When the Made for Mermaids Mama Bridgette Bralette and Mama Victoria came out, I was stoked to start making my own undergarments. And ones that Husband would like!
I don't hold the Mama part of the name against them, despite not being a mother - not having kids hasn't been made part of the inclusivity club yet - c'est la vie!
Finding lace fabric at a decent price as a bit of a task. For the metres required for each garment, and at anywhere from $5-$9 a metre, no wonder they charge so much in stores for lacey undergarments!
I used my sleuthy skills and found a seller on Ebay.ca who had random packages of finished stretch lace in multiple metres at a steal of a price.
I took the chance, spent $60 on 20 metres of lace, and was pleasantly surprised when it arrived. It was soft, nice enough colours, and enough for 1-2 panties and a bra per colour. Yay!
The Mama Victoria - Cheekies and Thong:
You have two options:
- Cheekies
- Thongs
These honestly took less than half an hour a pair - including cutting -they are SO simple to sew up.
My first pair I used stretch velvet and some random stretch frilly elastic I had on hand. They are a bit small, despite going by the measurements on the pattern.
Still wearable, but I reprinted the pattern in the next size up for a more favourable size for my next 4 pairs.
I used scrap swimwear lining I had on hand for the lining part (no one wants lace in their nether regions!), and everything sewed together without any issues.
The instructions were easy to follow, and I love the way both pairs fit.
The thong doesn't ride anywhere it ought not to, and I don't even remember I'm wearing them when they're on. They don't dig into my hips or belly either - yay!
I have no need to buy underwear again - when I can make them! They don't cut in, and I can colour block and use scraps if need be.
From fabric vs lace, they feel equally divin.
Mama Bridgette Bralette & Nightie
I didn't splurge enough for a nightie, but I did for a matching bra for every two panties!
There are 3 back options:
- Racerback
- Cross Back
- Full Back
I have a lot of neck and shoulder pain, so try to avoid anything that will put more pressure on that area.
That being said, I did make one of each back type to see how they felt.
The instructions are detailed and easy to follow - and the PDF even includes links to video instructions, which are SO helpful!
 |
| Full Back |
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| Racerback |
The first two bras, I once again went by measurements taken that night, and the bra just felt too tight with a lot of pressure.
So I sized up for the third one for a comfortable fit.
My only issue (other than the sizing) is that there wasn't a tutorial for how to insert a bra cup. So I'll do that next time, as currently they just sit outside the bra so I don't show the world how cold it is.
Learning curves!
The Raceback and Cross Back options aren't too bad, but I can wear them for an hour before the pressure is too much - plus to wear clothes over them without anyone seeing the neck portion of the bras is pretty difficult.
So they are purely sexy-time bras.
The Full back is perfect.
I can wear clothes over it without the straps showing, and it holds my decent busom without me falling out or feeling unsupported.
I really need to make more time to make more though, as Husband complains about my Lululemon Sports Bras (SOOOO comfy too). I only have the one Full Back Bridgette made so far that fits, so after a wear, in the wash it goes and out comes the sports bra!
So it's comparably as comfy as my Lulu sports bras. That says a lot, as I love them.
So take the challenge and sew some undergarments. I recommend sizing up and using "not coveted" fabric for your first go to ensure the fit is proper before digging into fabric you would cry if it didn't work out.
