I actually have this same problem. I find that many of my panties lose their elasticity (or the elastic shreds or pulls away from the fabric) *well* before they lose their wear-ability. Some of them shrink, too. (Yeah, that's it...I haven't gotten bigger...they've shrunk.)

I was recently thinking I might make drawer sachets out of them.  (I wouldn't be so bold as to give them away as gifts, but I'd be happy to have them in my own drawers!)

I'm also thinking of making some of my own t-shirt undies, and some of the nicer fabrics from worn out undies could make lovely trim or designs.

I use empty cans from canned food items to store my pens and pencils on my desk, and one day I discovered that the rubber "cause" bracelets fit neatly around one of them, so that's where I store them. 

I like my plain silver cans (and they all seem to have a slightly different "grain" under the labels), but I didn't want to toss out the bracelets (I have about 4 or 5).  This was the only place I felt I could actually do them justice - they're seen, but not taking up any additional space, and I can change my mind or rearrange them at any time.

Nearly two years later and I'm STILL stumped on the Glittens.  I'm looking at a number of other similar posts on Craftster, but I'm not finding any actual patterns or directions that will help me to modify the patterns I was combining. Does anyone have recommendations or advice? 

wait wait WAIT!!! you *have* to have special wedding cake - Angel food cake and Devil's food cake - at the reception! 

It's Gene Kelly, no? 

more booties...
http://www.craftster.org/pictures/data/500/33299moreprojects1_002.jpg

I'm still working away on more baby items

I MUST know where you got those bootie patterns!!! I love them! (I don't have any kids, but have started making baby booties for friends when they have "baby bumps"...)

Wow - all great comments, thanks ladies! (I hope this thread is helpful to others, too...)

I purchased the Microspun today - they have this great nude color in Michael's that I didn't see online. (And LilMissPink, thanks for the online reference... I did check there, but decided to purchase it at my local Michael's since they had it for 3.29, and I figured with shipping it would be nearly the same.)

Thanks chamaecyparis for the caution about Microspun. I did make a shawl out of it last summer, so I'm familiar with the splitting difficulty. That part truly is a pain. I guess I figured since I'd be knitting it (the shawl was crocheted), I might not have as much of a problem with it. And your point about its breathability (or lack thereof) is something I'll pay attention to. I suppose if worst comes to worst, I tear it out and make it with something else. (And I'm going to check out Barely There - thanks!)

Thanks also wispily and sewberrycrazy for your suggestions. Sewberry, I checked out that site - it's another great option and I may try it. Wispily, I'm steering clear of anything that needs to be sewn for the moment, but I may try your idea in the future.

Look out everyone - I'm reinventing the bra!!!!! 

LilMissPink,

That is interesting. Well, I guess I'm just special. 

So you think a stockinette stitch would work for the band around the torso? I was actually thinking the opposite - rib for the band, and maybe stockinette for the body of the garment.

Hmm...this definitely will be an interesting project. My first step is to find yarn that will work. I'd like to try it in Lion Brand Microspun - it's so soft and comes in lots of colors - I figured it would be the easiest for me to come by, and cheap, to boot. (My more expensive lys's might have Cascade Fixation or something like that, but I tend to frequent Michael's Crafts and Joann Fabrics since their prices are easier on the pocketbook. And I like ordering online, but then I have to pay for shipping AND wait for it to come in the mail...)

Awgoodkitty (cute name, btw),

Thanks for your input. Yes, those two are exactly the ones I'd looked at on Knitty. They seem to be the best options, in addition to one I found in Urban Knitter, but they both have either elastic and/or closures. I think I'll try modifying the 1930s one a bit and see what I come up with. If you're familiar with the Urban Knitter book, theirs is mainly ribbed, which I thought might work well for a sports bra, but am a bit too intimidated to try to modify.

I'll let you know what I come up with (when I get around to it!). 

AWynkoop - actually, I can't remember the last time I was professionally fitted for a bra. For starters, most places just don't carry my size (too small). I started getting bras at juniors' stores b/c they actually FIT! Then I found that some cheap triangle bras from Walmart fit me pretty well - the elastic just bugs me after a while. So it's worth a thought... But most of the time I'm wearing sports bras anyway, so that's really what I'm looking for, and those usually just come in S, M, L as far as I know. Most of the time they fit just fine for the first hour (or maybe even more until I wash them...no, I don't dry them). It boggles my mind. One size is too big, the other fits ok except after it shrinks it's too tight. My problem truly is with anything that contains elastic. I don't like it too tight around my hips/mid-section either, but I can tolerate it longer. Headbands and high ponytails have always given me headaches after a short time, and I notice that I don't like socks with too much elastic anymore, either. I don't know what the solution is, other than to wear soft, loose-fitting clothing all the time. I'm just grateful I'm not living in the era of corsets!!!

And Sachis, I agree with what you're saying about bras. I had heard about that study, and the theory was that the elastic cuts into the lymph glands under the armpits, hindering healthy function. However, I thought that it was discovered that that study was just a myth...? I, too, am trying to listen more to my body...it just makes dressing like a "normal" person very challenging. 

I think this may call for some extra-special creativity. I'll put on the thinking cap, and if I come up with something, I'll be sure to post. 

Thanks, ladies, for all your help!