Tips & Tricks: Enclosing the Seams of the Watson Bra

July 27, 2015

Watson Bra Enclosing Seams

A couple of weeks ago, a reader left a comment expressing interest in a tutorial on how to enclose all the seams on a Watson Bra. This method relies on using lining fabric to enclose and trap the raw seams on the inside.

Watson Bra Enclosing Seams

To start, pull out the outer cup and inner cup pieces. Treat the outer cup self and lining pieces as one unit. Treat the inner cup self and lining pieces as separate units instead of one. Sandwich the outer cup unit between the inner cup self and lining pieces and pin.

Watson Bra Enclosing Seams
Watson Bras Enclosing Seams

Sew the seam as you normally do and then edge stitch. As you can see, the raw seams are enclosed by the self and lining pieces of the inner up, leaving you with a clean finish.

Watson Bra Enclosing Seams
Watson Bras Enclosed Seams
Watson Bra Enclosed Seams

For the next step, you pretty much do the same thing. Treat the cups as one unit and the cradle self and lining pieces as separate units by sandwiching the cups between them as shown.

Watson Bra Enclosed Seam
Watson Bra Enclosed Seams

Set the cups into the cradle and then edge stitch.

Watson Bra Enclosed Seams

For the last part, treat the cradle as one unit and the back band self and lining pieces as separate units. Sandwich the cradle between the back band self and lining pieces and sew and edge stitch.

Watson Bra Enclosed Seams

Et voilà! All the seams on your Watson Bra are now enclosed. This method can be used on any bra as long as it is lined. Hopefully this tutorial makes sense. If you have further questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.

11 Comments

  • Two Watsons – sewsannahsews

    January 13, 2016 at 10:31 AM

    […]   Both sets are made from 4 way stretch Lycra type material that I already had. The blue fabric was less stretchy and worked better and was easier to sew. I lined both cradles with tricot and doubled up the fabric for the bands. I didn’t have enough elastic for the straps on the snakeskin set so are some from lace and ribbon following this tutorial. Then I dyed them and the fastening in strong tea. They look quite pretty but I prefer the plain plush elastic straps. I also found a couple of old videos on YouTube which were very useful for working with lingerie materials. The pattern instructions are really clear and easy to follow. I did not think the sizing instructions would work first time but they did. I’m so pleased with them I’ve just sent off for some more fabric. Next time I might try finishing off the insides better using this tutorial. […]

  • Kim

    January 18, 2016 at 10:32 AM

    Hello,

    Did you use a zig zag stitch or a regular stitch?

    Thanks,
    Kim

    1. tailormadeblog

      January 18, 2016 at 2:34 PM

      Regular straight stitch.

      1. Kim

        February 6, 2016 at 10:45 AM

        Sorry another quick question, for the side with the scalloped edge, what kind of elastic did you use?

        1. tailormadeblog

          February 7, 2016 at 3:28 PM

          1/4″ Clear Elastic.

  • MarieHelene

    January 27, 2016 at 8:51 PM

    Hello! Thank you, that was very helpful! I’ve been trying to figure out a way to do this for a while. 🙂

    I have a question… did you use powermesh to line the cups and cradle? Also, what kind of elastic did you use to stabilize the lace edge of the inner cup?

    1. tailormadeblog

      January 27, 2016 at 10:41 PM

      Hello! Most of the bras I make are on the smaller side so I don’t usually use power mesh for lining. I use stretch mesh. I use 1/4″ clear elastic to stabilize the lace edge. Hope that helps.

  • marlen

    January 30, 2016 at 6:30 AM

    MIL GRACIAS BENDICIONES

    1. tailormadeblog

      February 1, 2016 at 8:54 PM

      De nada. 🙂

  • Steph

    June 13, 2016 at 11:30 AM

    Great tutorial, however I’m having difficulty attaching the center front of the bra where the point of the cradle and the neckline edge of the cups meet. I can’t seem to sew them in such a way that when the piece is flipped and the seams are enclosed on the inside that the front center isn’t warped out of shape. Any tips are appreciated, thanks!

    1. tailormadeblog

      June 13, 2016 at 11:50 AM

      Hi Steph. When you insert the cups, do you make sure to to stop 1/4″ away from the center point of the cradle to account for the 1/4″ seam allowance? See this diagram for easy understanding: https://flic.kr/p/Hc8Mzo

      Amy of Cloth Habit and creator of this pattern also had a helpful post here showing that you have to stop 1/4″ from the center point when inserting the cups into the cradle. You can find that post here: https://clothhabit.com/watson-sew-along-inserting-bra-cups-and-elastic/

      If you’re working with particularly finicky fabrics, I sometimes sew them on one at a time. I will attach the cups to the self frame first and then add the lining frame after.

      Hope this helps!

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