Peachy Floral

Today's bra is a peachy floral Shelley from Pin-up Girls.   I made this one for a friend.

Peach Floral Shelley

Peachy Floral Shelley

Peachy Floral Shelley

Peachy Floral Shelley

Still Playing with Shelley

Yes, I'm still playing with my Shelley pattern from Pin-up Girls.  Frankly, it's the only pattern that has a great fit for me.  Let's have a look at the beautiful lace from Bra-makers Supply.  I've already got it cut and mounted on ivory powernet.

Back of Upper Cups and Back Band

Front of Upper Cups and Back Band

I've been tweaking the bra frame and band to get that narrow no band look because a super narrow frame and band means no band rollover.  

Bottom Band Sewn Approx. 3/8" from Wire Line

An Inside Look at the Bottom Band before Thinning

Thinned Bra Frame and Band

It looks like I could shave another 1/8" from the frame and get a partial band look.

  Look.  No band rollover.  Beautifully mirrored pink and ivory floral stretch lace.

Thin Band and Mirrored Stretch Lace

If you're thinking something looks wonky, well, you're right.  Something is wonky, it's me.  The left side of my body is different than the right and it is shifted upward at least 1/2".  Because of this asymmetry, I make two different sized upper cups. In my case, mirrored lace will never be perfectly mirrored.  To make the best of the situation, I choose to focus on the neckline edge and making sure it is mirrored as closely as possible.

Tweaking my Shelley

I haven't been as unproductive as my lack of January posts would suggest.  Holy cow, I've been busy mending, tweaking, sewing, and quilting.  Let's talk tweaking.  First, I added a pink glissenette mesh lining to the upper cup to reinforce and protect the stretch lace from finger poke through.  Then instead of using a 3/8" strip of duoplex as an upper cup stabilizer, I used a piece of 3/8" plush back elastic.

3/8" Plush Back Elastic and Pink Glissenette Lining

Next, I thinned both the right and left bands to the narrowest possible width allowable.

Thinning the Right Front Band

Thinning the Left Front Band

Here is the finished thinned front band.

Finished Thinned Front Band

Here are the tweaked glistening upper cups. 

Pink Glissenette Lined Upper Cups
Now you can't poke a finger through or see through the stretch lace.

Bra-A-Week Challenge #7: Christmas Angel

Bra-A-Week Challenge #7:  Christmas Angel

Merry Christmas from the sweetest little angel.  Today's entry is a Pin-up Girls Shelley in white duoplex, white powernet, white findings, and the prettiest pink and purple stretch lace. 

Merry Christmas from JensWare

It's the pink thread and the sweet lace that make this angel special. I mirrored the cup lace, covered the bridge, and decorated the back band with the pink and purple lace.

Christmas Angel Mirrored Lace

Christmas Angel Covered Bridge

 Christmas Angel Decorated Back Band

Bra-A-Week Challenge #5: Lovely Lilac

Oh so lovely and soft the lilac bra fits like a dream.

2015 Bra-A-Week Challenge #5 bra is a Pin-up Girls Shelley

in lilac with lilac powernet, lilac findings, and light lilac stretch lace.

JensWare Lovely Lilac

This lilac stretch lace is so soft to the touch.

It's a pearly light lilac that it presents as white on screen.

Light Lilac Mirrored Stretch Lace

I made a pair of Grapefruit sized Falsies to hold bras for my photos.

The Falsies can easily adjust from Grapefruit to Melon or from Melon to Tangerine.

Simply untie the knee high pantyhose and add or remove poly pellets.

I used two bags of rice and two pair of knee highs to make the Falsies.

The rice is temporary because rice can get buggy and harbor moths. 

TIP:  Use a pair of knee high pantyhose and poly pellets to make a pair of Falsies.

Pair of Falsies

Bra-A-Week Challenge #4: Fuchsia Surprise

Fuchsia, Fuchsia, Fuchsia 

Entry #4 in the 2015 Bra-A-Week Challenge is a Pin-up Girls Shelley

 in fuchsia with fuchsia powernet, and fuchsia findings.

Stunning and Bright

JensWare Fuchsia Surprise

 I got a great surprise from Bra-makers Supply when I let them choose the lace.  

It's a black stretch lace with gold outlined fuchsia flowers and I want more. more. more.  

Fuchsia Surprise Stretch Lace

Fuchsia and black are another great color combination.

The lace looks amazing and mirrors nicely.

Black and Fuchsia Mirrored Stretch Lace

Here we have mirrored stretch lace on the back band, folded 

wire channeling at center front, and Duoplex as stabilizer.

TIP:  Use 3/8"w strips of Duoplex as stabilizer in the neckline and underarm. 

Mirrored Lace, Folded Channeling, Duoplex Stabilizer

Bra-A-Week Challenge #1: Bluebird Blue Beauty

I'm back and I've got lots to share.  I've been busy learning a new skill, bra-making.  I took two Craftsy classes over the summer and boy do I have the bra-making bug.  I've made so many bras that I've lost count.  I've joined the already in progress 2015 Bra-A-Week Challenge. So you'll be seeing a new bra each week until I either run out of fabric or ideas.

Today I'm showing off my first entry in the 2015 Bra-A-Week Challenge.  

It's a Pin-up Girls Shelley pattern from Bra-makers Supply in Bluebird Blue Duoplex
with white powernet, white findings, and a fun white floral stretch lace.

Pin-up Girls Bluebird Blue Shelley Bra

This bra is a real beauty.  The blue and white combination works.

JensWare Bluebird Blue Beauty

I just love this stretch lace, with its white hearts and flowers outlined in blue.  

I decorate the back band with lace when I have enough to spare.

Right Back Band

TIP:  Sew two rows of stay-stitching along the frame bottom.

 Clip to, but not through, the top row of stitching every 1/4" along the curve.  

This makes sewing the curve more like sewing a straight line.

Bottom Band Stay-Stitching