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Bralet Tutorial

6/17/2015

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You will need:
Oh La La Bralet Pattern in your size from Etsy
Fabric of your choice. 1 metre should be plenty
Bra elastic
Hoops for straps
Matching thread.
Fabric Scissors
Pins
Tailors chalk
Sewing machine
1. Iron your fabric
2. Fold your fabric in two matching the selvedge edges together. (Edges which are sealed)
3. Pin them together along the edge to keep the fabric even.
4. Take your pattern pieces, lay the on the fabric to minimise wastage. Pin down, noting your straight of grain & paying attention to which pieces should be cut on the fold and which pieces you need to cut two of.
5. Mark 1.5cm seam allowance around your pattern pieces.
6. Cut out your pattern pieces.
7. You'll need to mark any notches on the wrong side (inside) of your fabric at this stage. You can mark the 1.5cm seam allowance here too. Make sure you label your pattern pieces, eg side front, centre front etc. This will help later when you're putting all your pieces together.
8. Once you've all your pattern pieces cut out you need to pin everything together so it can be sewn.
9. Taking your pieces sew along the wrong side (inside) of the fabric. This will ensure all your seams are on the inside.
10. Sew your side cups to your front cups, your lower back band to the upper back band.
11. Turn back the sides of the cups 1.5cm and machine hem or hand sew in place, pin the cups to the front band and sew together. Make sure to line up your notches for all your pattern pieces.
12. Attach the back band to the front, at this point you can add a zip at the side or just sew it shut.
13. Press all your seams flat.
14. Turn up the bottom of the band 1.5cm and machine hem or hand sew in place.
15. Add your straps by sewing the plastic hoops to the top of the cup and the back of the bra and slipping the elastic through these and sewing in place.

Your bralet is complete! You can add trim now if you want.

Fold Fabric, pin pattern pieces, check straight of grain

Mark notches on wrong side of fabric using Tailors Chalk

Pin corresponding pattern pieces together ready to be sewn up.

Sew in place at the 1.5cm seam allowance line

Finished Bralet, just needs hemming & straps!

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Troubleshooting your sewing machine.

6/17/2015

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Sewing can be daunting when you're unfamiliar with how the machine works. I remember the first time I used my sewing machine it took me a good 45 minutes to thread it properly. I was fit to fling it out a window by the time I got it working! The good news is that the way sewing machines work hasn't changed hugely since they were invented so most problems are easy to troubleshoot!

I'll start with a list of the most common problems you'll encounter which are relatively easy to fix.

1. Bobbin not threaded properly.
It's very easy to thread your bobbin incorrectly. You need to insert it into the casing so that it pulls anti-clockwise, or to the left if thats easier to remember. Just think of Beyonce, to the left, to the left.

2. Why are there huge mountains of bunched up thread on the bottom of my fabric??
This is so common (and annoying) and it's all down to incorrect tension. Either your tension setting is too high or too low. Change the tension setting and re-thread the machine.

3. Why does my thread keep breaking?
This could be down to the quality of the thread you're using. Cotton thread breaks very easily, so does cheap, low quality thread.

4. Skipping stitches.
This is due to having a bent, broken or damaged needle. Change the needle and it should help. If you continue having problems forcing the fabric through the machine can also cause it to skip stitches.

5. Help, my needles keep breaking!
Needles come in different sizes (between an 8-18) for use on different fabrics. The lower the number the lighter the fabric you use it on , e.g silk & chiffon, the higher the number the heavier the fabric, e.g denim. If you're using the wrong needle with the wrong fabric the chances are you'll break it.

Hope these little tips are helpful! :)

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Nipple Tassels Tutorial

6/17/2015

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This is a quick little tutorial to appeal to your inner burlesquer!

You will need thick card, felt or craft foam, depending on your own preference, a scissors, ruler and a pen or pencil and a large roll of sellotape. `

1. Place the roll of sellotape on your card and trace around the interior. (A nice sneaky little cheat which will mean you won't have to work out how to make a perfect circle on your own) This size will pretty much protect your modesty but feel free to size up or down if you wish.

2. Taking your ruler measure the width of your circle, make a mark at the halfway line.

3. Make two marks at the bottom of your circle , (we went with 1.5 cm wide )

4. Draw a line connecting the centre point to your two marks.

5. Cut out this triangle of card ( or felt or craft foam or whatever you decided to use)

6. Taking one edge of the triangle push it over until it's on top of the mark on the other side and glue in place. If you're putting in a tassel that needs to go in before you glue it in place but if you're just making pasties then you're done.

7. Your nipple tassel base/pastie is now complete! All you need to do is decorate it.

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Bralet Tutorial

Troubleshooting your sewing machine.

Nipple Tassels Tutorial

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