Hi All!!
It’s 2016!!! YAY! And I have a very good feeling about this year 🙂
I thought I would kick off the start of this year with an announcement about the Bra-A-Week Challenge, and how it’s going to look this year.
I’ve decided to make a few changes to the challenge coming up this year. These changes are partly because it’s a little too crazy to keep sewing a bra every week *sweats while thinking about last year* , but also because I feel like I can offer you a lot more than just inspiration now, and I would like to share more about the making, tutorials and theory behind bra making and swimwear.
So instead of make a new bra every week this is how the four Sundays of a month will look:
Sunday 1: Bra/Swim Make
Sunday 2: Bra/Swim Theory post or Tutorial Post
Sunday 3: Bra/Swim Make
Sunday 4: Inspiration Post with your Submissions.
I will still be making 2 bras/swimsuits every month for inspiration, but these makes will probably go hand in hand with the tutorial or theory post that I’ll be putting in the middle.
I’ve already planned a few posts ahead all about the theory behind: underwires, fabric choices, cup styles, and some makes to go with them. Â But I’m very happy to hear your requests!
I’m also happy that I’m giving the final Sunday of every month to show off all of your submissions, so we can all feel accomplished at the end of every month! Â And I will be collecting your submissions from the month and posting them all on that day!
Now this could change as the year goes on, but I think this general structure will be a little more manageable for me and a little more informative and useful for you!
Come along and grab a button!!
My goals for this year are to really dive into the nitty-gritty of bras and swimwear, and to help create good online resources for bra-makers, not just with showing things that I can do, but by including more teaching posts.
What are your goals? Remember this challenge is all about making and setting your own goals and being a part of this great bra community! You do not have to make something every week or even every month! Whatever goal is a good goal for you!
Please leave a comment and let me know how you’re feeling about your bra-making & swimwear sewing in 2016!
You can also join the pinterest board, send your submissions into braaweek@gmail.com and use the #braaweek if you are on instagram!
I am SO excited about everything to come this year, and I can’t wait to hear all about your plans too!
Here’s to an amazing 2016!!
xo erin
Ooh, this all sounds excellent! I would love tutorials on strap options – how to draft different shapes and styles, different ways to attach them at front and back, and *cough* how to make sure your straps are the right length! 😉 Anything you could possibly say about underwear, too… drafting, how fabric and elastic affect sizing/etc?
YAY! I'm so excited! Strap options is a great idea- like simple things that you can do to make your bras prettier or more designer! 🙂 And definitely underwear at some point- my panty drawer is as lacking as my bra drawer is luxurious! It's going to be a great year!
Erin, I'm really enthused about the changes you're making to the Bra-a-Week Challenge! I loved the old format, but think the new format is an excellent evolution. Also, I can't wait to try out the luscious bra tulle I ordered, it's superb!
Thanks Ginny! I'm so glad you like it! I'm excited to mix it up a bit 🙂 gotta keep things fresh! I can't wait to see what you make with the bra tulle as well!! So many beautiful things coming to come this year!
Oh, I read Ginny's post and now I want to make a tulle bra too. I'm glad you're continuing with the challenge. I'm wanting to make a few new bras. The theory will be wonderful. You really have so much to offer. Thanks, Erin!
Michelle
Thanks Michelle!! I can't wait to do more theory, it was definitely my favourite week from last year 🙂 I can't wait to see what you make too! 🙂 🙂
I've been lurking for a while, but thought I'd finally comment 🙂 It all sounds great! I have made my own bras in the past, but have been wanting to do more and expand my knowledge. And I really want to do a swimsuit next spring. Looking forward to learning from you!
Yay!! Thanks so much for the comment Alison!! I can't wait to see what you make- especially the swimwear, I'll be doing a couple months on swimwear for sure!! It's going to be a good year!
So exciting Erin! I, too, love the evolution of your bra a week challenge. I enjoyed your bra theories a lot last year! I hoping to join and this will probably slowly get me back into blogging!
Thanks Kathy! Looking back it was quite an evolution, and I feel like I've learned so much that I want to share! Bra theory is my favourite <3 I can't wait to see what you make and join in on all the fun! yay for bra sewing and blogging in 2016!
Wish you all the best for 2016.
And Yay, that's wonderfull news!! I'm looking forward to all your new posts.
I hope to rejoin the challenges.
Thanks Diana!! Best wishes to you too! I'm so excited for the challenge this year! And I'm excited to see some of your creations too!!! It's going to be a good year!
I'm in, I'll commit to a bra/swim monthly submission. If you've got a rough idea of your monthly subject matter planned out, could you post or email the list? For instance, 10.October will be Corsets. I hope I'm not asking too much. I also quilt and am trying to plan for that as well as the bras/swimwear challenge. I love your blog and reading about bra theory. Congratulations on your studio opening and best wishes for continued success.
YAY! Thanks Jennifer! I can't wait to see all your submissions- there's still one waiting for the submissions week! As for planning out the months ahead, I think you give me a little too much organizational credit! I'm a little more fly by the seat of my pants! But if I do get it figured out then I'll post it! I know that the first month, January is going to be all about underwires, shapes of underwires and how to use them. But I'm not sure about February yet. I should also say that you are under no obligation to make something related to the month- you are completely free to make your own goals and projects with whatever system you like! So when I do figure out February, I'll let you know! 🙂
I am really excited about your new plan. I love to learn new things – I live to learn! I would like to learn how to make a longer bra – not to the waist, but longer. Add more support and comfort for large breasts.
I hope you add new fabrics to your bra kits as time goes on. I hope to make at least one bra a month, and perhaps manage two or three 🙂
Thanks Darlene! I'm completely the same- I live to learn! Those are great suggestions! And I'm hoping to get some larger-busted friends to lend me their boobs for a few weeks of the challenge so I can work on my large-cup techniques!
I'm also planning to slowly expand the etsy store to have all of my favourite things in there- there's a long way to go, but it's coming along! 🙂
I too have been a lurker. I can't to see what you have in store for 2016.
Thanks Tricia! It's going to be a good year 🙂 🙂
Sounds like a great plan! I have been admiring your work for a while now. I agree with Jennifer, some sort of idea of what each month is going to be would be super helpful in planning out the years sewing.
Thanks Dixie! I will work on a schedule, but I have to admit that I'm not the best at sticking to them always- you never know when inspiration is going to hit. I know January will be all about underwires and different shapes of underwires, but I'll let you know about the other months as soon as I do! I know that there will definitely be a month on: swimwear, corsets, foam, and cup seaming. But I don't know exactly when. As I said to Jennifer too- please don't feel any pressure to keep in the same theme as me though- I love to see all your different makes all year 🙂
Happy New Year Erin! I love your blog. How about various forms of fixing fitting issues as a theory topic or even series? I'm interested in cups especially (I loved the one you did with your mum where you raised one side but not the other – the bra was lime green).
Happy New Year Mim!! Thank you 🙂 🙂 I think that's a great idea- since fitting issues can be one of the most challenging parts of bra-making!! I will definitely look into this as a series! 🙂
Happy New Year Erin! Your plan for 2016 sounds exciting! I look forward to your posts every week, and maybe I can even manage a bra- a- month for myself!
Happy New Year Linda!! It's going to be a great 2016!! I'm so happy to hear that you're following the posts 🙂 and I have faith that you can make a bra a month! And definitely make them for yourself 🙂 you deserve it 🙂
What a great goals for 2016! Happy New Year & lots of inspiration!
Happy New Year Jos!! It is going to be a great year full of inspiration!! 🙂
This sounds fantastic! While I very much enjoy seeing what you make each week, the theory is extremely important to me. I last made a bra fifteen years ago and so much has changed. For instance, there weren't so many lengths of underwires available. I'm also interesting in learning options for changing a basic bra into something spectacular, as well as using foam, both premade foam cups and cut and sew foam.
I'm looking forward to seeing what amazing things you come up with!
Thanks Sandra! The theory is really my passion too 🙂 And those are great ideas! There are so many things that you can do to make a simple bra more spectacular- and I will definitely be covering foam! 🙂 It's going to be a great year- I'm so happy you're coming along!! 🙂
Yeay! This is fantastic and I can totally make at least 12 bras this year! I'm in!
YAY!!! It's going to be a good year Andie! I can't wait to see your makes! 🙂
Ok, bought a bra kit, registered for online course, all set to go. Maybe this will give me the push I need to get started. Thank you
YES!! You won't regret it! Bra sewing is the best sewing!! Glad to have you aboard Laura!
Is it also a sew-along? If so, is there somewhere to sign up to get the information about each bra challenge ahead of time? Thank you! 🙂
Hi Jocelyn! I didn't think of doing a sew-a-long but that's a good idea. I definitely won't do it as a sew-a-long for the whole year, but I might plan a couple months of it far enough in advance that we could do a sew-a-long! And when I plan that I'll also make sure to make a newsletter so we can all keep up-to-date on it!
That would be great! Thank you!
This sounds great. As I am rather new to bra sewing I would love some tutorials (e.g. how to deal with the elastic if you want to have the lace scallop edge at the bottom). And your schedule fits perfectly with my own " a bra a month" pledge 🙂
YAY! this is great, I'm always so happy to hear about new bra sewists! I can't wait to see what you make, and I'll be sure to include all levels of tutorials and information in my posts 🙂
I'd also like to know how to deal with the elastic to use the scalloped edge of the lace along the bottom of the band.
It's going to be a great year for the bra-a-week Challenge!! I absolutely love the new schedulle, you know that I'm a great fan of bra theory! Yay!! 😀 And the new challenge button is great, I'm adding it right now to my blog 🙂
I can't wait to see what you've prepared for this Sunday! I hope this new year brings you lots of joy… and bras! 😛
Thanks Sofia! It is going to be a great year! I'm so happy you like my button too 🙂 This will be a year filled with so much joy and bras- all of the bras! 🙂
I love your ideas! I'm glad we'll still see the others' submissions, because I love to see what the others make. I also like your inspiration makes, even if it is just to drool over 🙂 I would also love some theory on fitting issues, cut & sew foam and maybe some theory on how to take a well fitting cup and make some design changes.And using some other fabrics e.g. satin. Pity that the shipping to the other side of the world is so expensive: I would have love some of that bra tulle! I need some bras and panties (here by us the term underwear includes everything) and since you give us a month to submit I might just remember to send mine in on time! Can't wait to see what you post each week. ps. updates on the shop is also very welcome
Thanks Ilna! It was very important to me to keep the submissions and the community going! But it was a little overwhelming to do it every Sunday so I thought this would be a better way to feature them!
Those are all great ideas for posts 🙂 I'm imagining them already! And I think now that the crazy holidays are over I might re-introduce bi-weekly posts updating shop life and what's happening around the studio 🙂 It's going to be a good year!
I think I'm not allowed to say it anymore, but best wishes for 2016. I'm looking forward to your beautiful creations, and I hope I will join your the challenge. I wo'nt make a bra every week, but I have some plans for a couple of bra's and a bikini.
Thanks Lisette! And you're always allowed to say best wishes! best wishes to you too!! I'm so happy that you're joining in and making your own goals 🙂 I can't wait to see your makes!!!
Okay so I'm a bit ate to the party (just got back from my holiday this morning!) but this is so exciting! I'm so glad to see the challenge continuing, and the new format sounds brilliant 🙂 hope it's okay I'll have a couple of submissions this month – just as well my lingerie sewing is slowing down a bit!
This is a party that you can join anytime! It's going to be a good year 🙂 🙂 and you are welcome to submit as much as you would like! I can't wait to see all of your makes this year 🙂
I love this challenge! You've inspired me to do a panty-a-week challenge for myself, which I will post on my blog. I will try to figure out how to link it up to here!
Thanks Amy!! I'm so happy I could inspire 🙂 Panty a week sounds great- that's something that is quite lacking in my wardrobe right now! As for linking, you're welcome to submit any intimate wear that you like to the challenge and I will post it with all the submissions at the end of the month, and I include links back to your posts 🙂
So put your button on my blog. But didn't get quite as inspired as I was hoping for this. Was hoping to try a couple of new bra patterns but alas got fixated on bralettes and drafting panty patterns. Love this challenge and already have lots of ideas for lace for the month February.
Hi Ingrid! It's good to hear that you're feeling more inspired this month! but I also wanted to say that bralettes and panties are part of the challenge too! All intimate apparel! Don't forget to send in your submissions if you want them to be included in the monthly round up!