Here it is again – the time when we show you the Lacey Days of Summer Challenge Entries. this time, we wanted to put your creativity to the test as we asked you to work with TWO laces in the same garment. You did not disappoint. Here are some combinations of lace to inspire you! […]
When I think of September, I think of school starting up again. But for many mothers, it is also the time when Dance School starts again. So what better way to challenge ourselves in September but with a theme of Dancing Queen? I’m going to make this one easier by including all forms of dance; […]
The Ingrid non-wired bra pattern has quickly become a new favourite among our customers. It fits really well on most women without any alteration. However, women with sloping shoulders or narrow shoulders might need to move the strap. Here’s how to move the strap on Ingrid so they will be more toward the centre front. The […]
Here’s another jewel for your chest – the ever-so-popular Ruby bra pattern now has a little sister. Introducing the latest in our Jewel Collection – the Sapphire Partial Band Bra Pattern. The Sapphire must be used with underwires as this is part of the engineering of this lovely bra. Like the Ruby, this pattern features […]
If you’ve made our new Ingrid pattern, you will quickly realize that it could easily be adapted to be a sports bra. One thing it lacks however is a back typical of sports bras – a racer back. These backs are often called Y-backs or sports backs, but with slight variation they are all the […]
July’s challenge was all about wearing your birthday suit. No, we didn’t want to you to appear naked in this challenge, but as close to it as you are comfortable with! Yes, that’s right, we wanted you to work with sheer fabrics. There are so many sheer fabrics available for bra-making, yet some of you […]
Ah, summer! I remember the song from the 60s…those Lacey Days of Summer….What? Are you saying those were not the words? No matter, our challenge in August is to make intimate apparel from lace. Doesn’t sound like much of a challenge, does it? It is when I tell you, you must use TWO laces in the […]
Our recent non-wired bra pattern Ingrid has had rave reviews from both testers and the first wave of the bra-making public. However, there are still some who are hesitant to try a non-wired bra, saying it might be too”matronly” looking. We made a super sexy Disco Ingrid to show you that the choice of fabrics […]
Someone told me recently that some women didn’t make their own underwear, because they felt the leg elastics would show as a panty line under clothes. This shocked me for two reasons 1. Who wouldn’t want to make their own underwear? and 2. the panty line is SO easy to eliminate. Here then, is how […]
Ingrid is a non-wired support bra from the design team at Pin-up Girls. Together we’ve created a bra pattern with the largest size range on the planet. Ingrid has a lot of pieces, and they all contribute to the engineering of this remarkable bra. Here, then is how to sew Ingrid, so that your sewing […]
We’ve been asked many times for a pattern for a non-wired bra that would not only support, but flatter the larger bust. A bra that does not rely on underwires for support, and one that could have a front opening, such as a zipper or hook and eye fastening if one so desired. A bra […]
Our theme for the Ultimate Bra-makers Challenge this month was Take Pride. We challenged you to use the six rainbow colours of Pride to create your own intimate apparel. You had fun with this challenge! Here are the Take Pride Challenge Entries and what the makers had to say about them. Agi ” This month I’d […]
The BCD Method of Measuring Explained When I first started designing bra patterns, I was faced with a dilemma – what sizing system should I use? Some patterns want you to take the full bust measurement, the high bust measurement and subtract the two to find your cup size. Still others want the rib cage […]
Recently I was asked to do a book collaboration with Nancy’s Notions. I was thrilled beyond belief as I’d been a fan of hers for over 35 years!. The book would have 32 pages of how to instructions and photos for 6 projects plus a pattern. Sounds easy doesn’t it?…that is, until I asked what the […]
When someone suggests to you that you “wear your birthday suit” what do you think they are suggesting? That’s right – they are asking you to get naked! But this challenge is not about that at all (good heavens…NO!) We are asking you to work with sheer fabrics – so you only appear nude but […]
Bralettes have become the biggest small thing in the lingerie world. It’s no wonder – they are super comfortable, easy to wear and easy to make. But did you know how versatile they can be? I recently wrote a book called Sew Simple Bralettes for Nancy’s Notions and to celebrate the launch of this new […]
Our newest pattern, called the Ruby, is a foam-lined bra with offset vertical seams. Because it is foam-lined, you may not be familiar with the construction techniques peculiar to foam. Denise recently made her version and she happily shares the secrets with you. Here then, is how to make a Ruby for your Treasured Chest! […]
In June, we take pride in a group that is often overlooked. That’s people with “other” sexual orientations, including the gay, lesbian and bi-sexual community. (Honestly, I don’t care who anyone sleeps with, as long as they can sew!) But it also includes those who are transitioning from one gender to another. So this month’s challenge is a […]
One of my fondest memories was of my mom and I stopping for our lunch at work, then taking some time afterward to watch Sewing with Nancy on public television. That was one of few sewing shows available to us on the east coast of Canada and we loved it. Imagine my surprise when 30 […]
If you are making a corset or waist cincher for the first time, you might follow the pattern instructions and think that’s all there is to it. But did you know there are at least 3 ways to make a corset? That’s right – three different ways to seam your corset and lining and sew […]
Once again, we present our amazing and talented customers and their Hop to it Challenge Entries. I must admit,. that the end of the month was getting closer, and there were very few entries! However literally, the last day, and …poof…we had a lot of submissions. So thank you to all this month. now let’s […]
How would you shape up for summer? Some would be exercising, or gardening. That’s not what this challenge is about. Last month’s challenge was all about activewear so we can’t use that theme again. The month before that, we did swimwear, so that’s not it either. And this isn’t a gardening blog, is it? No – […]
Sheer Cup Lining is useful stuff. It is light and see-through and stable as well. I am sure you use it for lining cups (after all – that’s its name…) But there are many uses for Sheer Cup Lining that you might not know about. Here are 12 uses for Sheer Cup Lining. 1. Use Sheer […]
One of our staff members is out on maternity leave and she had a great idea to change her favourite bralette into a nursing bra. This is a great idea, Christine and we thank you for the photos you took of the inside of the garment. Here’s how to change your bralette into a nursing […]
Our theme for our March Challenge was Splash into Spring, for which we asked you to make swimwear of any type, colour or fabric. I can’t believe how many of you had never tried making swimwear prior to this month! That’s what a challenge is all about – pushing yourself out of your envelope and […]
Have you entered our Ultimate Bra-makers Challenge yet? Well, ladies, hop to it! Our challenge for April is to use an activewear pattern and make it using performance fabrics such as Maxine, Supplex, Wickable fabrics or Active Cotton. You can combine the fabrics, and the patterns to make your own leggings, sports bra, activewear tops […]
Picture yourself at the beach in your lovely new swimsuit…but you would like to walk along the beach to take in the sunset. Do you take your walk in your swimsuit, bikini or monokini? Or do you go back to the hotel room to change? Here’s the ideal compromise – an easy cover-up to make […]
I’ve been wanting to write a much more in-depth book on swimwear since I wrote Make & Fit Swimwear some years ago. There wasn’t any book on the market that went into the fitting, design and construction of all types of swimwear, including tankinis, monokinis or even bra bikinis. I decided to write what I tentatively […]
For the Ultimate Bra-makers Challenge 2018, we asked you to make intimate apparel from RED stretch satin. You did not disappoint us! Here is our February Challenge Fashion Show! I’ve tried to keep the entries in first-name alphabetical order. First up is Agnes H, from Hungary. She emails “ I have been sewing for 30 years for […]
Are you thinking about your next great design for our Ultimate Bra-makers Challenge? We are too! In February, we challenged you to work with red stretch satin – a fabric many of you had never sewn before. Your entries were amazing! This month of March 2018 the theme is Spring Splash. We are challenging you to make swimwear! […]
In my last post here, I showed you how we assembled the cups on our logo bra. We got this far along – the constrast colour is inserted into the seaming of the cups. We added a ruffled edge by cutting off a bit of some lace trim, gathering it on the machine, then sewing […]
I designed our business logo several years ago. I’ve always loved the bra style that I used, even though it is not a style in my pattern line-up. It is a multi-seamed vertical balconette cup with a ruffled upper edge (that’s a mouthful!) I decided that we should have a real-life version of that bra, […]
For those of you have been following my Facebook page, The Fairy Bra Mother, I recently posted a picture of a red satin bra that garnered quite a bit of attention. A lot of you expressed an interest in learning how to make it. So here now in keeping with Valentine’s Day – is how […]
