you, I haven't cracked the code but many others have.

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  2. I am taking part in the oh la la french corset/ garter belt and then bra sew along. It's great! I will be looking into it more. I love the look of your book.

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  3. It's something I wouldn't mind trying, partly because then I could make matching bra/panty sets for myself which seem hard to find in my size. I don't think it'll happen any time soon though because it looks so complicated to put together unless you buy a kit (which would make sewing together matching panties a bit difficult).

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  4. Try The English Couture Company for supplies - they are very good!

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  5. I've not delved into making my own undies yet, but i have found a site for supplies :) - http://corsetmaking.co.uk/store/index.php

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  6. I just started making my own undies. I bought a bra kit and pattern from Bra Makers Supply. Actually, it's the same one that Sarai from Colette used but a different color. And now I'm on the hunt for more supplies! I really like Merck's varieties of patterns available.

    I've found a number of places to buy supplies but most are in the Netherlands or Germany. Besides the ones you mentioned there's this lady on etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/deisylopezrosalopez , Danglez: http://www.danglez.nl/ and Sewy http://www.danglez.nl/

    Elingeria is good because they carry several brands of patterns.

    In the USA I found Sew Sassy: http://sewsassy.com/ , Bravo Bella: http://www.bravobellabras.com/ (which sells the cheapest kits I've found so far, at least for US shoppers) and I just bought a kit from http://www.etsy.com/shop/Summerset who sells hand dyed full kits with underwires included (all other kits I've found sell them separate).

    Yeah, I think I'm a little obsessed with bra sewing now. Good luck with yours!

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  7. Thanks for all the inspiration... Underwear is definitely on my must sew list this year...!

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  8. I've just made some recycled-t-shirt-and-stretch-lace knickers, which I really like. Fun *and* comfy! :D I'm not sure if I'm ready to tackle bras, though. I recently mended a few, though, which had the underwire sticking out... Good luck with your endeavours!

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  9. I have yet to make either, but I want to! Especially the underwear. Bras, I don't know, I'm a little intimidated.
    strugglesewsastraightseam.wordpress.com

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  10. I love your ambition-I ma terrified of underwear sewing!
    I have chosen you as one of my choices for the Liebster award - thanks for doing such a nice blog!

    http://monkeysockslearnstosew.blogspot.com/2012/03/liebster-award.html

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