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Foam Cup Pockets? – Yes, you can!

Foam Cup Pockets? - Yes, you can! In our Boob Camp this week, we have a student who has had a mastectomy. This is good thing, as all the other students in this class get to see how we put pockets in a bra ( which is useful information for any…

Rant of the week – Men Buy Better Breasts

Rant of the Week - Men Buy Better Breasts I am on a rant today. I have a student in my Boob Camp this week who has had a mastectomy, and she cannot afford to buy a prosthesis. What's a prosthesis? Commonly known as a breast form, a breast…

A Better, Wider Bra Back

I am sure everyone at some time has wished they could add a little more length to the back band of their bra. Especially if you have gained a little weight. And especially if you have gained a little weight, have vowed to get that weight back…
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Foam Cup Surgery

What can you do when the only foam cups in your size really aren't the style you want? Today we had exactly that dilemma presented by a student in Boob Camp. The only cup that fit her was the balconette style in the size 52 (which means it is…

Stretch into Spring

The last few posts have been about tulles, those lovely embroidered meshy tulles that are so at home on an upper cup! But not everyone wants tulle all the time. Sometimes you just want a stretch lace. For panties to match your new bra, as just…

Sew Hungry

Twice per year, in spring and fall, our street in the fabric district hosts Sew Hungry, a gathering of more than 30 food trucks from all over southern Ontario. (Personally, I think it should be called Sew Into Food, but I digress...) This…

Taipei shopping experience

My last evening with the students ended on a high note, indeed. Vanessa very kindly offered to take me to the famous dumpling place in downtown Taipei for an authentic Taiwan upper class experience.Here is the Taiwan 101, which is the World.…

Taipei’s Night Market

Last night, the teachers and students "conspired" to take me to the famous Night Market. This is a market that only starts up at 6 pm and carries on until midnight, each night.It is a very popular place for locals and tourists alike, and I can…

Teaching in Taipei

I was invited to teach Bra Design & Draft at  Shih Chien University in Taipei and I have been here for a week. I had no idea of what to expect - I was only told they were fourth year students.  Also, two of the pattern drafting…

Move over Ottawa Street!

I have been very proud of the fact that Hamilton's Ottawa Street was named Canada's top shopping street, due partly to the abundance of fabric and antique shops within a few short city blocks. Yes, I counted 13 fabric shops between Barton and…

To market, to market #1

Yesterday was a great day. Even though I am still screwed up over the time difference, I wanted to post the pictures I took .First after breakfast, I took some pictures of our very quiet street in front of the hotel. I expected the noise of…

I have arrived!

When I say, I have arrived, I mean that in both the literal and the figurative senses of the word. After 3 flights ( Toronto to Detroit, Detroit to Tokyo and lastly Tokyo to Taiwan) almost 18 hours in the air...I have arrived.After picking up…

Last minute stitchin’

Just finished my last minute sewing before my trip to Taiwan. I hemmed my new pants and sewed the pockets shut ( I always do that). I also put a clip on my airplane pillow so I can keep it fastened around my tote bag or suitcase. Also around…

Countdown to Taiwan

This is it...the final days in Canada before I leave for Taiwan! Why am I going, you may ask? Is it abuying trip - no, although I won't completely rule out the possibility of going to the lace and fabric markets over there!pleasure…
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Happily Ever After – Sharon’s Corset

Happily Ever After - Sharon's Corset My Once Upon a Time posts are geared toward showing some incredible vintage apparel. Happily Ever After is about being inspired by a vintage photograph or garment, and re-creating it in today's fabric. Today's…

Corsetiere’s Course – Off to a Great Start

The Corsetiere's Course started today! Our students will spend the time learning as many aspects of corset building as I can fit into the schedule. Everyone has different reasons for taking a course such as this, and our class this year is no…
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Once Upon a Time – 1934 Bra Advertisement

1934 Bra Advertisement Woohoo! Look what I found - a genuine 1934 bra advertisement - a full page ad from the Montgomery Ward catalogue! (We would call it an "ad" today but our short word comes from the longer word "advertisement") You can…

Once Upon a Time – Overwire Basque

Once Upon a Time - Overwire Basque Here's a great vintage find - an OVERwire garment (as opposed to an UNDERwire garment) that one of my students brought in to a class. The length goes past the waist to the hips, so is it corset, a basque,…
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Swim Masters Digital Fashion Show

Today's the day for the Swim Masters digital fashion show. The Swim Masters class is a 5 day class for students who already know how to make swimwear, so it truly is a class in which you can master swimwear. I often hear "why does it take  5…

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Grand Finale

Now that the binding is finished, the bottom band can be sewn on and we will have our Yellow Polka Dot Bikini ready for the Grand Finale! Cut a strip of fabric at least 10" (25 cm) longer than the total width of the two cups. We are going to…

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Binding Edges

The Yellow Polka Dot Bikini is almost done! In this post, join me as I add binding edges of both sides and bottom of the foam cup (the triangle cups from Bra-makers Supply to be exact) without using any special machines, just an ordinary…

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Bottoms Up!

I finished sewing the Yellow Polka Dot Bikini bottoms this morning in class. All I had left to do after doing the stitch-and-flip lining ( you can see the post on that here) was to apply elastic to the waist and leg openings. As I mentioned…

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Elasticated Straps

The thin straps you find on most bikinis from ready-to-wear have elastic inside. In fact, it is somehow stitched inside that fabric tube that makes the straps, but without the stitching showing on the outside of the tube. Some of you might…

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Cup Covers

Now that the bikini bottoms are almost finished, it is time to start the cups and the cup covers. For this classic retro-styled Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, I am using the MT triangle cups from Bra-makers Supply. Even though foam cups would not…

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Stitch and Flip

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini - Stitch and Flip Today I started the Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. I used the Denise Swimsuit (view A - tank style) and cut the bottom off the tank suit for the bikini bottoms. The bottom of that suit is quite flattering…

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Polka Dot Fabric

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini - Polka Dot Fabric Do you remember the song from the 60's "Itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini"? Well I do, and one thing has puzzled me for years. Was the "yellow polka dot bikini" in question made from…
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Boy Shorts from Stretch Lace

Do you love the look of those fashionable Boy Shorts made from stretch lace? How about using the scalloped edge of the lace at the leg instead of elastic? Stretch laces with spandex in them are exactly what you need to make that happen. Here's…

Magic from your Sewing Machine

Magic from your Sewing Machine I often issue a ‘ready-to-wear” challenge to the students in my professional bra-making classes. The assignment is to duplicate the look and styling of a ready-to-wear bra. Marsha Barr of Bra-voh Custom Bras…
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Once Upon a Time – Vintage Gold Swimsuit

Once Upon a Time -  Vintage Gold Swimsuit Today we had a real treat in the Swim Masters Class. One of my students brought in a vintage gold swimsuit for us to see and examine. Little did she know, that peering into vintage apparel is a passion…

I sell ’em, but I hate ’em…Rant of the week

It's something every bra shop carries. We sell them in various sizes and in three colours (white, beige and black). Yes, I carry them, but I don't like them. In fact, I hate to see women wear them! What are they?   It's those infernal (not…
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Using Lace Edging on the Upper Cup

To use lace edging on the upper cup on the Classic or the Linda Bra patterns, there's a bit of modification you need to do. The Classic and the Linda both have a strap tab extension area on the shoulder side (which is where you attach the strap)…

BOOB CAMP…er….BOOT CAMP!

Blog readers might want to know more about our famous Boob Camps. Yes, Boob Camp! Five days of sewing bras for yourself without the interruptions of your everyday life. No meals to prepare, no dogs/cats/kids/husbands wanting out/in/out/in etc.…
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Splitting the Lower Cup

Splitting the lower cup often allows better use of fabric when the quantity is tight. More importantly it allows you to change the DOGS for better support, especially on the heavier or larger breast. It is easy to split the lower cup and it…