Lingerie Secrets: 104 (Shelf Bra Camisole) - Type:Lingerie  | | Viewed 141 times
| 1 more reviews | Review rated Very Helpful by 7 people | | Reviewed by: | maenad | 
 | | About maenad | | TX USA | | Member since: 9/5/04 | | Reviews written: 10 | | Sewing skills:Intermediate | | patterns reviewed: 8 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 1/17/13 11:49 AM | | Pattern Size: | Plus-Sized | | Project Photo: |  | | Pattern Photo: | Pattern Info provided by maenad | | Pattern Rating: | Highly Recommend | | | | Fabric: | Cotton-Lycra Knit [See other projects in this fabric] | | Related Links | Click on  to add a link |
| Pattern Description:
Shelf Bra Camisole. Basically a camisole with an inner shelf bra included.
Pattern Sizing:
Small thru XL4. Cup Size A - D
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes
Were the instructions easy to follow?
The instructions were amazingly easy to follow. I went ahead for this first camisole and used my sewing machine, as the pattern suggested. I would like to play around with using my cover hem on my serger to do the elastic bits. Here is the elastic attachment midway on my sewing machine using her suggested method. In most places I did not use pins to attach the elastic -- only for the part around the front neckline where you wanted to stretch the elastic a bit. The elastic liked to creep off to the right of the fabric due to the presser foot -- not a big deal since you turned it all under, and it becomes invisible, and I have to remind myself that for a lot of things -- done is better than absolutely perfect.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
It went together fairly easily. There were some side seam pleats on the camisole piece that I thought should be placed further up the seamline (toward the top). By the time I started to hem, the pleats, as placed on the pattern were right next to my seam line, so I might have messed up somewhere but this placement didn't make sense to me. For the next version I may just gather the extra material to the back camisole piece. I think that the ending paragraph in the directions is great. This pattern is a jumping off point, and the creator offers lots of suggestions for how you can make the pattern your own. I will make this again but may use a different fabric for the bra layer for a touch more support. The markings for pleats and matching are just simple lines, so it's easy to miss a few when you are tracing the pattern with all the different sizes. It was easy to lay the piece back on the pattern and re-mark it so it wasn't too big of a crisis.
Fabric Used:
I used cotton lycra yardage fromDecent Exposures They make custom cotton bras, and also offer yardage of their fabrics. I figured it had already been tested as bra material so it would be a good choice. I also really wanted to make this in a breathable fabric because I live in Houston, and the weather here is crazy hot. They also carry a dri-release fabric that I may try in the future. However making this in black, I managed to reverse one of the shelf bra pieces and sew wrong side to right side, but I didn't pull it out because no one will ever see it.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I did not make any alterations as this was my first time making the pattern. For future renditions I think I would make the camisole longer.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I haven't done many knit projects on my sewing machine since I purchased my serger, and I was amazed at how well the project turned out. I don't know that I would recommend this to someone for their first knit pattern, but I don't think it's that hard either.
Conclusion:
I think this is a great pattern with a phenomenal range of sizes -- I don't usually expect to find a pattern like this that fits someone my size (Fairly oversize, but the girls are massive underachievers). I made this to go under my KS 3371 tunic that is black and white cotton voile, thus it's a little transparent, and it really needs something more than just a bra underneath. My 15 year old daughter was already in the sewing room making comments about how she would like some, so I don't think it will be very long before I pull this pattern out again. |
|
 Pattern with more than 5 reviews!
<< Previous Next >>
3 Comments
Login to Add a Comment |
|
|Login|Help]
Your top is fine. I have this pattern myself and have made it several times as a tankini top
1/17/13 12:18 PM
Great results! and I need to keep your "done is better than absolutely perfect" in mind... good summation of a trait that keeps me from accomplishing many things. Jan Bones has a couple of instructional DVD's that may help you make better/fast elastic things. Her pantie The Smoothie is my absolute favorite for U-wear... first out of the lingerie drawer every time. She is great fun and inspiring in person as well. Your cami top looks fab, and thanks for the fabric source as well. Great day to you!
1/18/13 6:37 AM
I second Nancy's comments. I have been to several of Jan's seminars and enjoy the fact that her patterns can be used in so many different ways. Thanks so much for the fabric source - so nice that so many share such valuable information on this list.
1/18/13 2:38 PM