A mighty sports bra to start the new year

Happy New Year!  2019 was quite the year: some amazing highs including a family trip to the USA and some awful lows with my gorgeous sister battling breast cancer and lots of other ups and downs in between. 

Through 2019 I started to focus more on my health and fitness and I've set myself some challenging goals for 2020.  Which leads me to one of my favourite makes of 2019, the mighty sports bra.

I knew I wanted to make the version with the mesh overlays and I prefer a back closure as it makes it easier to get on and off.  My measurements put me in a large, which is what I made.  I wear a 12D/34D in RTW bras.

The fabrics all came from Pitt Trading, the closure and fold over elastic from Evie La Luve and the wide band elastic from Tailor Made Shop.

I really enjoyed sewing this up.  It came together quickly and the instructions give a nice clean finish on the inside.  I self lined the top and found that, combined with the mesh overlay, there was enough support for me to feel comfortable running at a moderate pace on the treadmill.  I did manage to sew the closure on backwards so it's not perfect but I've already cut out a second.  If/when I make a third I will probably add a half inch extra length.
 

The Jordy bralette, a surprise favourite

Have you ever made something, thought it was beautiful, but weren't sure how often you'd reach for it?  That was me with the Jordy Bralette.  Since finishing this in October last year I think I've worn it at least once a week and it was my favourite thing to wear during the really hot muggy spell that Melbourne had over summer.

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A post shared by Robyn Borley (@robynborley) on Sep 9, 2018 at 1:16am PDT

I made a size 34E using a scuba and foam kit from Tailor Made Shop.  To choose your cup size the instructions tell you to subtract your under bust from your full bust measurement and round to the nearest number.  It doesn't say whether you should round up or down and with a difference of 5.5 inches I was right in the middle of two sizes.  I decided to round up and the fit is great.

Emerald Erin has done a great job with the instructions, this was a really quick and satisfying project and I plan on making a few more in the future.

I can highly recommend the kits from Tailor Made Shop.  The cuts were generous, with enough scuba and foam to make two bralettes and the findings and elastics are a really nice quality.  This little bralette feels very luxe.  

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A post shared by Robyn Borley (@robynborley) on Oct 12, 2018 at 4:10pm PDT

I decided I wanted a matching set and paired the leftover scuba with the Binky panties pattern from Evie la Luve.  Another quick and satisfying sew.  Basically this is the perfect comfy lingerie set for relaxing on the weekend.

Simplicity 8228 bralette and bonus knickers

So I finally took my first step into the world of bra making and it's pretty fun.

I decided to start with a relatively easy project and chose Simplicity 8228, partly because it was a soft cup bra so no fiddling with underwires and partly because I love just about everything about Madalynne's aesthetic.

This is view A with a 36 band and a DD cup and I used a lovely kit from Tailor Made Shop so I didn't need to worry about finding all the bits and pieces.  My standard RTW size is a 34D but I went with the sizing indicated by the pattern.  I also noted that on Maddie's website she mentions that some people find the halter straps too short so I added around 3 inches in length.

This was so much fun to make - it's by no means perfect but it was a great starter project.  If you'd like to see a modeled shot take a look at this instagram post (scroll to second photo).

In the end I removed 2.5 inches of the extra length that I added to the straps, I also added elastic to the bottom of the band.  This wasn't included in the instructions but I noted that Ying had done that on her versions and had included enough elastic in the kit.  It certainly makes the bra feel more secure.  Unfortunately, my cup runneth over!  Despite making the DD, there's still not enough volume in the cups (conveniently, what you can't see in the insta photo is what doesn't fit in the cup!)

I actually bought a couple of kits to make this so I'm hoping that at least one of my teens would like the racer back version because I'm keen to sew it up.

Still on a lingerie bend I recently made these Evie la Luve Esme knickers.  They're a really quick sew and despite the front edges looking quite fluted in the photo below they sit flat when worn (there's no elastic on the leg edge, it's just overlocked and sewn down).

The overlap detail is really pretty and it's a great pattern for showing off a gorgeous stretch lace.  I don't think these will replace my beloved Bella's but they're a nice option to have.  I've got plans for a couple of other colour combos so there's likely to be more of these in the future.  Now I really need to go finish my work pants so that I have something to wear over these!

May Plans and Me Made May

I'm really happy with the way my plans for April helped me make the most of my sewing time so I thought I'd do it again for May.

We have a lot of commitments in May so no weekend sewing time.  It's also the annual Me Made May challenge which I want to participate in, but don't want to feel pressured to take a photo every day or try to churn out new items just so that I have something new to share.

images via Tailor Made Shop

I'm generally wearing at least one item I've made every day, and it's just as likely that I've made my entire outfit so that's not such a challenge anymore.  Lingerie making has been on my to do list for a couple of years so I thought this was the perfect time to give it a go.  New undies can be sewn up pretty quickly and I'm told bras don't really take that long either.  I know I have a steep learning curve ahead of me but I'm excited to get started.

images via Evie la Luve

To get things started I purchased some bra kits from Tailor Made Shop (she has the most beautiful kits).  Top of my list is the Orange Lingerie Montgomery Briefs (check out Norma's Instagram feed for pure lingerie beauty).  I'm also really keen to try the Evie la Luve Esme and Bella undies.  The Watson Set is still something I'd like to sew up and I have a really lovely kit from Blackbird Fabrics that I want to use - time to stop stashing and start sewing.

So here's my pledge for Me Made May:

 'I, Robyn of Sew Love Red, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '17. I endeavour to wear at least two pieces of me made underwear each week and sew one new bra for the duration of May 2017'

I certainly won't be posting modeled photos of my pledge items but I will share the finished items.  Are you playing along?