Ready for some bling!

This morning I got some time in the sewing room to work on the blingy bra. I am spending so much time on it but am so enjoying it, smiling along the way. Today I turned under all raw edges and sewed them, got the inkle band back band on, got the straps on and the tule. It's now ready for lots of blingy crystals and beads!

The main goal of this guild challenge is to not be afraid to cut into handwoven fabric and sew it. No problem here, what I found difficult to work with was the slinky lining fabric and that very fine glittery tule. It's looking good, isn't it? My mannequin doesn't fill out those cups but it looks ok on it....hmm, she doesn't have any of those bulges on the sides either.........

Here's the back complete with regular bra hooks and plastic 'hardware'. I took three pictures of the back and this was the best of the bunch, not so good.

This afternoon I went over a friend's house to see her Brother embroidery machine in action.....oh, this is a very tempting toy to purchase, I'm thinking seriously on it. I could get the embroidery module for my Bernina but it's much more expensive and for the playing I'd do I think this machine would be perfect. I've been working like crazy the past few years selling my handwovens and roving, hand-dyed and Ashland Bay) and not spending any of the proceeds, it's time to purchase a few toys.......

In the pink again......

I'm back in the pink again.......guild challenge pink, soon to be blingy pink. My first post when I wove the fabric for this challenge is back on March 16th, there's a picture of weaving in progress there. Our guild challenge is to cut into our handwoven and sew something, the idea is to make an art bra that the guild could then display during Breast Cancer Awareness month at one of hospitals or cancer centers......not sure how many other than me will be sewing a bra so it might be a sad display.

First step was to make a pattern, well, something that kind of resembled a pattern. I searched through my lingerie drawer for a bra that had a seam it in forming the cup which I used as inspiration. I drew out a pattern for the two cup pieces and then sewed it in some scrap cotton - whoo-hoo it worked.

Now to cutting the handwoven fabric. I knew it would need a bit more body so I backed it with a heavy weight interfacing, cut the pieces out, clipped the long end of the taller pieces and fit it around the curve of the other pieces. Lots of pins used for this step.

Hurray - two cups that are actually decent looking - good thing since I didn't weave any fabric to spare.

I sat the two cups on the cutting board, put a piece of pattern tracing paper underneath and marked the seam lines for the center piece - worked out well.

Then it was on to making more pattern pieces, cutting the fabric and attaching those to the sides of the bra.....looking good. The pink lining fabric actually has little metallic dots on it - I repeated all the steps as for the handwoven and made the lining.

Here's a close-up of the lining. Since I'm designing this by the seat of my pants I have no clue how I'll handle all the raw edges yet, I'm thinking just turn under the handwoven and lining and handsew it.....but that will come later, all the bling will need to be sewn on before I get to that step.

Next step this afternoon was to warp up the inkle loom and weave a 1" wide piece to use for the back strap, I've even got hook & eye pieces made for bras which I colored with metallic pink Paintstiks to match. I'm thinking maybe ribbon straps but not positive yet, inkle weaving might be a bit too thick to fit the plastic pieces for the adjustable straps.

Here are the yarns used in the fabric and inkle band: 8/2 pink unmercerized cotton, 5/2 perle cotton, 8/2 light pink unmercerized cotton, 5/2 cotton/rayon blend and pink metallic.

So today was a very productive day, I was a bit worried about sewing a bra without a pattern and making it look decent - it's looking great. I'm hoping to have a bit of time to work on it tomorrow morning.

Phil........

I'm being asked "but what about Phil?"  Phil the Pheasant, that is. (pic on May 23rd post)

Well, Phil is still around but he's found a friend in neighbor Merle across the ravine and up the hill. Merle is outside working much more than I (can't you tell that from the landscaping being done here?). Phil follows Merle around and talks to him, in Merle's words he talks a hundred different languages and talks all the time. So, Phil has found a buddy, guess it's much more interesting over there than here at my house.....but I'm hoping he comes back to visit.  

Today is the last guild meeting until September for the Saturday Handweavers Guild, our potluck luncheon and show & share of our challenge. I posted my challenge a bit ago - I had the scent 'cinnamon' and made a felted sheep with cinnamon stick legs. It will be fun to see all the other challenge results.

And yes, reminders to get out there and keep up the landscape will be needed here, playing with fiber is much more interesting, especially when it gets hot. And a reminder not to let my hair grow all the way down my back is another one I need help with.........finally cut it off a couple weeks ago. It probably still looks fairly long to some, just below shoulder length, but I must have gotten 10" cut off..........it was getting too heavy, giving me headaches, taking all day to dry and strangling me when I sleep. When I asked my friends to remind me that I shouldn't let my hair grow long they let me down, hopefully this time they'll slap me up side my head as a reminder!