HOMEMADE UNDERWEAR

The term, ‘homemade underwear’, probably doesn’t conjure up a very flattering image. In fact, I just read an old news piece about Cate Blanchett giving up her dowdy homemade underwear. (made by her mom!) I have to admit that I’m impressed with my first attempts at making knickers. I think they’re quite cute and certainly not daggy.

My first pair was the Brazilian hipster in stretch lace. These next two are made from organic knit bamboo fabric. The fabric is amazingly soft. I’ve been wanting to start bringing in more organic and alternative fabrics to the workroom. We now have the organic knit bamboo in three colours – black, grey and this minky brown. For the trim, I just bought some inexpensive elastics at DFO. I’ll venture out to Mokuba and Sussman’s for my next pairs. A few of the other girls in the class had gotten some lovely trims there.

These are the low cut versions of the hipster (with frilly purple trim) and the bikini (with lavender scalloped elastic). I prefer the hipster, though both fit really well and are quite comfortable. The pattern also comes with a camisole which I’ve already got cut out in the bamboo and just need to sew up this week.

I’ve been scrutinizing my store bought undies, checking out they way they are constructed and how the trims are attached. Now that I’ve learned the basics from the underwear class, I’ve got tons of other ideas that I want to experiment with. The amazing thing about unlocking the mystery of making something is that you often find out that it’s not that hard and suddenly you’re proudly wearing homemade underwear!

Barack Obama was just sworn in as president. It’s a liberating day all around.

16 comments

  1. Yay Karyn! Those are so cute! I can’t wait until I’m in town and able to take another one of your classes again, they all rock!

  2. These look fantastic! Are you making them on a standard sewing machine or a serger? I recently came across a serger pattern, but I was completely baffled by it!!! I really really wish I was close to take classes at your shop, everything always looks so wonderful!!!!

  3. those are so cute!! good job! i love that minky brown colour too

    ps. today for lunch i had a barrack burrito! a celebration in my belly too!

    what a day! 😀

  4. I was just thinking of how hard it was to find good underwear that I am happy with!
    These are so cute! I love the purple and grey together! And the possibilities are endless when you go to Mokuba!!!

  5. Gosh Karyn, these sure aren’t the homemade granny panties that you hear about. Oh no they aren’t. C’est Magnifique!!

    I love the frilly purple trim you chose. Gives this pair a bit of a “come-hither” look 😉

    That class was great and Kristann (sp?) was such a great teacher. I still can’t believe how simple it is to make underwear. I am so glad I took that class.

    Here’s to homemade undies!! Pip pip hooray!

  6. That bamboo will make the softest undies EVER! I enjoyed this class, but I haven’t finished my boy-cut pair. I need to practice stretching the elastic and keep it lined up with the fabric at the same time. I can’t wait to have a finished pair to wear, then start making a bunch and throwing away all my ratty old store-bought pairs.

  7. Karyn, your panties are so wonderful! You inspire me to make my own pair, I made a pattern today and just have to finish sewing them.

  8. Those are so cute. What pattern did you use? I looked up the class but it just said it was a commercial pattern. I live to far away to take this class if it is offered again but I’d really like to try making my own underwear.

  9. Hello! I believe you posted this a long time ago, but upon seeing it now I think your work is brilliant!

    I’m halfway around the world and wish we had classes that you attended available here. Teach me, teach me! 🙂

  10. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I just signed up for the class later this month – cannot wait! I need more underwear, and after Mokuba was closed, I guess I also needed an excuse to go trim shopping, lol.

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