My panty drawer runneth over. ;-) Between new and existing, I now have enough to go at least 2 weeks without running out of clean pairs. I even tossed about 8 pairs that had seen better days. (Why is a single panty called a pair anyway??)
The elastic is still warped out from all the stitching and stretching during construction but one run through the laundry and it will shrink back down. Here's a new pair on the left compared to an existing pair on the right. The only difference in pattern sizing is that I added an inch at the top of the waist for the latest batch so they'd sit higher on me and right under my pants/skirts waistbands. The elastic shrinks up quite a bit, doesn't it?
The last step of Project Panty was to roll the big bunches of lingerie elastic onto some cardboard cards so it stays untangled and fits neatly in the drawer.
I took pics of how I attach the elastic and I'll put those up as a little tutorial in a day or so since there were a couple of requests. But right now, I'm kind of tired of looking at lingerie elastic. ;-)
ETA: I just did the math. The only part of this project that I'm counting as an expense is the elastic. All of the fabric is scraps from existing projects that would've hit the trash bin if not for panties, so it was free. 21.39 yds of elastic at 45¢/yd = $9.63, or 88¢ per pair. This is truly the one thing I do save money sewing myself, and the fit is priceless.
Phew! What a marathon!
ReplyDeleteThe reason why they are a pair of panties, it because orginally there was no seam in the middle, they were a left leg and a right leg, a pair of panties.
ReplyDeleteI'm really getting motivated to try this too.
ReplyDeleteWhich elastic did you use from SewSassy? They have different ones?
Thanks.
I read the panty sew along at PR. It's been years since I've sewn lingerie. All of the posts prompted me to see if I still have my old Stretch&Sew panty pattern. Yes I do! I can't tell you how old that is! Now, I'm inspired. Bras also--I'd like to try that.
ReplyDeleteI need to jump on the bandwagon and make some of these too. I have the pattern and the fabrics so no excuses.
ReplyDeleteI too would love to know what elastic you used! That's quite a quantity of drawers. I can understand why you'd get tired of looking at them :-)
ReplyDeleteI have to get some everyday clothing for warm weather before I travel this path but of course I want to try some undies also. My problem with the cheapos is I really need lots more front elastic than I get in the hip size I have to buy for a good fit and comfort(sigh). I am beginning to think the only thing one can buy out there wardrobe wise would be shoes,bags, and jewlery.
ReplyDeleteAs for the car, that is the story of my life. Vet school daughter is driving the new f150 crew cab and I am driving her little left behind mazda. I alternate between the 4 runner she drove in high school and the college mazda. I need to have a car sale this year and get something for me with one set of keys. This sharing thing never works out for me anyway.
As for dog hair, it adds warmth and love. We get our share of it here but also have some cat hair in the mix as well as she loves to sew and pounce on top of the cutting table when in use. I know Chili is glad you work at home- he stays right with you from the looks of it. A little doggie hair is so worth all that affection. mssewcrazy
Smart! And what a good idea to roll the elastic on cardboard cards. I'm at the office but when I pop home I will give that a whirl! Thanks for the idea Deb!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the elastic tutorial...and your new panty collection is very kewl!
ReplyDeleteWow....that's a lot of panties!
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day I'll start sewing lingerie again...you've been quite the inspiration!
BTW..are you EVER going to pick up the blog award from my site? We've known each-other since the old PMB days...so I know you are not ignoring me...I think...or do we have a problem that I don't know about? ...certainly hope not :)
They look great and I now want to make some too :)
ReplyDeleteAnother item added to my list ;)
WOW, what an awesome way to use you scraps. They look great! I look forward to your tutorial & more information on the exact elastic you used.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I am really looking forward to the tutorial! I've never made panties but there has been such a flurry of panty sewing that I'm almost ready to be convinced!
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you showed the way the elastic looks stretched out after sewing and also how it looks after the laundry. I have tried to sew elastic on like this and never realized that it would relax back after washing. I just thought that it was permanently stretched to a bigger size after sewing. I have tossed things thinking I had messed up gauging the size of the elastic.
ReplyDeleteVery nice undies! I'll have to give that pattern a try.
ReplyDeleteImpressive, that's a lot! I still have two bra's that I'm not wearing yet as the panties still have to be made. I couldn't sew that many in a row. Yours are lovely. (and as to pair: I always wonder why in English it is a "pair of pants", it's only one garment anyway.)
ReplyDeleteWell, this is definitely inspiration for me! I have GOTTA GOTTA GOTTA make my dd some new undies and I could use a few pairs. I'm doing the sew-a-long, too and it has proved helpful to light a fire under my hiney! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check out your elastic supplier. I do so hate having to go fetch notions when I'm in the middle of a project. Usually, that's the death knell for that item!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great supply you have. Better to have more than you need than not enough. LOL.
ReplyDeleteYou've reminded me that when I was really young my mom used to make all of her own underwear. Not sure why at that time as she didn't sew other things for herself (that I knew about). Wish she was still alive so I could talk about this.
Oh, as for the comments about the cardboard, I save the cardboard from trim packages like bias tape binding. They are great to wrap other things around; although I like to roll my elastics in a circle; not sure why.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun project! Because of your inspiration I just finished my first pair...made from a tee-shirt that had shrunk too short. Let's hear it for recycling!! I used KS 2100 and had to laugh...the copyright date is 1941. Some things don't change too much. The pattern tells you exactly how long to cut the elastic, and they were spot on! That was amazing. I can see me whipping out a bunch of these one of these days. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteDude. My butt is alot like yours (God love us). How come you don't just whip out another 10 or 20 pair for me?? It really wouldn't take you that long at all!! (i.e. iz jealous) :P
ReplyDeleteToo say this post has motivated me is an understatement. Time for me to get to work. I really like your tip about the extra cheek room -- I have so many problems getting a good fit with RTW panties, plus I'm still trying to figure out why they cost so much!
ReplyDelete