This is the last part of my outfit for the One Year One Outfit challenge where we are required to make a complete outfit from only locally produced and processed materials. This time I am able to show you my underwear which bears an uncanny resemblance to the underwear that Wilma Flintstone would wear had we ever been shown her undergarments!
First the bra. This is the newly released Maya bra by Ana at AFI. This is the second time I’ve made this bra and it could not be more different from the first! This time I used felt, hand stitched together and i-cord for the straps and fastenings. It is a front fastening bra using the last one of my Banksia buttons to secure the front. I need to apologise to Ana as this bra is much uglier than her design.
Unsurprisingly the fit of this one isn’t as good as the previous one as it has no stretch at all. However, it does the job, so I’m ok with it.
I machine knitted the knickers, using cut and sew techniques to sew them. I used the Watson bikini pattern and I had to work hard to fit the pattern on the tiny woollen square that I knitted from reclaimed tension swatches. I let the knitting take its natural roll for the waistband and loosely stitched it down, allowing it to stretch. This worked well but isn’t overly neat. The side seams are backstitched and then blanket stitched and I also blanket stitched the legs.
I spent some time considering gusset linings. I played around with paperbark (believe it or not!), and got as far as fashioning the pattern piece, massaging it with West Australian beeswax to make it soft and pliable, and then I had a bit of a go at stitching it in. I could not deal with the colour though, let alone the feel. This is what it looked like (this is a mock up so you can see what I mean).
With not a lot of choices I was reduced to a piece of felt. The thinnest felt I could find.
What can I say? It’s very soft, and err, fluffy!
All that remains now is for me to put the whole outfit together for your viewing pleasure…
Sue, it does not look ugly at all! Actually it looks interesting, unusual! And truth be told, I think one year one outfit is a very difficult task. You did extremely well! I love everything, not just the underwear 🙂
Thank you Ana, I felt that I didn’t do your lovely bra justice!
Hahaha! I totally agree with your Wilma Flinstone analogy. The paperbark lining must have been the summum of confort in her days! Your imagination has no limits!
Thank you as always Hélène, I think Wilma would have been slightly more glam in her undies!
Well Wilma was a cartoon so of course they would draw her glam… Never understood what she saw in Fred! 😀 I admire you resourcefulness. You went from an orange looks a little stiff lining to a fluffy one. Should be interesting to wear to say the least!
So strange to wear. They won’t be in my rotation, let me tell you!
That’s ok! You met the Challenge!
Add a fluffy fur coat and boots, locally sourced of course, and you’re all set for a winter holiday in an ice hotel! These are so funny and adorable.
haha, you are so right!
Ha ha, love the paperbark idea…ouch!
Hmm, yes!
I’m very impressed that you have made a complete outfit from only locally produced and processed materials. Such a lot of thought and work has gone into this. Looking forward to seeing the whole outfit together.
Soon! Thanks Jean
Woohooo! Top to toe locally grown and sewn. Had a great giggle at your fluffy lining..
It’s interesting to say the least! 😜
I am enormously impressed with your imagination. Aren’t those pieces a bit itchy to wear?
Actually they don’t itch at all. I wouldn’t say they are my most comfortable undies though!
I find it very interesting to see how you have come up with solutions for this challenge, they are all amazing.
I think that’s been the best thing about this challenge – it’s really tested our creativity.