Want to see my underwear?

[extremelycrafty]

I needed underwear. Preferably fancy with lace and ribbon and silk. Something like the gorgeous night set I saw in Harrods for 200 pounds, so I set off last week to John Lewis and bought some lovely hot pink silk and a lingerie pattern. I also bought a lingerie book which was delivered though the post in a brown wrapping. My boyfriend wondered if I had been buying pornography. No, thank you very much. After studying this book on the tube all week, trying desperately hard not to look at the pictures of knickers when anyone was looking over my shoulder, I learned about sewing lace to silk and matching darts. Yesterday, I sat down to make a pair of tap pants(little sleeping shorts).

Well, you'd think I would know better, but I made every mistake possible. I forgot to flip the pattern which meant I had two left sides for the shorts. I started again and flipped the pattern to cut the mirror image, but somehow managed to cut a third left side. I didn't have enough material and going to the store would waste another two hours, so I sewed together the pants - one side shiny silk, the other side the underside of the fabric. Of course, if ever questioned by the boyfriend, I will say I designed them this way.

I then managed to sew seams on the outside so I had to unpick everything. Later, when ironing down the top to create a tube for the elastic, I melted the fabric on the iron, so had to cut off a large chunk of the waistband. The shorts now are actually quite short and actually quite cute. Don't know if I'm ever going to tap in them though. I hear this is how Catherine Zeta Jones seduced Michael Douglas.

I had the pants. Now I needed a top. I didn't have much fabric left, but cut it out the best I could. Again, I forgot to cut the mirror image of the pattern piece that fitted over the bust. How can I do this 3 times in one morning!!! Yes, I had had my cup of tea. I sewed and gathered it, pinched and pulled. Finally when I tried it on, the back was gaping open and the top in general was far too short. I forgot I had a long body and usually have to add extra fabric. Not that I had any. Anyway, I added elastic to the back so it fit. The sides kind of stick out to the side, but again, I of course meant to do this. Yeah right.


I tried making the straps the fussy way the pattern company did - sewing a seam on the wrong side and pulling through to the right side. How the heck anyone can pull it through, I have no idea. After stabbing myself with the needle six times and straps that look like rags, I threw them out and dug out my ribbon box. I found some lovely bright pink ribbon I had bought in Amsterdam and sewed that on. It wasn't exactly the right shade, but it'll be dark when I'm wearing it and if anyone says anything different, I shall snap them with my knicker elastic.

Your thoughts?

[RawrBoogers]

Sounds like you went through a lot of trouble for it. I have to say it looks like it was worth it! Very cute.

[Onyxnox]

your undies are lovely - I would never have guessed all the troubles you went through to make them if you never told.  I thought the lace straps look great with the top, and if they are too short - well, that's just sexier in the long run anyways, right?

[extremelycrafty]

Yes, short is almost always better. I'm going to have to start doing stomach crunches though.

[nfirehazzard]

Very Sexy! I love the frillies! *smiles*

[PollyRose]

They are absolutely gorgeous! I am still wanting to recreate a gorgeous set I saw in a local boutique-£90 for a set made from stretch cotton jersey with a bit of lace, however attractive, is slightly extortionate! You really can't tell from the photo that any mistakes were made, it looks really professional. Also you can get these sort of long thin giant safety pins which are used to make straps for lingerie etc-you make the tube inside out, then attach the safety pin thing to one end and thread it through so you can pull it right side out. I don't know what the technical name for them is but I'm sure someone in a craft shop could help.

[stellaheartocean]

Hey now, what's wrong with buying porn?

That's a very cute set. I love that hot pink!

[extremelycrafty]

Thank you for all the lovely comments and the tip about the safety pin. I will definitely look for those as they could be really useful.

[PixieSkull]

Wow, I would have given up entirely after that! Cute, though. No practice fabrics, strong woman.

Practice and lots of fabric will make the next set go much more smoothly

[insane_aktor]

i love those!!  the set looks so cute together.  and shorter works.  it'll be a little bit seductive for those fun nights  right? 

and the lace/ribbon straps look like they were meant to be there, and are the correct shade.  so there.  you have full permission to snap people who ask with your knicker elastic