Bras, Science, and International Women's Day

It's unusual for me to talk about the #lingerie or "hey what's that under there?" As I tend to be quite modest. But since it's International Womens Day, I am taking a moment to remember and feel grateful to all the women who have burned their bras and blazed trails as scientists so I could be a Mechanical Engineer in what is still very much a mans world. I'm grateful that because of those brave women, that I can be both girly and smart. This photo and sewing my own bras is one of the million ways I combine and apply my artistic and scientific talents. Here's to you girls! (Ha! Get the dual symbolism?) 

So... The underpinnings I've purchased are wearing out. I've grown to dislike the utter waste of time of "what I call" shopping and coming home with ill fitting ready-to-wear #RTW clothes. That was a  (Miranda Hart reference in case you didn't get it) 

As such, I've been studying the making of lingerie and undergarments through sewing patterns, pattern drafting and observing my RTW. Last year I learned to sew Jan Bones Smoothie Panty and have made my own Sports Bras. Now I'm ready to sew the daily and fancy bra wear. 

Sewing bras is no small feat, but I made up my mind that I want to do it and so I signed up for a couple mini classes from Bravo Bella at Sew Expo. She demystified many things, offered fittings and kits in her booth. She's an excellent teacher. Her background teaching physics can be seen in how she approaches her bra designs and construction. As an engineer and sewist, I deeply appreciate this depth. And so today, without fear of failure, I dive in to make a muslin and fit my first #mesewn bra.