Sunday, January 21, 2007

Lingerie Sewing--Choosing a Pattern

Kwik-Sew panties pattern 2100

My scrap fabric reclamation project last month involved tee-shirt trials as well as lingerie pattern and fabric experimentation. I'm currently test-driving a dozen pair of underbritches (not all at once, mind you) in various styles, sizes, and fabrics. As with the tee-shirt pattern search, I'm trying to identify one or two favorite patterns.

I had good luck with the patterns from Kwik-Sew's Beautiful Lingerie, from Kwik-Sew pattern 2100, (at right; especially useful because it includes hip sizes from 34 to 52 inches--you could make presents for most of the adults you know) and from a discontinued Kwik-Sew lingerie set pattern. The Kwik-Sew Website says of the Lingerie book:

Kwik-Sew's Beautiful Lingerie is for everyone who loves to sew and a necessity for those who want to discover how easy and fun it is to make lingerie. With fancy laces and soft fabrics you can create beautiful lingerie that will not be duplicated.

The master patterns included in this book are for slips, camisoles, briefs, panties, teddies, nightgowns and robes. All styles are easy to make and designed for both woven and knit fabrics.Create unlimited variations. from basic to elegant. Make it for yourself or give it as a gift....The master pattern includes five sizes from extra small to extra large.

I particularly like this book because it encourages you to experiment with pattern variations, fabrics and trims, and gives good directions for sewing with knit fabric, stretch lace, and lace decoration. It's a good place to start. (If I'd bought it first, I would have saved money on several patterns I'd purchased previously.) There are no patterns or directions for bras, but I'll cover that topic in a later post.

Kwik-Sew also offers many different styles of underbritches, from long underwear to G-strings.

If you're seriously cheap and also bold about sewing projects, Leena.com has downloadable " miniature patterns in S, M, L and XL sizes." Even if you decide to buy a pattern, Leena.com's directions for sewing and embellishing are well worth a visit. Rusty Bobbin presents her own pattern review, with excellent step-by-step illustrations, and finds that she gets her best fit from a pattern traced off her favorite store bought britches.

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