Hello, friends, it is I! Finally back on the internet. And like most people these days I have both too much time and not enough on my hands. I have also a lot of frustrations deeply embedded within me.
So what better to do than to turn those frustrations into something useful and creative (while also avoiding my actual problems that may be the reason for said frustrations).
So I did. The day I got home after my Italian class got cancelled, I did exactely that. I said down and started working on this bralette – which I adequately dubbed my Corona Frustrations Bralette – pattern.
I wanted this to be an easy bralette pattern, since I am a) still experimenting within pattern making and want to do it right and b) wanted to put this online if it actually turnt out well and I want it to be an easy sew even for beginners.

A few things about the making of this easy bralette pattern

As I’ve said I wanted it to be an easy project and I think this worked out well. You have to at least know a couple of things about sewing though, to read through the pattern and make the bralette.

I wanted this to be a neckholder piece and wanted the lace that keeps it up to be visible so I made it a double layered piece and had it shine through the lace layer.
You can make it one layered if you want to. You’ll see some marked off lines near the neckline. The piece is also a big bigger there than it needs to be, standing off in a rectangle. This is gonna be your tunnel to thread the lining through, if you just use one layer. You’d have to fold it over twice and sew it on and then thread the lace through.
If you’re making it two-layered, fold over this piece (or cut it). You won’t need it.

You can also use this easy bralette pattern as a pattern for a dress bodice. Just add an easy puffed or pleated skirt and you’re good to go.

Quick disclaimer – I am not a professional seamstress or ductrice – that’s what people who make patterns are called – nor a taylor. I do this for fun and as a hobby. Please take that into consideration.
Still: I love to get better at what I do so if you have any recs on how to do that please feel free to give them!

This is also taylor-made for me, meaning that I traced it off my doll with my measurments. It might not fit you and you might have to retake measures or re-fit it when wearing.
I have kind of big boobs as well – D to E – so uhm … yeah. My smaller breasted friends, you will probably have to do some fitting. Just wanted to say that. You can tighten the side seams, as well as the darts and it should work well enough.

What you’ll need

• fabric; I can’t tell you exactly how much I used but rest pieces are fine; max 1m each (if you’re making the layered one);
  I recommend something light and breathable like cotton. A somewhat stretchy fabric will do well, too
• Lace, approx 1,5m; Measure it around your neck. You want it to be a bit lose so you can lose and tighten the fit. You’d also want some stand over so you can tie it up in a cute bow.
• Thread in a fitting colour
• Needle (according to your fabric); I used a universal type on 80-90 in size
• A sewing machine (I guess you could do it by hand but why would you?)
• Scissors, Paper, Pen; The regular sewing equipment.
• And of course – The pattern:

How to do it – a quick intro into pattern reading

The patterns have their function – in German and English – written on them, as well as how often you’d need to cut them out (the number in brackets is the number of pieces you’ll need for the double-layered version) as well as some special cutting instructions.

Cutting a piece in fold means, folding your fabric and laying said piece down next to the fold, then cutting it like this, while keeping the fold. If you open it up afterwards you’ll have one piece that is double the size of the pattern.
You should cut every piece with at least one to two centimetres seam allowance. This means you shouldn’t cut right next to the paper pattern, but leave a couple of centimetres on the side.

Those cute little triangles symbolize darts. You need to mark those off with needles! Add a needle to where the triangle has it’s top point and add some tiny cuts where the two sides end. You will later fold the two cuts onto each others, while keeping the tip as the top edge, sewing down the outside edge off the triangle, therefore halfing the original triangle and creating a round-ish form
It’s a bit tricky here since the darts aren’t on one single side but are half/half on both the middle and the side piece.

How to actually do it – Sewing

I didn’t take any pictures, so I can’t properly illustrate the process – Super sorry. I hope, my writings might substitute a little.

1. Start with the front pieces. Pin the side pieces to the middle piece – right on right – and sew them on. Do the same thing to your second layer. Clean your seams up. If you’ve never done so- here’s how I do it: I cut of the excess seam allowance and zig-zag around the edges.
2. Take the back-side pieces, pin them onto the middle piece and sew them on. Clean your seams up.
3. Take the front and back pieces and add them together on one of the side seams.
4. Add the two layers onto each other. Since you’d be seeing through the lace I used I didn’t do so right on right. I pinned the right side (aka the pretty side) of my lace onto the left side of my inner layer (aka ugly side) so that that one would lay on my skin and not show through the outside. Leave one seam open, to later flip the piece. Mark of the width of the tunnel for the lace beforhand, don’t close the seam there.
   Flip.
5. Cleanup the tunnel edges and properly pin the darts. Then sew the darts. Try on your piece to check if it fits.
6. Close the garment by sewing the last side seam.
7. Thread trough your lace.
8. Wear.

Questions?

I hope this was somewhat easy to follow and you got a nice idea on how to waste your time while socially distancing.

I am always open for tips, tricks – both regarding my skills as a seamstress – and my blog, but please stay civil.
In case anyone has questions I am also open for that! Best shoot me a message on instagram or tumblr (Socials Below)

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