Experiments with weaving, braids and bows

I've been braiding fabric, trying to figure out a way to incorporate braids into my clothing... I tried cutting long strips of fabric, braiding them, and applying the braid with a long straight stitch, but I always found the braid to be too bulky for any thing other than a neckline.

So, I took my standard bikini panties pattern, added about 6" down the centre front, and made it into a two-piece pattern, as opposed to a "cut on fold." I staggered slices horizontally down the pattern, following the curve of the leg opening. I then started folding and weaving and pinning on to my dressform until I would up with a large "braid" down the front. I trimmed off the excess, and basted the loose ends. I am in love with how it turned out. When on, it is a very low cut panties that follows the curves of the body. The lose weaving adds additional stretch to the bias cut woven cotton. I am obsessed with this now and am going excited to be trying different slashing techniques.

I used a plain elastic along the waist and legs, because I didnt' want to detract from the weaving detail in the front. I have plans on using this technique along the back of a thong style panty...

Before the wedding I bought a few yards of black and white printed lace that I was going to use to make clutches... that was a passing fancy and now I have tons of the fabric. I started this cropped cami and long-line panties set yesterday. They were so plain and.... "modern" so I added a million bows. I have yet to find anything that a million bows can't make better.

Tonight we are off to my cousins house for nearly a week of house & child sitting. We will be looking after two of the funniest little boys until Thursday, and enjoying my cousins beautiful house. I am very excited to make use of their bath tub, as I only have a coffin-sized stand up shower in my apartment.

In response to my last, frustrated post. I broke the bank and bought a new camera and tripod. The tripod is amazing, and I have no idea how I functioned without it. Hurray!

Black & White

I am SO excited. I finally got to spend some time with my sewing machine and serger. I went to the fabric store on Thursday night and bought some flannel in black and white plaid & polka dots, black stretch mesh, black and white chiffon with little starlings on it, grey/black/red brushed cotton plaid, and some off white eyelet lace. To break up all the black and white, I bought a little floral cotton with a polka dot chiffon coordinate, in chocolate and raspberry. Today I went black and white crazy.

Last winter I made myself some sleep shorts out of my black and red lumberjack plaid... I find them so comfortable, and the husband finds them effortlessly sexy - the perfect piece of lingerie! I pre-washed all of my flannel yesterday, and it has gotten even softer and fuller after the first wash... They are in a french knicker style and could be worn under a fall or winter skirt.

I added a little cut-out lace applique to the polka dot pair, and satin bows to the plaid pair. I'm thinking I will list these individually and as a set.

Last but certainly not least, I made a bias cut camisole out, what I call, the starling chiffon. I picked up a few yards of this amazing stretch mesh which I used to trim the top and the panties. I love wearing bias cut chiffon camisoles, especially under sweaters in the winter... they make my winter uniform feel slightly more pretty.

I am getting so, so, so excited to list these on Etsy. I'm going to try to get a few more photos and a few more items sewn, and re-vamp my shop!