A look back at historical costumes, sewing, pattern drafting, pattern altering, jewelry and everything to go with dresses and clothing from the past.
Showing posts with label 1950's bullet bra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1950's bullet bra. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Mrs. Depew
Hi! I just have to post a mention in my blog about Anna Depew's blog and her items for sale on Mrs. Depew Etsy.com. She is a very knowledgeable woman who specializes in recreating vintage patterns. Her own items for sale on Etsy.com come with clear instructions and her photos and explanations, especially on her sew a long's are really helpful. The lingerie is really beautiful. If nothing else her website on Etsy.com is worth a look for anyone interested in vintage lingerie, sewing patterns, knitting patterns and similar things. She answers any questions you may have and is always happy to help. Right now she is having another giveaway of her patterns! What could be better than that? You really should follow her blog, "A Few Threads Loose". Thanks for reading and stay tuned for my bullet bra updates!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Bullet Bra: Layout and cutting out pieces
Hi! There's been a lot going on here and today, June 15, 2012, I have finally had the opportunity to lay out the bullet bra pattern pieces on the muslin and cut them out. The photo below shows some of the pattern pieces laid out onto the muslin and also the Olfa rotary cutter with guide arm and the Olfa green cutting mat. One will not work without the other, trust me. The Muslin bolt I purchased is 48" wide and was rolled onto the bolt doubled. For every piece I cut out there will be four pieces. Next time I'll undo it so there won't be so many on the folded fabric. The fabric is 24" wide when folded and it would take about 24" of fabric if your fabric is 48" wide for the size 46 DD bullet bra. Please note that this bullet bra will be made out of cotton or similar fabrics - NOT the stretch fabrics, slinky, milliskin, tricot or spandex lycra of most bras.
Finally, shown above, here are the pieces cut out. I still have to mark the pieces so I kept the patterns pinned to them. This is my first use of the Olfa rotary cutter and guide and single large Olfa cutting mat. I must say it will take more practice on my part in order for me to get proficient in its use! Buy yours here. Buy the Olfa rotary cutter and guide arm by itself here. It was not as easy as the video made it look. This video, by Bruce Oleyar, is really a great addition to any seamstress or would-be seamstress's or tailor's video library. Bruce not only explains step-by-step how to use the Lutterloh system, but also how to alter pattern pieces, sew them together correctly so you don't get that "hand made" (unprofessional) look, how to design your own patterns and more. Please note that my own bullet bra pattern was made by me using my own measurements and some ideas I found freely on the internet.
You may also find the Olfa products for sale on such websites as eBay.com or else other websites. If you have a Michael's store nearby, they used to sell them there; however, I am not sure if they still carry them. Certain select sewing and/or fabric stores may have these Olfa products as well. Don't buy the Fiscars or other cutting mats as they will dull your blade and not cut correctly no matter the brand of your rotary cutter.
Because of my various health problems this simple step of laying out the pattern pieces, pinning them to the muslin and then cutting them out left me needing rest. Normal people should be able to cut out the pattern pieces in perhaps about 20 minutes or so. My husband also helped me by laying the plywood, cutting mat and fabric bolt out for me on the bed. I don't have a cutting table - wish I did. I have to do things that are affordable to me and this economy is bad, as you know.
So as I mentioned the next step would be for me to mark the individual pattern pieces and to "clean them up" with a pair of sharp scissors I use ONLY for cutting fabrics. I suggest you also buy a good pair of shears and use them only to cut fabric out with. Don't even use them to cut out the pattern pieces as that will dull the blades of most shears or scissors really fast! You might like to try the Kai scissors here. My own scissors I purchased a long time ago from a sewing and fabric store - I forget which one. They were fairly expensive, I think about $30.00 at the time. They are Gingher scissors. If you need larger pictures please contact me and I can send them to you. :)
If you have any comments, criticisms or suggestions, please leave them. Thank you! :)
 | |||||
| Layout of pattern pieces |
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| The pieces cut out but still pinned to the pattern pieces |
Finally, shown above, here are the pieces cut out. I still have to mark the pieces so I kept the patterns pinned to them. This is my first use of the Olfa rotary cutter and guide and single large Olfa cutting mat. I must say it will take more practice on my part in order for me to get proficient in its use! Buy yours here. Buy the Olfa rotary cutter and guide arm by itself here. It was not as easy as the video made it look. This video, by Bruce Oleyar, is really a great addition to any seamstress or would-be seamstress's or tailor's video library. Bruce not only explains step-by-step how to use the Lutterloh system, but also how to alter pattern pieces, sew them together correctly so you don't get that "hand made" (unprofessional) look, how to design your own patterns and more. Please note that my own bullet bra pattern was made by me using my own measurements and some ideas I found freely on the internet.
You may also find the Olfa products for sale on such websites as eBay.com or else other websites. If you have a Michael's store nearby, they used to sell them there; however, I am not sure if they still carry them. Certain select sewing and/or fabric stores may have these Olfa products as well. Don't buy the Fiscars or other cutting mats as they will dull your blade and not cut correctly no matter the brand of your rotary cutter.
Because of my various health problems this simple step of laying out the pattern pieces, pinning them to the muslin and then cutting them out left me needing rest. Normal people should be able to cut out the pattern pieces in perhaps about 20 minutes or so. My husband also helped me by laying the plywood, cutting mat and fabric bolt out for me on the bed. I don't have a cutting table - wish I did. I have to do things that are affordable to me and this economy is bad, as you know.
So as I mentioned the next step would be for me to mark the individual pattern pieces and to "clean them up" with a pair of sharp scissors I use ONLY for cutting fabrics. I suggest you also buy a good pair of shears and use them only to cut fabric out with. Don't even use them to cut out the pattern pieces as that will dull the blades of most shears or scissors really fast! You might like to try the Kai scissors here. My own scissors I purchased a long time ago from a sewing and fabric store - I forget which one. They were fairly expensive, I think about $30.00 at the time. They are Gingher scissors. If you need larger pictures please contact me and I can send them to you. :)
If you have any comments, criticisms or suggestions, please leave them. Thank you! :)
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Bullet Bra
Hi! Today I have re-drafted for about the third time, my version of the 1950's bullet bra pattern. This is turning out to be quite a project for me. I found a way to measure the cups for my size and hopefully, later on, I can make some for other people in other sizes. I have the four part or four piece cup, the piece that goes around the cups for the center of the bra as well as the bottom and side, the side piece which has turned out to be a bit tricky and also the bottom band which is proving a bit tricky itself. I will use cotton muslin for my mockups and I'm thinking about using black thread so that as I am sewing this and later on posting pictures, the stitching will stand out. In the past, I bought a circle foot attachment for my sewing machine. I'm hoping this device will make it fairly easy for me to sew the circle stitching on the bra. I can't wait until I will be able to cut out this pattern and start stitching it to see if it will really work! I have not made the straps yet and I might use some bra straps I bought some years ago. In addition, I have designed this pattern to work with the bra extenders so that a person can easily stitch the hooks to one side and the loops or holes to the other side of the completed bra.
Here are some examples of bullet bras on the website: "What Katy Did". If you are anything like me, the prices are really high for a simple bullet bra and also the sizing is quite small for those of us who are plus-sized gals.
Before the Bullet Bra dot net website went out of business permanently, I had purchased a couple of bras from them, one in black and one in white. What I like about the bullet bra is it really makes your breasts have that late 1940's or 1950's through 1960's extreme pointy look. Drawbacks for me are the small sizes. I've already way outgrown my original bullet bras I purchased and I've always disliked the ill fitting side and back bands or pieces. For my particular shape, because I have had two open-heart surgeries, I need to have a bra that has about two inches of space between each breast at the top. Also I need a wider treatment on the side panels, just like they used to have in the 1940's and 1950's on their bras to hold in additional flesh, for lack of a better term. Also the straps of all bras are continually falling off my sloped, smallish shoulders. For my own bra that I'm planning on making, I will move the strap back until it is two inches inside of the bra closure at the back. This should bring the straps closer in the back so that, hopefully, the straps won't continually fall off me. Thank you for reading and stay tuned!
Here are some examples of bullet bras on the website: "What Katy Did". If you are anything like me, the prices are really high for a simple bullet bra and also the sizing is quite small for those of us who are plus-sized gals.
Before the Bullet Bra dot net website went out of business permanently, I had purchased a couple of bras from them, one in black and one in white. What I like about the bullet bra is it really makes your breasts have that late 1940's or 1950's through 1960's extreme pointy look. Drawbacks for me are the small sizes. I've already way outgrown my original bullet bras I purchased and I've always disliked the ill fitting side and back bands or pieces. For my particular shape, because I have had two open-heart surgeries, I need to have a bra that has about two inches of space between each breast at the top. Also I need a wider treatment on the side panels, just like they used to have in the 1940's and 1950's on their bras to hold in additional flesh, for lack of a better term. Also the straps of all bras are continually falling off my sloped, smallish shoulders. For my own bra that I'm planning on making, I will move the strap back until it is two inches inside of the bra closure at the back. This should bring the straps closer in the back so that, hopefully, the straps won't continually fall off me. Thank you for reading and stay tuned!
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