Warning… sultriness ahead! This pattern is not for the faint of heart.
I’ve had a few requests for a few “sexier” pieces, and I think this is the jackpot. They are layerable, adjustable, and just plain fun to wear and experiment with.
Shown here layered under my Lilith Shrug, pattern is coming soon!
I love the fall. Time for cozy sweaters, warm scarves, hot drinks, pumpkin pie, halloween, ghost stories, Thanksgiving… all of my favourite things. This year it also meant getting ready for Isabel’s first year of school! I can hardly believe it. In some ways she already seems so grown up and I know she’s doing great in school, but in other ways I just can’t believe that my baby is so independent. Look at this fierce little woman ready to take on the world! For her first day, I made her a little narwhal print tunic and hologram spandex leggings. She paired them with yellow rubber boots and I can tell she felt like a million bucks! hehe… I just love this kid.
The transition to school has been pretty painless for us. The hours are similar to what our daycare hours were, and she finds taking the school bus exciting. I’m enjoying not having to pay for daycare, but am missing some of the flexibility that home daycare provides! I have to admit, I still go to Isabel’s daycare now and then for a puppy play!!! We’ve been so lucky to have really amazing women provide care for Isabel. If you are a daycare worker, you do amazing work!
Our new puppy is pretty much full grown I think. She’s about 9 months old now and just slightly smaller than Oliver, our monster pug, but much thinner. I suspect she’ll fill out over the next little while. She’s a real sweetie, very smart and great with kids! My one challenge with her is a new one that has come up over the last few weeks, and that’s being over protective while she’s on a leash. She doesn’t like people getting too close and puts on a big show. My mom recently adopted a rescued french bulldog who is about 2 or 3 years old and a total sweetheart. She and Leah get along so well. It’s hilarious to see the two of them run around and play together. Oliver has really slowed down a lot over the last year and a half, but he’s holding steady. Leah follows him around the house and is constantly trying to snuggle with him, which he allows, reluctantly.
This summer has been a weird one. We had so many out of the ordinary things happen, like a huge tree coming down, our car blowing up (figuratively)… and I feel like there was something else but I forget what it is now. We spent so many weekends either chopping up trees and stacking wood, or my husband fixing the car and I trying to entertain Isabel, that we didn’t get to any of the projects we wanted to this summer like painting the deck and garage… And Isabel had a lot of time off throughout the summer which meant I had a lot of time away from work… I feel like all summer, whether in my personal life or work life, I’ve just been constantly playing catch-up.
That being said, we did fit in a lot of fun things, like a trip to Canada’s Wonderland, we got to watch turtles hatch just down the road from our house, and spent lots of time in my cousins new pool.
Now that Isabel is basically off to fend for herself on the school yard, it’s really set my biological clock ticking. I have so much anxiety and worry over whether I’ll be able to have another baby. I’ve felt a lot of uncertainty in my life, but this uncertainty is one of the worst because it’s so primal and out of my control. I’m at the mercy of my own body. Added onto this is the fact that my brother really seems to have dropped off the radar once again. I want that “normal” adult sibling relationship and it just seems I’ll never have it. Relationships are hard.
I’ve got a few new patterns still to release. I’m not sure why, I’m feeling a lot of apprehension and anxiety around it and keep putting it off. What if there’s a mistake? What if people don’t like it? I feel like because I’ve been out of the work-loop for most of the summer, my creative confidence has taken a bit of a hit. I’ve been here before, many times in fact, and I’ll be here in this headspace again. I know I need to acknowledge it, then fight against these feelings because they’re not true!
I also am eagerly awaiting a shipment of fabric in anticipation of cooler weather. I’m planning on releasing a number of ready made pieces in the lead-up to Christmas. I know that my made to order turn around can make it tricky for gift giving, so I’m hoping this will help those of you who want to give the gift of comfortably, ethically made underwear!
I’ve also added a handful of new scrunchies to my shop. I am obsessed with these, and the black in particular is a hot seller! In addition to the silk, I’ve included my signature red and black buffalo plaid flannel as a scrunchie. I’ll be restocking my buffalo plaid lingerie pieces soon, so now you can really coordinate from ponytail to underwear!
Ok, every time I make a new underwear pattern I proclaim that this pattern is my favourite. Seriously though, these undies are my honest to goodness favourite as far as comfort goes! I’m wearing a pair in bamboo jersey right now. They are just perfect for my shape!
The Hunter Underwear Pattern is a pretty easy sew as far as lingerie goes. They have a simple FOE waistband and an elastic stabilized hem. The trickiest part of these is sewing the triangular insert, but I’ve got a video on how to do just that! This technique is a good one to know whether you’re sewing this pattern, my Clara Sleep Mask Pattern, or any other project that has sharp, inset corners.
I’ve been liking these for wearing under leggings when I go running. The elasticized hem stays put on my body shape and the mid-rise is really comfortable on my non-apologetically soft 35 year old mom stomach.
I really like this pattern. It’s basically what I’m all about… simplicity! To me, simple = sexy, or at least that’s how it makes me feel which is the important part, right? I’ve been stocking up my underwear drawer in these sewn in bamboo because it’s silky, soft, and lightweight, but I’ve recently ordered some thermal knits that I’m excited to experiment with for winter!
For a limited time, you can get the pattern for 25% off here and through Etsy.
Happy Sewing!
The very first pattern I released was the Betty High Waist Panties Pattern. My next two were these; the Bambi and Grace. I released these as patterns in 2013 and they have been a staple in both my pattern and made to order lingerie collections ever since.
When I first started making lingerie, sourcing good knits and lingerie fabrics was much tricker than it is now. Lots has changed in the last 10 years when it comes to indie sewing! I had a very clear vision in my head of the prints and colours I wanted to use, but was limited by my fabric selection… so I developed patterns that were suitable for wovens, which were easier to find at the time.
These days, finding cute knits is easy, with websites like Spoonflower, Girl Charlee, and lots of the big textile designers releasing their prints on knit bases, but there is still a nice space for some patterns that use wovens as a base.
The Bambi Bra & Grace panties were originally developed for use with a combination of bias cut woven fabric and stretch knits to create fitted lingerie pieces with a vintage-vibe. In particular, these patterns are perfect for creating luxurious silk lingerie!
When I first developed the Grace pattern, I suggested using a bias cut woven fabric for the front and back of the Grace Panties and a stretch knit for the hips, but you can easily swap these out and use knits for the front and back and non-stretch lace on the hips, like you can see in the sets above! I used a dramatic venice lace with a stretch mesh front and back. I absolutely love the effect this created! You can even sew this pattern entirely in knits. I normally sew it in the same size as I would a woven.
The updated version of the Bambi Bra pattern comes with two cup variations. Cup Size 1 and Cup Size 2, which will roughly fit a range of A-D cups. Like the Grace, I originally developed this pattern for a combination of woven and knit fabrics, but have been sewing this also entirely in knits! When you do this, you get a much more generous fit, so if you are a little out of the approximate cup size range, give this a go in a nice jersey or stretch mesh.
The new Bambi Pattern also shows you how to sew the upper cup with a scalloped edge, or with a centre front cut out. I’ve added strap tabs over the front cups which to me had a more retro-aesthetic and cleaner finish.
I’ve had fun sewing a few Grace & Bambi sets in pretty silks. I had a few pieces of some Liberty print charmeuse, as well as a small piece of marbled silk that were perfect for these projects! I even used a silk scarf for one set! That’s one of the great things about this pattern. Because of the style lines, the pattern pieces themselves are relatively small so you can get away with using small pieces of luxurious fabrics without totally breaking the bank.
Pretty soon, I’ll be releasing an add-on to the Bambi Bra pattern that will teach you how to sew it as a strappy demi-bra. Here’s a little teaser for you!
For a limited time I have a special price on my Bambi and Grace patterns!
If you have already purchased and would like to receive the updated copy of the pattern, please feel free to send me an email with your order number and I’ll get it over to you as soon as I can!
Last year, one of my favourite supply shops, Tailor Made started an Instagram photo challenge – #BRAugust, and I was so happy to see she launched it again this year! As someone who is constantly swimming in the realm of lingerie, it’s a fun challenge to take a theme each day and see what I can come up with. Ying has done an amazing amount of work putting this event together and has organized with pattern makers and supply shops for a month of giveaways. So, if you’re into lingerie-making, this is the hashtag to follow!
Get the details on #BRAugust2018 from the Tailor Made blog Here.
I’m offering two things this August. The first is a simple DIY for a lingerie strap choker. You can dress it up with a bauble or pendant or leave it plain. The theme for my day is “Solids.” Although I’m pretty well known for my use of prints, I love to be able to introduce contrasting colours and textures through the use of solids. I also love that it allows me to add layers of interest, like lace overlays, harnesses, etc, without those little details getting lost in a print. These little chokers are a great way to dress up an otherwise “plain” lingerie set.
For this DIY you’ll need some basic bra making supplies:
If you’ve made a bra strap, you can easily make this choker. Start by cutting two 11″ lengths of elastic.
Sew a slider onto one end of each of the strips of elastic.
On one strip, feed a g-hook onto the loose end, then feed the loose end back through the slider. With the remaining piece, simply feed the loose end back through the slider. This creates the adjustable straps as well as the closure.
The last step is to simply feed the loose ends through the ring and stitch in place. You can use a tight zigzag stitch or a straight stitch. Whichever you choose, just be sure to backtack at the beginning and end of your stitching line!
This #BRAugust I’m also giving away a little gift, so be sure to follow Tailor Made on Instagram as well as my account (@ohhhlulu).
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my new obsession with resin. I’ve been making faux-crystal pattern weights for myself, and once I have them just perfect, I’ll pop a few in my shop. I got kind of addicted to resin crafting and have made all sorts of bits and bobs. I had this idea of somehow combining jewelry and lingerie together, and came up with these little lingerie elastic chokers with faux crystal ball charms.
I’ve added three colours to my shop, pink, black and lavender. They’re pretty cute if I do say so myself!
I filled the little resin baubles with iridescent glitter flakes and stars, so depending on how the light hits it, they pick up a spectrum of colours.
I also have added a few silk scrunchies to my shop. I’ve been wearing these 24/7 for the last few weeks. I absolutely love them. I wear my hair in a bun most nights, and these don’t tangle or cause my hair to get frizzy. I love how it’s like my favourite parts of 90’s fashion, but made luxurious.
…and of course I’ve got a little matchy matchy!
Way back in the day when I worked at a textile design studio with my bff, Abbey, we had this crazy idea of starting a scrunchie company, so these are a bit of an homage to her and the fickleness of my youth.
I’ve been trying to make things that are just fun to make. After 8 years of lingerie making, sewing the same pair of undies over and over and over again can get really tedious. Don’t get me wrong, I love it… but what I really love is the thrill of making something new. Making it for the 10th time loses all excitement.
I’m going through one of those deeply creative periods right now. I love these times, but I always feel like I’m terribly non productive. The process of creating takes so much more time than just the time in front of the sewing machine. It’s time with a pencil and paper and numbers, in front of the computer, with the camera… and more time in front of the computer. I get so impatient trying to finish all of my projects!
I’m just getting back to work this week after an unexpected 5 day internet outage, as well as being home with my daughter. I’m feeling rested and renewed and excited to bring some more new things to the blog soon!
Has it really been another year already?
Tomorrow is the big day… Canada Day and my birthday!
This year feels like a big one. Thirty Five. 35.
Thirty Five is the year that your doctor informs you that your fertility is quickly declining and you are becoming of advanced maternal age. I joke, of course, but I have to admit I’m feeling the pressure of aging despite the fact that I also feel in the best physical health of my life. I’m active, I’m running, I’m feeling pretty good! But I’m also struggling with certain things, like a recent diagnosis of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) which is causing me to worry about my weight (needlessly, but it is a constant source of anxiety for me) and of course that constant question of whether or not I will (or can) have another baby.
This is a question I never considered. When I finally decided that we would have one child, I thought that would be it. It wasn’t until the last year or so that I really started thinking honestly about having a second. I love my life right now. Isabel is amazing and I can’t imagine life with another one of her running around. I’ve talked a lot about my thoughts on only having one child, but I’ve had some things happen in my personal life lately that have me reconsidering…
Stressing about grown up stuff is no fun… fertility worries, a new car payment, Isabel starting school, plus my usual neuroses has had me all out of sorts. When I get in these slumps I find it so hard to focus on any specific task. I’ve been in the process of revamping my Grace & Bambi Patterns, two of my very first patterns, but I have had such a hard time just keeping my thought process running in a straight line that it’s taking me much longer than usual. My creativity runs like a fast flowing stream with millions of little tributaries running off in all directions… One thing leads to something else, which leads to another thing, which ends in nothing ever getting done.
So, I’m trying to get back to what I did two years ago, when I was in one of the deepest depths of my depression and anxiety… allowing myself time to do the things I like. Making new things when the inspiration hits. Taking pretty pictures. Eating chocolate cake. Picking wildflowers. Making the time to run or do yoga. And writing.
I’m also taking vacation for the first time since Isabel was born (she’s almost 4!). We’re going camping, just for two nights, but I’m looking forward to disconnecting and spending a few days in the woods.
And of course I’m running my annual Birthday Sale! Pretty much everything is 20% off. No coupon necessary in my Etsy Shops, but you can use coupon code Birthday20 to purchase patterns directly on my website. Sale ends July 4th!
I love these hair ties.
I posted a tutorial for these bad boys a few years back. You can check it out here. They are a perfect way to use up small pieces of fold over elastic. The best part about these elastics are that they are sewn, not tied, so there are no unsightly or uncomfortable knots.
My hair is pretty long these days… I just don’t have the time to maintain the shorter bob I had been wearing for a while. Anyway, I like the long, natural look on me. But, because I spend most of my days either in front of a sewing machine (or chasing after a preschooler), my hair usually ends up in a ponytail or messy bun (though braids have been a favourite these last few weeks).
I first started making these hair elastics out of a mixture of laziness and necessity. Sitting in front of my sewing machine, I’d be without an elastic, so I’d stitch one together and voila!
Since I started making them, I began giving them away to friends, including them in gifts, as party favours for Isabel’s birthdays, or ‘just because’. I also have amassed a large stockpile through out my house to keep mine and Isabel’s hair in check.
I wear these running, I wear these swimming… I wear these every damn place. I love them. And the best part is, they look as pretty around your wrist as they do in your hair!
I’ve just added a selection of satin elastic 3-packs to my shop. I have adult AND kid sizes! The kid sizes are the size I make for Isabel, who for a soon-to-be-4-year-old has quite thick hair. I find they are perfect for ponytails or top knots for her, but they also work in my hair if I’m just doing a pony tail (there’s no way they fit around a bun).
I’ve posted a bunch of fun prints and pretty solids. I’m kind of addicted to these things. They’re relaxing to make and fun to wear. Isabel loves them and it makes doing her hair in the morning much more enjoyable – she gets excited about choosing between unicorns or rainbows. Anything to make mornings a little easier, right?
Shop the new hair ties Here.
(these puppy ones were Isabel’s favourite)
Can I tell you about the difficult month I’ve had? Actually, it’s been a couple of months. First, our roof leaked which led to a huge unexpected home repair. Always stressful right?
I don’t talk about this much, but I have a brother who has had some pretty serious struggles with addiction and lately things have been very stressful with him. Anyone who has loved someone with an addiction will know how hard it is. I don’t want to get into details, but all I want to say is my heart hurts and it is a constant roller coaster ride and it takes up a lot of my emotional energy worrying about him (and my parents).
I had an ultrasound a few weeks ago that found some sort of “mass” on my uterus, so that’s fun. I’m sure it’s nothing but of course my brain goes to the worst case scenario. Bodies are the worst, right?
Then, we had a huge wind storm that knocked a gigantic, and I mean GIGANTIC tree down. It actually lifted up right from the roots. Luckily it ended up falling onto another tree just before landing on our brand new, very expensive roof. Nevertheless, cutting it down wasn’t a job that we could do… So we had a tree guy come out, who spent half the day slowly removing it. But we were left with a lot of wood which we’ve spent the last few weeks chopping, stacking, and trying to desperately give away! We have enough for bon fires for ages… On the bright side, I do like roasted marshmallows and now my backyard gets a lot more sun!
In the midst of this, we bought a car. “Old Goldie” as we affectionately called our 2002 Honda CR-V, was on her last legs and we knew it was just a matter of time before she literally fell apart (oh the rust). So we found a good deal on a new car, less than a decade old which for us is like living in the future. Gosh, this car is beautiful. However, driving back from puppy class last week it stalled on the highway and refused to start. I was stuck on the side of the highway with an overtired 3 year old and a wound-up puppy. Turns out, somehow a teeny tiny piece of cigarette foil (ugh… cigarettes. Could they be any worse?) got stuck where the engine air filter should have been (oops) and caused some kind of problem that Dan explained to be very calmly. Anyway, at the end of the day my genius husband (who is a mechanic) fixed it and saved us a tow. But it was stressful after the couple of weeks I’ve had.
So… I’ve been stressed. Ahh… It actually feels good just to let that all out.
I also have a ton of projects that are half started that I need to focus on and complete. I often have so many ideas and I get so excited about each of them that I start them, move on, then never finish them. Right now I’ve got 4 patterns on the go, a really exciting collaboration with another lingerie designer in the works, another top secret project, an art project… all of them started, none of them completed. Oh yeah, and I guess I better file my taxes (again, started that, but never finished). As much as I enjoy starting these projects (not taxes), it stresses me out having so many things half done. Why do I do this to myself?
I did manage to almost complete a couple of things. I posted about my Supply De-Stash yesterday. So many things have already sold out! Thank you every one who visited the sale, I hope you found something special and I can’t wait to see how you use them!
The other thing I’ve almost completed is a One of a Kind Lingerie (and more) Sale! I’ve been wanting to list these pieces for a while. Some of them I’m having a hard time with the idea of letting go, particularly the pastel satin set, but these one of a kind pieces deserve to be loved and worn, not just tucked away in a box.
A couple years ago, my friend Susie was trying out selling some items in her salon. I made up a few pouches and make-up bags, and I had a few left over so I’ll be posting those soon. I kept a few for myself and Isabel to use as pencil cases, but I’ve got more pouches than I can use. I really love these!
Some of my one of a kind pieces are prototypes, others are custom orders that I realized before shipping to the customer that I made them wrong. Oops. This is something my scatter brain does way too often than I’d like to admit. I just get so excited to jump in that I sometimes overlook details… the bra below was one of those oopsies. It was supposed to have black lace…
Other pieces, like this harness, are pieces that just didn’t quite make the cut into a collection. I also have a couple of slightly flawed pieces. Every once and a while I’ll finish a bra or a sleep mask then promptly cut a hole in the lining… sigh…
Here’s to pretty new lingerie, and hopefully some better luck for me (pretty, pretty please). Although I woke up this morning to find a puddle of water under my fridge… so if you need me, I may be out fridge shopping…
It’s done! And I’m super late to post about it!
I made this pattern about two years ago when I started thinking about getting Isabel out of diapers. I’ve sewed it a lot. And since grading it in different sizes, I’ve sewn it for friends kids too! This little pattern has gotten a lot of use around here.
The Belle Pattern is really easy. The trickiest part is sewing the fold over elastic, but if you’ve sewn with it before, these will be a breeze for you.
The instructions will walk you through how to sew the top with either a lace or FOE neckline. The undies are a super simple cut. Roomy, but perfect for under leggings and jeans.
I really hope you enjoy sewing these as much as I do. They are so quick to put together. It’s the perfect “my kid is napping and I want to make something” project. I currently have this pattern available in 2T-5T, but hope to release bigger kid sizes in the future.
You can purchase the pattern on Etsy or directly through my website!