March 20, 2013

Sewing Machine 2 - Megan 1

About a year and a half ago, I decided I wanted to learn how to sew. You can think Pinterest for that. Add that one to the list of bad ideas I've had and that Pinterest has inspired. I sewed a few things pretty successfully--I hemmed a few outfits, a pillow dress for my roommate's niece, floor pillows for Billy's mom.. Oh, and a sweater for my mom's cat!

In case you were wondering, yes he has hated me since.

My last attempt at sewing stuff was this fall when I was making a burlees to hang on the door. I had just finished the candy corn burlee for my apartment. I had to restring the bobbin, and apparently just couldn't get it right, because I ended up breaking 2 needles in the rat nest of knot that had started to form in the undercarriage. Needless to say, my sewing machine and I took an indefinite hiatus, and I finished my project with hot glue.

Pretty good, I'd say!


Sewing Machine - 1 :: Megan - 0

Tonight I decided to rekindle my relationship with ye ole' sewing machine. I have this bikini I bought last year on sale and I was completely in love with it. The pattern on it made it one of my second favorite swimsuits of all time--minus the one I lost in the lake a few years back, but we won't get into the details of  my commando skiing experience. The top didn't fit JUST right, but I loved it so much and it was cheap, so I was willing to see past it. Fast forward 2 years and I am prepping for a bachelorette weekend in Hilton Head, and I'm trying to do it as cheaply as possible. I don't want to buy a new swim suit just for the occasion, but I'm not feeling to confident about this purchase anymore..

 
The adorable matching frilly bottoms

You see, I wanted to get a bandeau, but this one has zero support, not that I have much to support. I just don't like how it bunches and looks.. well, lumpy. It also will bunch and turn somewhat inside out as show in exhibit A. Because of all of this, I was always self conscious about it slipping down, so it also needed to be taken up a bit. 

Exhibit A:

I saw something on Pinterest about being able to sew a bra into a bikini top, and I figured I had nothing to loose. I started by finding an old bra top, and found one that was going to be perfect! I bought this last Summer at Kohls when I needed a strapless bra for an outfit, but I forgot to bring the strapless bra with me.. It didn't actually do it's job, because the tape wasn't tacky after the sweltering Georgia Summer got to it, plus it hurt like @!^#($ to take off.



I found myself right back where I last left off, trying to get this daggum bobbin to feed correctly. I honestly worked for two hours trying to get it to understand that I am the boss. I tried a million different things (the most progress I made was when I was yelling profanities at talking to it). 

Sewing Machine - 2 :: Megan - 0

Before I got too frustrated, I decided to see exactly how I wanted to do this whole DIY thing, such as pinning everything where I wanted to sew, and how everything was going to piece together. It was always a way for me to walk away to collect my thoughts elsewhere and keep me from tossing my machine out my 3rd story window.


Low and behold! During my brainstorming sesh, I noticed that the cups of the bandeau hadn't been sectioned off like I originally had expected, I was able to untie the bow in the middle and slide the bra right inside after I had cut the plastic straps off of it. 


See how much better it looks already!? Not only does it have a shape, but it is padded ;) 
hint-hint, wink-wink, nudge-nudge.  We'll cal this Megan's Secret.

See look how much better that looks!! And the good news is, I finally got one on the score board!
Not a single bit of sewing involved, because once I tried it on, I realized that it was actually staying up and I didn't have to take in the clasp. Boom baby!!

Sewing Machine -2 :: Megan - 1

I still want an embroidery machine, but I guess I should master my free sewing machine before I shell out the big bucks on that fancy little number. I'm going to try taking on a few more projects in the weeks to come to see if I can become Susie Homemaker. So stay tuned, ladies and.. well, ladies!

3 comments:

  1. poor cat.

    glad you got the top figured out, your right it does look much better and to think it was so easy to fix!

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  2. Hello,

    I love your blog and I'm your newest follower. I also nominated you for the Liebster Award!

    blazing beautiful

    Jenna

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  3. lol i totally want two of those cat sweaters!!!!

    AMAZING job on the bathing suit top!! bravo :)

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