Own an old pair of shorts you don’t mind tearing apart? What about an old tank top? You wouldn’t believe how many lingerie patterns you already own just by tearing down a couple of old garments. A tank top, for example, can be made into all sorts of lingerie designs. Take it apart and cut new pieces from lingerie fabric such as tricot or satin. Instead of making the straps from cloth, like most tank tops have, use ribbon or lingerie straps. This will make a nice camisole top that you can wear with handmade panties or boy shorts. Make the boy shorts by choosing a pair of old stretch shorts – terry cloth or even jogging shorts – then cut the legs off short. Make the new pattern from tricot or stretch lace.
There are lots of items in your closet that you can revamp into something luscious for the holidays – or for any day. The tank top is very versatile. You can elongate it and make a skin-hugging, stretch lace, knee-length lounging dress, or keep going and make it a curve-hugging, floor-length nightie. Add a triangular piece, cut from the same cloth or something different, at the side seam, from under the arm to the floor, and you’ve got a slinky number that allows a little more flow, rather than a tight design.
An old one-piece bathing suit offers all kinds of options when it comes to making lingerie patterns. Cut it apart and cut a new one from stretch lace. Cut it deep in the front and add lacing up the front, eliminate the straps for a strapless number, or just choose fabulous fabric and cut the bathing suit pattern as-is. A bathing suit doesn’t look like a bathing suit when it’s made from see-through fabric! Add a touch of ribbon or a complimentary lace to soften the look. Gather the lace and add it around the leg openings, arm openings and neckline, for a ultra-frilly look.
A two-piece bathing suit can be used to make nighties and lingerie of all sorts. First off, you have a panty pattern that can be softened by using lace, made into a thong, or used to create other designs. Make the bra of satin or stretch lace, then add a piece of fabric that goes around the bottom edge of the bra to slightly below the panty waist. Leave it open in the front and simply stitch it around the bottom edge of the bra. Now the two-piece bathing suit is a baby-doll nightie and doesn’t look like a bathing suit at all! The fabric piece you add can be a beautiful lace selection or can be cut from the same fabric as the bra and panties.
Use an old flannel shirt as a pattern for a short, slinky robe. Cut the shirt apart and make the pattern then cut the new shirt from a pretty satin or lace fabric. Make it to match other lingerie items you make or just make a new outfit that includes the matching robe. You don’t have to cut the hem in a shirt tail-type design; you can cut the cloth longer on the sides and make a robe that is cut straight across.
Care for something a little less revealing? Use a t-shirt as a pattern and choose knit jersey fabric to make a knee-length or floor-length lounging dress. Or, use the same jersey knit, and a pair of jogging pants as the pattern, to make lounging pants and shirts.
Use skirts, tees, tanks, shorts, panties and bras that you already have to make new designs you’ll love. You can even use towels as patterns. That’s right. Take two beach towels and cut the pattern out of some sort of lingerie fabric. Hem all the way around both pieces then add lace down the sides, top and bottom of each of them. Now tack on ribbon strips to tie the caftan-type design down the sides. It’s comfy and sexy at the same time. Fold the towel in half, lengthways, then deduct or add to the center if the towel is too large or too small. The new pattern can be cut to a baby doll style, knee length or floor length gown.
The price of patterns has gone way up, but there’s no need for you to pay those high prices, especially when you use what you already have to make something new. After trying a few of these designs, you’ll think up more of your own. Soon, you’ll never have to buy patterns again.
Reference:
- Purchase lingerie fabric online
