Skip to main content

Megan Nielsen Patterns - Acacia panty pattern


I have to admit, I was not on the “make your own underwear” bandwagon for a long time. With limited sewing time, there were just always other things I wanted to spend it on.

However, I have totally changed course. One of my reasons for sewing my own clothes is definitely to have personalized fit and design options but I also have concerns about the social costs of clothing production (sweatshops) so to help meet this goal, sewing my own everything as much as possibly makes sense. What really changed my mind though, was seeing how easily I could re-purpose my knit scraps into self-made panties!

There is always a little bit of fabric leftover at the end of a project and it’s always a challenge to think about what can be done with it! Especially when it’s really cute fabric. This is what turned around my view on making underwear more than anything else, it’s the perfect size project for knit scraps. It takes much less than half a yard and multiple pieces or even fabrics can be combined to make a pair.

Plus, all of my dresses will have matching panties!

 
With this in mind, I decided to make the Acacia panty pattern from Megan Neilsen patterns. You can get a free copy of this pattern by signing up for the pattern company’s newsletter.

This is a solid panty pattern and if you are new to making underwear, it would be a good place to start. I found the directions easy to follow even though I had never made underwear before and I like that there are instructions for using different types of elastic or bands.

I used lingerie elastic and I found it quite easy to attach. After I made my first pair of panties, I was totally hooked and ordered a 40 yard mixed bag of elastic from Etsy. Seriously, look at all those pretty colors of elastic! I am so excited to use it all!

Now, there were a few things I did not like about this pattern, mainly related to the sizing. First, the range of sizes is quite limited. I am a size 12 in RTW and I measured to the largest size available in this pattern. This limitation of size makes me
much less interested in their other patterns. I don't like being the largest size in case I need to grade in an area. Also, I like to support pattern companies that are inclusive to a wide range of women.

My second issue with the pattern, was that the crotch width was way too wide. I think this is bad grading, just because my rear is getting larger, doesn't mean the width of my crotch is, if anything I'd think it was smaller because of thigh encroachment! Right? So I followed the pattern for my first pair (the light purple shown above) but then basically went down to the smallest size gusset for my second pair (dark purple) and they fit much better. 

The first pair was scrap double brushed poly and the second pair was cotton knit. Both worked well for making panties!



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

George and Ginger 40k Sway - Pattern Review

Final product - 40k Sway George and Ginger Patterns gave the 40k Sway pattern away to celebrate having 40,000 members in their Facebook group. Look at how cute that neckline is? Of course I had to make this super cute freebie. As an extra bonus, there are directions for making a functional placket opening or faux opening. I opted for the faux placket because it's marginally easier and I have no reason that I need the opening to work but if you needed access to a port or to breastfeed, this top design would be great! I measure a size L12 (full bust 38") but I was at the top of the size range and worried it wouldn't fit in my arms so I decided to go up to an L14 and graded out to an XL16 hip. I checked my fabric stretch before sewing it as I was using a French Terry which is not always very stretchy. My fabric had 50% horizontal stretch and minimal vertical stretch (maybe 10%); the pattern says it needs 50% 2-way stretch so I thought I would be fine. Um.....no....It was way
2 comments
Read more

George and Ginger Little Black Bra - pattern review

I have been obsessed with the George and Ginger Lovesick Bralette {now called the Little Black Bra} for the last few weeks. I have made 3   5  a million of them in these past few weeks! I've been sewing up a storm during the Shelter-in-Place orders from COVID-19 and thee bralettes have been perfect to wear when lounging around or working from home. This is the first and at this point, the only bra I have ever made. This pattern was really attractive to me because I didn't need any special supplies, I could make it from fabric I already had. I actually made all of these from swim/athletic knit scraps I had left over. Also, it's a free pattern! If you go the the George and Ginger Facebook group , you can download the pattern for free. It's available in sizes 29AA-48E. Since I used swim fabric, I could also wear these as swimsuit tops. I might make some solid black swim bottoms so I can wear whatever tops I feel like wearing. Pattern tips I never print my patterns
Post a Comment
Read more

M7574 - raglan top or dress

 I liked M7574 so much I accidentally bought two copies. Whoops! I got around to making it around Thanksgiving for a Christmas shirt. I made length C with sleeves B for a long sleeve shirt. I had looked around for a holiday print knit for weeks and couldn't find anything I liked when by chance I hit the jackpot on the Joann's clearance table! This was a red llama fabric cotton knit with a small amount of spandex, I think 3%. The black sleeves are double brushed poly that I had in my stash, which I think was from LA Finch Fabrics. Pros I didn't realize it until I made the pattern but the raglan sleeve is curved on the front. I really like this and it adds some nice interest to the top. It has a two piece sleeve, which I love! You don't usually see this on a knit pattern and I really like the contour that it adds. The back seam is also contoured nicely. If it's going to be cut in two pieces it shouldn't be straight! That is a pattern pet peeve of mine, it's n
Post a Comment
Read more