by Karen Stockton
Crank up the gramophone, soak in a hot bath, then
slip into this 1930s inspired bra and tap-panty ensemble
in lustrous silk-feel cotton. Delicate buttons close
the flare-leg panty at each hip and the bra in back.
Satin bias tape lines the bra band and panty waist,
keeping things neat.
The panty shaping is quite simple, with short-rows
gently curving the top edge. The finished effect is
sheer, soft, and unadorned [think streamlined]. For
this reason, there is no trim or edging, aside from
the bias tape, and it is therefore ESSENTIAL that
all pieces are well blocked [I highly recommend the
pin and spray bottle method].
[My apologies for using obscure yarn. For this pattern,
I recommend Filatura Di Crosa MilleFili Fine Yarn
(100 % cotton). It's got great sheen and comes in
a wide selection of colors]
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photos: Karen
Stockton |
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Bra: Measure to fit
Panty: XS[S, M, L, XL]
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Bust: Measure to fit
Hip: 36[38, 40, 42, 44]
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Puppy St. Kitts [100% cotton;
153yds/140m per 40g skein]; color:
32 (pink); 4[4, 4, 5, 5] skeins
24 inch US #2/2.75 mm
circular needle
Tapestry needle
5 small buttons
Embroidery needle
5/8 inch single fold
satin bias tape (approx 2.5 yards) in a neutral tone
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24 sts/32 rows = 4" in stockinette
stitch
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Bra Band
First measure around
your ribs [snugly, just below your breasts] to
the nearest half inch. Add 1 to this number and
multiply the result by 6. This is the number of
sts you will CO for the bra band. For a smaller
cup size [or less coverage] follow Small, for
a larger cup size [or more coverage] follow Large:
S[L].
CO ___ sts. Beg with a
WS row, work 5 rows in St st. Now take the number of
sts you CO, subtract 20[24] and divide this number
by 2. This is the number of sts you will now BO.
Next row: BO ___
sts, k 20[24], att second ball and BO rem sts.
Cont with main ball
in St st and dec one st at the beg of each row
until no sts rem.
Bra
Left
CO 18[21]
sts.
Next row [WS]: P.
*Next row: K1, m1, k to end.
Next row:
P.*
Rep from * to* 17[20]
times*. 35[41] sts
Next row [RS]: K1, m1, k to end.
*Next row: BO 6, p to end.
Next row: K1, m1, k to last st, turn work.*
Rep * to* 5[6] times.*
BO 6[7] rem sts.
Bra Right
Work as for Bra Left with reverse shaping.
Panty Left Back
CO 83[87, 90, 93, 96] sts. Beg with a WS row,
work 3 rows in St st.
Next row: Dec 1, k to end.
Next row: P.
Work 2 rows even.
Next row: Dec 1, k to end.
Next row: P.
Next row: Dec 13,
k to end.
Next row: P.
Next row: Dec 4, k to end.
Next row: P.
Next row: Dec 3, k to end.
Next row: P.
Next row: Dec 2, k to end.
Next row: P.
Dec 1 at beg of the next and then every foll 2nd
row 3 times, then every foll 4th row 4[4, 4, 2,
2] times, and then every foll 8th row 2[3, 3,
5, 5] times.
49[52, 55, 58, 61] sts rem.
Work 5 rows even.
Next row: K 37[39, 42, 45, 47], wrap the
next st, turn work.
Next row: P.
Next row: K 26[27, 30, 33, 34], wrap the
next st, turn work.
Next row: P.
Next row: K 17[18, 20, 22, 22], wrap the
next st, turn work.
Next row: P.
Next row: K 8[9, 10, 11, 11], wrap the
next st, turn work.
Next row: P.
BO (picking up wraps and working them tog with
sts as you go).
Panty
Right Back
CO 83[87, 90, 93, 96] sts.
Beg with a WS row, work 2 rows in St st.
Cont as for Panty Left Back, with reverse shaping.
Panty Left Front
CO 72[76, 79, 82, 85] sts. Beg with a WS row,
work 2 rows in St st.
Next row: Dec 1, p to end.
Next row: K.
Work 2 rows even.
Next row: Dec 1, p to end.
Next row: K.
*Next row: Dec 4, p to end.
Next row: K.*
Repeat * to * once more*.
Next row: Dec 2, p to end
Next row: K.
Next row: Dec 1, p to end.
Next row: K.
Dec 1 at beg of next and then every foll 4th row
10[8, 8, 8, 8] times, then every foll 6th row
0[3, 3, 2, 2] times, and then every foll 10th
row 0[0, 0, 1, 1] times. 48[51, 54, 57, 60] sts
Work 2[0, 0, 4, 4] rows even.
Next row: K.
Next row: P30[32, 34, 36, 38], wrap the
next st, turn work.
Next row: K.
Next row: P14[15, 16, 17, 18], wrap the
next st, turn work.
Next row: K.
BO (picking up wraps and working them tog with
sts as you go).
Panty Right Front
CO 72[76, 79, 82, 85] sts.
Beg with a WS row, work 3 rows in St st.
Cont as for Panty Left Front, with reverse shaping.
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Block
pieces to pattern measurements. This is ESSENTIAL.
Attach Bra Left and Bra Right to Bra Band.
Attach button to one end of bra band.
Overcast the other end with a button-hole stitch,
and then make an overcast button loop.
Carefully stitch satin bias tape to the inside of
Bra Band. (For thread, use one ply of MC, untwisted
from the yarn).
Make Bra Straps
Knot together four generous lengths of MC. Separate
the lengths into pairs and twist each pair tightly.
Hold these two pieces together and let them untwist.
If done correctly, the pieces will wind around each
other. Knot the end. Use this cord for bra straps.
Attach appropriate length bra straps.
Seam Panty Left Back and Panty Right Back.
Seam Panty Left Front and Panty Right Front.
(Now there are two pieces: Panty Back and Panty Front.)
Seam Panty Front and Panty Back along the 1 inch inseams.
Seam Panty sides, leaving a 1.5 inch opening at the
top edge of each side.
Attach 2 buttons to the Front side of each opening.
Make corresponding overcast loops on the Back sides.
Carefully stitch satin bias tape along the inside,
top edge of Panty Back and Front. (Attach along the
top edge of the tape only, then secure the bottom
edge of the tape at the ends and front and back seams).
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Karen
lives in Kyoto, Japan, with her husband and cats,
where she teaches high school English.
She will spend the wilting days of summer dreaming
up projects, when the students have vacation but the
teachers do not. Sigh. |
Pattern & images
© 2004 Karen Stockton. Contact Karen |
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