tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post6112974994221017127..comments2023-06-01T15:17:07.178+01:00Comments on Diary of a Chain Stitcher : Black Scalloped Lace Watson BraFiona Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02009622644944619042noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-55093853246439093382020-02-06T11:20:41.534+00:002020-02-06T11:20:41.534+00:00That is brilliant advice thank you! I'll check...That is brilliant advice thank you! I'll check out all those shops for sure. I have seen 1/4" quilting feet before but couldn't see how they might be useful in my garment sewing, NOW I see! Could be worth investing in one of those if I've got a lot of lingerie sewing ahead!Fiona Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009622644944619042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-56900410356153209272019-12-18T18:20:05.752+00:002019-12-18T18:20:05.752+00:00Hi Fiona
I did a lingerie course some years ago. A...Hi Fiona<br />I did a lingerie course some years ago. At least two places come to mind for bra fittings etc; Vena Cava and the Sewing School in Ashby-de-la-zouch. Hope this helps.<br />SueAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-35416219120316592732019-12-14T20:47:31.682+00:002019-12-14T20:47:31.682+00:00Sorry to act as "enabler" here, but you ...Sorry to act as "enabler" here, but you can get a 1/4" quilting foot which lots of people in the bramaking world swear by. Also theplaceforlace, laverslaces, lacesgalore and ribbons2u are good uk ebay shops for lace and elastics. You can even use acid dyes and iDyePoly to dye your elastics to match. It's a liberating thing to make your own well-fitting underwear @sukie_b_123ikensallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16940770550520611371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-46306079300570323532019-12-12T12:48:01.883+00:002019-12-12T12:48:01.883+00:00Sew Curvy sounds familiar! Love the ebay tip too t...Sew Curvy sounds familiar! Love the ebay tip too thank you.<br />Thank you so much for the helpful tips! I love the tracing paper one in particular and will definitely try that next time as little seam allowances getting sucked down was a real problem. I've never thought about investing in a machine foot for a particular seam allowance before but can now totally understand the benefits!<br />Wires and foam are next on the list! I tend to prefer bras with more structure so whilst the Watson is great arund the house for everyday ones I'm going to have to challenge myself!<br />Fiona Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009622644944619042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-42859543078233354172019-12-12T12:44:28.774+00:002019-12-12T12:44:28.774+00:00O thanks so much! A YouTube channel is just what I...O thanks so much! A YouTube channel is just what I need! There is something about sewing lingerie that feels so foreign it is almost like I'm learning to sew all over again so seeing someone else do it will be really useful! I'll subscribe to her channel now!<br />ThanksFiona Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009622644944619042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-78467320905952217372019-12-12T12:43:05.031+00:002019-12-12T12:43:05.031+00:00Thank you! I definitely recommend the pattern as a...Thank you! I definitely recommend the pattern as a good starting step for lingerie.<br />I definitely don't feel all that confident about bra sewing yet to be recommending tips for adding a light foam, that still feels like quite a big step! I was just investigating a shop that Liz recommended above and noticed that some of their patterns and kits include foam and a bit more structure so perhaps it is worth you taking a look at them? They also do courses. It was www.fit2sew.co.uk<br />Good luck!Fiona Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009622644944619042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-27162297469340120992019-12-12T11:52:13.874+00:002019-12-12T11:52:13.874+00:00Gosh thank you so much for all the wonderful tips!...Gosh thank you so much for all the wonderful tips! I'd heard of a couple but it is great to know exactly who is good for what! I'd never heard of fit 2 sew and am delighted that they are in the UK! I think maybe a couple of their bra making kits should be my next port of call. I'm looking forward to checking all of this out. <br />Also good to know that you've had a similar experience with the fit of the Watson. I was going to move onto Orange lingerie next but perhaps I should try the Harriet first now that I'm used to Amy's instructions.Fiona Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009622644944619042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-41327561183500135252019-12-12T11:48:41.677+00:002019-12-12T11:48:41.677+00:00Thank you very much for the tips! You can move the...Thank you very much for the tips! You can move the needle on my machine but there are only two positions as far as I'm aware and neither of them was quite right for the 1/4", maybe I should play around with the settings a little more! I would never have thought to reduce the foot pressure but will certainly give that a try next timeFiona Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009622644944619042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-52788607295016421272019-12-09T22:43:59.096+00:002019-12-09T22:43:59.096+00:00Well done on a beautiful first bra. Liz has done ...Well done on a beautiful first bra. Liz has done a brilliant job of listing all the good suppliers for you; I might just add Sew Curvy. I also often find useful variety on eBay. <br />For getting those seams just right, I too turn off the thread cutter function on my machine. Two more things may help: a quarter inch foot for your machine, which is usually sold for quilting. Mine for my Pfaff is clear plastic and the combination of precise size and see-through is brilliant for accuracy. Also, for fragile fabrics I often put a piece of tracing paper under the seam. Sometimes I only need the first few centimetres, but for something like a bridge piece I might mount the whole thing. It prevents the fabric being sucked down under the needle and it tears away cleanly after you have sewn. <br />I hope you go on to make many more bras. And don’t be afraid to tackle wires and foam when you are ready. Odettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09198571717411475045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-24751493182596072972019-12-09T19:33:40.620+00:002019-12-09T19:33:40.620+00:00Hi there! I have found the youtube channel LizSews...Hi there! I have found the youtube channel LizSews very helpful, as she has a four (well several) part tutorial up and she includes instructions to fully line the watson (also her stitching is so effortlessly beautiful, makes it seem like a breeze, great motivation!). Can't recommend shops as I'm based in Germany. <br />X<br />SophieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05600706765624766898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-76009683337821981432019-12-08T13:19:23.568+00:002019-12-08T13:19:23.568+00:00That is lovely and you did a really professional j...That is lovely and you did a really professional job, maybe I will have to try that pattern as I have seen a few people use it and have success. I have made a couple from deconstructing old bras but I have to say the ones I buy have a little light push in them as I am quite small busted, this means I tend to favour my store bought ones. Any tips on anything you have learned for adding this to my future makes? xsewing green ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12488699540355503954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-3372462295438528792019-12-08T09:38:28.895+00:002019-12-08T09:38:28.895+00:00Fantastic, I'm also very impressed at the neat...Fantastic, I'm also very impressed at the neatness of your cradle centre! It's a lovely looking bra and much better than my first attempt at the Watson, which is a great pattern. I also find it doesn't sit flush at the centre of the cradle, and think this may be due to the design of a fully-stretch pattern. The Harriet is also a very nice pattern, Amy is a great designer and I would highly recommend this as a more structured option. I haven't had as much luck with Orange Lingerie patterns and have given up trying to fit the Boylston properly, but I am well out of their standard sizing and I'm not sure their small-band-big-cup comes up as well as Cloth Habit. However in terms of notions, there are lots around! <br /><br />One of my favourite UK places is: https://www.fit2sew.co.uk/shop/ <br />They do bra making kits, finding kits alone (all elastics, sliders, rings, wire casing etc), wires, all the fabrics, loads of beautiful lace... you can't go wrong starting here. Whether you're making wired or non-wired, you can get all the bits you need. <br /><br />My other favourite place, which does kits for bras and findings, but also allows you to buy individual items (fit2sew findings only come in a kit, which is slightly frustrating if you have lost a bit/mis-cut something) is B Wear https://www.bwear.se/en/ - while they are based in Sweden and therefore you have to take into account P&P, I have never been disappointed by them and postage isn't that much considering the quality. They have a great lace selection, including stretch and non-stretch. Overall, they are probably my favourite place to get things now I know what I'm looking for and am more inclined to buy individual items rather than kits. <br /><br />For stretch fabrics, another great seller is Merckwaerdigh, who has a fantastic and ever-changing selection, and ships from the Netherlands, with great sales. I've never found her patterns to suit me, but I love the kits and have always had enough fabric from one bra kit to make matching knickers with a little elastic substitution where needed. <br />https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/merckwaerdigh<br /><br />Evie La Luve is another great UK based shop, she does a few kits in plain tulle but also has lovely metal findings, which go with everything, and has a small selection of lace and some great patterns for knickers (I'm not a fan of her bras but I'm an underwire kinda gal!): https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/EvielaLuveDIYLizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04460306037525245477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8566831796183567008.post-7180749616501529642019-12-07T12:05:06.360+00:002019-12-07T12:05:06.360+00:00Beautiful! I don't know if your machine has th...Beautiful! I don't know if your machine has these features (mine's a very old Elna) but to get an easy marker for the 1/4 " allowance I shift the needle position to the right until the edge of the foot is exactly the right distance from the needle and also reduce the presser foot pressure for sheer and stretch lace fabric.ikensallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16940770550520611371noreply@blogger.com