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I used the opportunity of limited resources (my husband would dispute that the range of sewing supplies I took with me was limited) to do some experimenting while I travelled.
One of those projects was making myself underwear out of some knit scraps. Note the thread doesn't match but the line was drawn at packing 48 cones of serger thread ...
So here they are, my first pair of Bunzies:
This pattern is from Stitch Upon a Time, the same outfit that produced the popular and better known Scrundlewear pattern. I had originally intended to make the Scrundlewear but was advised by the pattern designer that the full back version of the Bunzies had the most coverage, so I made these instead.
The Bunzies pattern is distinguished by various booty coverage options - you have the option to expose various quantities of your backside, something that I have personally been trying to coverup my whole life, as reflected in a lifetime of discernible panty lines and the bottoms of swimsuits that ride up. But this pattern has views that allow you to cover up completely, which I did, or expose various degrees of cheek which I am sure makes someone happy somewhere.
Seeing younger women in really, really short shorts I can see how higher cut underwear, as an alternative to thong underwear (anyone who says those are comfortable IMO is doing some major tuning out of messages from body to brain) might be useful.
Back to the it's not me part.
The base fabric is a beautiful rayon knit and the bands are cotton lycra.
For some time now I have been seeing underwear with knit bands as opposed to elastic edgings sewn up. I have been intrigued by the possibility that using knit edgings would be a good and efficient alternative to having to coordinate hard to find elastic colours. Plus I figured it might be more comfortable and of course cheaper if, like me, you have enough knit scraps to load up the cargo hold of a 747.
I hate the feeling of too tight leg openings, or too stiff leg openings in my underwear and I am sure I am not the only one who feels this.
The pattern was very straightforward and I made these up without any changes. I did note as I often do that the instructions called for some construction details that are not always needed in knits - pressing and finishing the raw edge of the crotch for example. Like the Jalie panties these do not have an enclosed crotch piece in all seams - only one seam is enclosed and the other edge left raw.
In terms of drafting the only thing I noticed was that the crotch piece itself was a bit narrow. I figured out this is because the leg bands are fairly wide and those sort of supplement the crotch by the time they get under there.
Now to the really important question.
How do these feel?
First, a little different. The first time I wore these I felt they were a bit bulky under the crotch, because of the bands etc. but I quickly got used to it. The waist and leg openings are super comfortable and stay put without cutting in any where, which meets my over riding criterion.
They are definitely a pair I reach for in preference in the morning too, which says something.
I might make the leg bands a bit narrower next time, and I might try this treatment on my standard Jalie underwear pattern too.
Or I may not.
This is definitely a completely easy, lazy person's way to whip up some underwear that will actually get worn so I can see next time I am delusionally convinced I am efficient and decide to cut up some of those scraps, this is the pattern I will reach for.
I actually think making underwear makes sense. The stuff you buy is either a) cheap but wears out/sags real fast or b) crazy expensive given what it is and where it will be worn.
On other news, because I think sometimes my sewing life needs context, Daisy is back on 6 weeks bed/crate rest for her disk issue in her back.
She is a hoppy, bouncy, happy walker and ran rings around the back yard when we got back. However I am feeling sorry for not catching her when she jumped on and off the curb when we went for a walk or for, this is horrifying, the time a few days ago when she jumped off a chair she was cuddling in because there was a loud noise in the kitchen.
We never let her go up and down stairs or jump on and off anything so I am feeling very guilty for not catching her in time. The truth is Daisy is going to have this issue on and off for life and we have to be so careful with her. This might be a result of bad treatment in her past (she has some slight issues in one eye probably as the result of trauma) or it might be genetic in a dog with a long back and short legs. At any rate if it gets really bad she might end up with surgery if these bouts of bed rest don't work. It is too early for that option (which costs about the same as a small car, second hand that needs new tires) the vet said, and there are risks too with surgery, so we have to do this first.
So Daisy is set up in a child's Pack and Play until June and the dog stroller is how we are breaking up her boredom.
Even other news is the mouse folks were back and have fixed up some holes that a former and apparently no good employee left when they supposedly mouse proofed the house last time. As opposed to poisoning for the current residents we have opted for one way mouse doors that let them out and not back in. Apparently it will take about 3 months to move them all out this way, but it is safer.
In the meantime the mice are sort of still running around (thanks for the heads up on the dog food- I hid it in the dishwasher last night - remind me to take it out before I turn it on this morning).
Last night in fact one ran over my husband's foot in the middle of the night in the bathroom. He eventually killed it with the toilet plunger but after all of this I had trouble getting back to sleep.
I kept thinking of the mouse family that is certainly one of many in my walls.
"Where's Ed? He should be back by now. He said he was only going to nip out for a quick run around the bathroom and he's still not back."
"I told him he should just use the mouse door to the outside. But you know Ed. Can't tell that mouse anything."
Yes I actually thought this lying in my bed in the middle of the night.
Apparently the mice have made me lose my mind.
But at least the underwear fits.
