Hi All!!

Today I have something a little different- and an announcement!

As you have probably guessed from my hints in the last couple of weeks:

I’m extending the Bra-A-Week Challenge! YAY!!!

11 weeks is simply not long enough to enjoy this challenge with you all! So here’s the new scoop on the challenge:

1. I’m fully committing to the challenge for another 9 weeks! (Until the end of May) After which I will look at my time and see where it should go from there who knows, I might be doing this for the rest of my life lol.

2. I’m going to focus mostly on swimwear. As always, this challenge is open to any bra/lingerie/swimwear, so your goal doesn’t have to change with mine- you can do whatever you want!

3. The only rule that I am changing is that submissions have to be in BY FRIDAY NIGHT. It can get a little stressful to rally all of your submissions and post them first thing on Sunday morning- and I really like to get the post out to you before noon on Sundays for you all if I can (definitely didn’t happen today lol!) But don’t worry if you get yours after the deadline- there’s always next Sunday! and anything that is missed will just be in the next week!!

So now- back to my project this week! Which is a bikini top!

This top is based on the Marsha style in the Three Sisters bikini pattern from Pin-Up Girls, and is one of the first projects that I planned for the challenge!

I modified the pattern to be quite a bit lower along the neckline than the original, but kept the twist in the middle- which I thought was a very fun element with the mix-match fabrics for the cup!

I decided to modify the neckline because after I tried it on, I thought it would be a little more flattering with a bit more cleavage 🙂

This is the neckline of the original pattern before I lowered it, and yes, this is me sewing in the middle of the night as usual- texting mom to say- “do you think I should lower it?”

And my favourite part of this swim top has to be the twist in the middle! so fun!

I did make matching bottoms to go with this suit- but they were quickly ruined by one jump in a hot tub. I used the coral/pink fabric for the bottoms and the hot tub dyed them a muddy purple! But not all-over purple which I could have lived with, but only in the areas which weren’t tight against my body- so in the crevices of the waistband, near the seams, and you guessed it- a stripe up the centre back, which is not really something I can pull off.

This also had to be the first night of my California trip, and the one pair of matching bottoms to the two swim tops I had made for the trip… so I hung my head in defeat and marched myself to the closest Walmart to buy a simple pair of black bottoms- and vowed never to dunk this top into a hot tub! Lesson learned- do not wear your nice custom swimwear into the hot tub!

Have you ever had a hot tub swimwear disaster?

Now onto your submissions!

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First we have this beautiful swim suit and bra from Christie!

Christie made this gorgeous wrap-style swimsuit in pretty spring colours to get her back in the pool! Super flattering with a built in bra too! Love it!

She also made this simple but pretty ‘Winter Whites’ bra, which is her first ever cloned bra! Great job!

cf_green (at) yahoo (dot) com

Monique made this beautiful lace bra from a self draft, with a plunge front and lace straps!

She also made a lovely set of panties to go with it! what a pretty set- I love that lace 🙂

David made this bra with half-triangle cups and a hook closure in the back. Very delicate with a pretty black lace!

dpolrolniczak (at) wp (dot) pl

Kerri made this under-chemise from the Country Wives Pattern CW SS-01. It’s for re-enacting times from the early 19th century or the War of 1812.

Kerri made this from unbleached cotton- and is planning to wear it under her Recency-era dresses. Wow! Can’t wait to see a picture of that! It does look super comfy too 🙂

Mom made this swimsuit from the Watson Bra & Bikini pattern for my sister. She used this fun printed swim fabric for the front and lined it with white powernet, which she also used for the back band and little panels on the sides of the bottoms.

She used white fold over elastic to finish the edges (although she didn’t get to finish the edges of the legs yet!) And she left the elastic the full width on the top edge of the bottoms- because they are quite low cut! Super cute!

Michelle made his bra from the Classic Full Band pattern from Pin-Up Girls, with the addition of a split lower cup. She also modified the pattern to fit her omega shape, with a smaller wire and cradle, and a modified bridge to sit lower and adjust for a flat spot (what a pro!)

And on top of all of that she applied a beautiful lace to the centre front for the ‘butterfly effect’ – wow is that pretty, such good lace placement, it really looks like the wings of a butterfly! And of course she added a little lace to the side too! Make sure to check out her post on this gorgeous bra!

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As always I am totally loving all of your submissions- You guys are getting more creative and inspiring every week! Which is why it makes me so happy to extend this challenge!!

I can’t wait to see what you all come up with in the weeks ahead! Has this given anyone a chance to reflect more on what they like and need in their bra wardrobe? find any gaps? any new loves? Any new goals for the coming weeks?

I’ve definitely found my love of cut & sew foam and fold over elastic! And I can’t wait to get moving more on swimwear! 🙂

As always- don’t forget to check out the Pinterest board, and the Flickr Group if you enjoy those platforms! To grab a challenge button and to send your bra for next week to bra.a.week@gmail.com!!

You can also check out Week 1, Week 2 , Week 3 , Week 4 , Week 5 , Week 6 , Week 7,  Week 8  and Week 9 of this challenge for more amazing bras!

Let me know what your goals are- have they changed? are they the same? How are you feeling coming in to a new season?

Happy Sunday!!!

xo erin