Jessica Joh Makes
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Jessica Joh Makes
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    Lingerie

    Pattern Review: Devonshire Bra by Orange Lingerie

    by Jessica Johannesen January 17, 2021

    Your bra doesn’t fit you. Not really. That feeling you get at the end of the day when you take your bra off? Yeah. it feels so good because it doesn’t fit.

    After a year of quarantine and wearing more comfy clothes than not I was definitely starting to think I preferred wireless bras. Then I decided to sew some more bras. I consider my boobs to be average. I am a 38B. They aren’t huge, they aren’t tiny. They aren’t in proportion to my hips, but they also don’t weight a ton. But sewing my own bras has taught me how much more comfortable custom fit clothing can be.

    Seriously. I can now forget I’m wearing a bra. Which is insane.

    I didn’t realize it at the time I bought the pattern, but the Devonshire bra is a vertical seamed bra very similar to the Watson bra.

    Devonshire Bra Pattern Review

    The Bra:

    • Pattern designer: Orange Lingerie
    • Bra Type: Soft cup – not designed for foam lining, with underwires.
    • Skill level: intermediate, intrepid skilled beginner
    • Size range: Available in either A to DD or DDD to J size ranges for 30 to 40 band sizes
    • Shape range: For a wide variety of shapes
    • Time frame: one day

    Time Frame: My Thoughts

    I have learned that sewing lingerie is requires more precision than sewing anything else. So I usually cut the bra one evening after dinner. And the rest of the sewing of the bra can be done in an afternoon. If I do break it into two sewing sessions I’ll construct the fabric parts of the bra and leave sewing on the channeling and elastic for the next day.

    I fully recommend sewing elastic when you can focus. Because unsewing it is a bitch. I have sewed my bra straps on wrong several times. Backwards, twisted, one strap shiny side up and the other matte side up.

    Value for money 

    I love a good deal. It is honestly hard to spend $17 on one pattern. But it is also worth it. The pattern instructions are well written, with illustrations and I found them very easy to follow.

    I feel like I got my money’s worth. This is another pattern, like the Watson, where the sizing fits me with a smaller 38B size, and my daughter who has a much larger DD chest. So I can sew for both of us with out buying extra sizes.

    Clear Instructions 

    I feel the directions were very clearly written, understandable for beginners and the stitch setting information was included in each step. If you go find Liz Sews on YouTube she has a few bra sew-alongs that I find really useful if I’m having trouble envisioning what the pattern is asking me to do. This is entirely a me issue. The pattern is great and clear. But sometimes I overthink things. And others I just want to watch someone do it first.

    The part I was nervous about was choosing my size. There is a guide to measuring yourself and selecting a size but I couldn’t decide which to pick. In the end I saw Norma, the designer behind Orange Lingerie, say to start with your ready to wear size and go from there. So I made sure to have extra fabric on hand so I could cut and sew the first bra as a toile. A toile is thesame thing as making a muslin but it sounds prettier. And lingerie should be pretty right?

    Accurate materials list 

    The pattern lists everything you need. At no point during sewing did I feel like she should have added anything to the list.

    Clear fabric recommendations 

    Fabric options and stretch percentages listed.

    Is the Pattern Hackable?

    This was the hardest part to wrap my head around – you have to get comfortable with altering pattern pieces in order to get a good fit.

    I have a large space between my breasts. I had to add 1/2 inch width to the bridge piece to have the underwires sit where they should be. I’ve also learned I have kind of teardrop shaped breasts – so I had to remove length on the lace edge that goes from the strap to the center because the cups gaped. But you can’t remove too much length from the bottom edge where the seam allowance is because the underwire is a set length. So I learned to create a hinge and remove length from the top edge without changing the bottom.

    I actually can’t wait to make the next version. I want to see how much better I can get at making the perfect bra.

    Overall Rating

    5 stars. A++ would sew again.

    With the confidence I’ve gained sewing this pattern I’m ready to take on a more complicated cup like the Marlborough also from Orange Lingerie, or the Black Beauty from Emerald Erin.

    January 17, 2021 0 comment
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  • Art & IllustrationChallenges

    January Drawing Challenges

    by Jessica Johannesen January 1, 2021
    January 1, 2021

    I struggle with things that are silly and frivolous. Art included. My therapist tells me this is a result of being a parentified child. I’ll not go into details but the very short version is I was responsible for caring for all of my siblings and my 90-year-old grandmother. Because…

    Read more
  • Craft & DIYQuiltsSewing

    Quilt Scarf and A New Beginning

    by Jessica Johannesen December 31, 2020
    December 31, 2020

    It is strange to write blog posts when you know no one is reading them. So with that in mind I’m going to offer the smallest of reasons why I have done nothing with this blog so far this year. That reason is 2020. Well, 2020 and the related stress…

    Read more
  • QuiltsSewing

    EPP Make A Plus Quilt

    by Jessica Johannesen June 13, 2020
    June 13, 2020

    I love hand crafts. I love having a fiddly little something to work on while I watch tv or listen to an audio book. This probably stems from the fact that I get serious anxeity and second hand embarrassment when characters on a show do something stupid. English paper piecing…

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  • FreebiesLap CraftsSewing

    Plus EPP Printables

    by Jessica Johannesen June 10, 2020
    June 10, 2020

    This template is sized to make plusses that are 1″ at the base of the house shape. Click here to Download

    Read more
  • ClothingSewing

    Sewing Cashmerette’s Springfield Top

    by Jessica Johannesen May 12, 2020
    May 12, 2020

    Springfield Top Pattern Review Details: Pattern designer: Cashmerette Top Type: woven tank top Skill level: Beginner  Size range: 12 to 28, in three cup sizes (C/D, E/F, G/H) Fabrics: Light to midweight woven fabric such as cotton lawn, linen, chambray, rayon, crepe or silk.  Notions: Bias tape Time frame: A quick sew…

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  • ClothingSewing

    Sewing the Watson Bra

    by Jessica Johannesen April 16, 2020
    April 16, 2020

    This week has been full of ups and downs. The Covid19 pandemic isn’t over. I’m not even sure it is lessening. On the up side, my sister moved out and I got to finally use my spare bedroom as a studio. Which I am absolutely thrilled about. To celebrate my…

    Read more
  • AccessoriesSewing

    Sewing Flu Masks for COVID 19

    by Jessica Johannesen April 5, 2020
    April 5, 2020

    We live in such strange times. The CDC advises all Americans to wear a mask. Basically, some protection is better than none. From what I’ve read, homemade masks are only an average of 70% effective, but I’d rather improve my chances of not getting it by 70% than go without.…

    Read more

Recent Posts

  • Pattern Review: Devonshire Bra by Orange Lingerie
  • January Drawing Challenges
  • Quilt Scarf and A New Beginning
  • EPP Make A Plus Quilt
  • Plus EPP Printables

Recent Comments

    About Me

    About Me

    Baker & DIY Addict

    Jessica Joh is a Baker and DIY Addict. When she isn't baking, cooking or testing recipes she working as a freelance food illustrator.

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    Recent Posts

    • Pattern Review: Devonshire Bra by Orange Lingerie

    • January Drawing Challenges

    • Quilt Scarf and A New Beginning

    • EPP Make A Plus Quilt

    • Plus EPP Printables

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      • Clothing (2)
      • Lingerie (1)

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