Aphrodite is our newest pattern to add to our Lounge and Lace Collection. The Aphrodite Thong & String Back Underwear pattern is a classic knit thong and string back pattern. An incredibly quick sew, you can choose form several finishing options to achieve different looks. The pattern includes both a low and mid rise option, with normal or full coverage options in the mid rise. Choose between a thong or string back on all options. You can finish the leg line with fold over elastic (FOE), or picot elastic. The waist can be finished with FOE, picot, thick waistband elastic, or stretch lace. Aphrodite will be your new go-to thong!

Getting Started

Before you purchase your Aphrodite pattern, there is a ton of helpful beginner information between the M4M and P4P blogs, in case you are new to knits, or new to PDF patterns in general:

• New to PDF patterns? Check out our helpful tips here
• New to sewing with knits? Brittany has some great info here
• Not quite sure how to measure yourself accurately? Don’t worry; check out the post here!
• Having issues printing? Most issues can be resolved by using our FAQs/troubleshooting tips
• Join our Facebook group here.

Fabric + Notions

If you’re struggling to find the *perfect* fabric and notions for your Aphrodite, check out our Aphrodite fabric and finding kits here. Choose from 8 different kit options!

Choosing Your Options

Sew Along With Megan!

Want to sew along with Megan for the Thong Back version of Aphrodite? Join her on YouTube here:

Want to sew along with Megan for the String Back version of Aphrodite? Join her on YouTube here:

NOTE: Looking for even more support on YouTube? We have videos on Sewing Fold Over Elastic (FOE), Sewing Flat Elastic, AND Sewing Picot Elastic. There are also lots of helpful tips on page 9 of your written pattern tutorial! 

Aphrodite Hacks

Our testers could not stop sewing for the last few weeks! They had so many fun ideas to create new looks with the Aphrodite pattern. We hope you love these hacks as much as we do!

Chain Back G-String Hack

While testing the new Aphrodite pattern, an ad popped up on my Facebook for this super cute chain-backed g-string bikini bottom. I knew instantly that I wanted to give it a try with the Aphrodite pattern. I went out looking for chains and necklaces and found many options – just keep in mind that you will need to thread your g-string elastic and waist elastic through it, so get one with big enough rings already a part of the design, or have some rings on hand that you can attach to the chain.  You will also need to make sure that it has connectors that you can open/close to make the chain smaller or longer.

For this hack you will need all of the regular pattern pieces for the g-string option (you can use either the low-rise or mid-rise), plus your chain and a pair of pliers – it’s also handy to have a trial pair of the g-string underwear that you have made that fit well.  

Go ahead and sew up the front of your g-string underwear with the lining and leg elastics as directed in the pattern. Once you’ve finished that up, put on your well-fitting trial pair so you can see how long you want your back chain g-string to be.  I just measured down from the waist elastic to the top of my bum where I knew it would still be comfortable for a chain to be resting. 

The g-string itself doesn’t pull tight, so I measured how much chain I was going to use and subtracted that from the g-string elastic pattern piece (keeping in mind that I needed ¼” left to loop through my chain and sew down, and not forgetting the ¼” needed to attach to the front of the undies.)  I took this measured piece off of my length of chain with my pliers.

Attach the elastic portion of the g-string to the front as directed in the pattern instructions. Then loop the free end of the elastic through your chain and sew it down.

NOTE: I like to use my zipper foot for this part so I can get nice and close to the chain. 

From here, you will choose where you want your back chain to hit on your waistline – I chose the sides of my hips.  I had a 24” piece of chain and once I took out the portion for the g-string, I was left with the perfect amount to end just at the sides of my hips. Find the center of this longer piece of chain and attach it to your g-string chain so you have even lengths on either side.  

This next part is a little bit trial and error because everyone has different tastes on how tight they like their waist elastic to be. I took my waistband elastic and held it up to my body as snug as I would like it to be up to my side hips where I knew it would connect to the chain. I made sure to add a few extra inches on either side of my elastic piece in case I needed to make some adjustments.  This elastic piece then gets attached to the front panty piece.

Find the center of your elastic by folding it in half and marking the center.  Find the center of the front of the underwear by folding it in half and marking the center.  Line the center of the elastic and underwear up and pin/clip.  Because I used fold over elastic, I attached it with the back of the elastic against the right side of the fabric front. I did not fold over the waist elastic like I did with the leg elastics – you can if you would like to, I just wanted the elastic to look the same at the back where it attaches to the g-string, so I opted to keep it flat.  

Now it’s time to check your fit. Loop the waist elastic through the ends of your chains and hold in place with clips or pins. Try on your underwear and check to see if the g-string is sitting where you want it to and that it’s snug but not pulling.  When you have the right fit, go ahead and sew the waist elastic to your waist chain, again using the zipper foot for a close sew.  

You’re all done!  Enjoy your new fancy g-string – I’ll be wearing mine on Valentine’s day or really any day that I want to feel a little more special.  

-Kelly

Kelly is an avid pattern tester and fabric hoarder. She loves to share her Made for Mermaids makes on Instagram.  

Galloon Lace Hack

We all know “Victoria’s Secret…” it’s the truth behind how easily you can make your own sexy lingerie! And the new Made for Mermaids Aphrodite pattern just kicked it up a notch.

In addition to all of the great options included in the pattern, here’s a super sexy hack to create your own thong out of stretch galloon lace.

Take your preferred front piece (low, mid, or full coverage) and add a small buffer to the straight edge to give yourself a seam allowance. The original pattern is designed to cut this piece on the fold, but you will need to cut mirror images and you’ll need a seam allowance to do so.

I gave myself a 1/4″ seam allowance by attaching a strip of paper to my pattern piece.

Align the curved edge of the pattern piece along the scalloped edge of your lace. It won’t be flush to the edge, but that’s okay! Just make sure your pattern piece doesn’t extend beyond the top of the scallops.

 

Cut 2 mirrored pieces.

 

With right sides together, sew your two front pieces with a straight stretch stitch along the center line.

 

Secure the seam allowance to one side with a small zigzag stitch.

 

To add a lining, you will cut the piece that corresponds with your rise preference – I used the mid-rise option for this pair. You can finish the edges of the lining piece with a serger, but it’s not necessary.

Stitch along the edges of the lining to the front of your panty, wrong sides together.

Follow the rest of the pattern instructions for the string back option. Your sexy new thong will be ready to wear in minutes! And it will fit you better than anything you could purchase in a store.

-Rachel 

Chains and Rings Hack – Adding Rings 

Hi friends! Welcome to the fun and simple hack of adding rings to your Aphrodite Thong! Once you add rings, SO many options are available. Add chains (like I will show you in the bonus hack below!) Attach double straps! Use the rings to attach embellishments like dangles or bows! Possibilities are endless. So, let’s go!

First, cut all your pieces (I’m using the low rise, thong back). You will also need:

• One extra piece of Fold Over Elastic that is the length of the top edge of the front PLUS 2″
• Two jump rings (circular rings that have a split in them for opening/closing)
• Chain
• Pliers for opening the jump ring (round or flat) and pliers to cut the chain

**Please note! I used jewelry-making supplies for the jump ring and chain, which are not as durable as something made for clothes. I highly recommend always hand-washing if you are doing the same!**

 

Go ahead and assemble the thong back option through adding leg elastic (steps 7 and 8). Now, attach the extra FOE piece we cut for the front top edge, making sure the extra length we added (2″ total, so 1″ on each side) hangs off the edge.

 

Thread the O rings onto these tails, and fold them back. Stitch using a straight stitch or a bar tack (a narrow zig zag with a very close-together stitch width). Trim any excess FOE.

Next, find the center of the waist elastic and line it up with the center of the back thong. Clip at this point and stitch the FOE from edge to edge, encasing the back thong. Bring the FOE around, thread it through the O rings and clip. DO NOT STITCH until you’ve tried it on! You will likely want to remove a bit of length.

Chains and Rings Hack – Adding Chains

Using your non-cutting pliers, carefully open the jump ring by twisting the open ends away from each other (do not pull the ring open width-wise, it will distort and weaken the ring!) Repeat for the other side.

 

Slip the end link of your chain onto the ring, then across to the other side, leaving a little bit of slack. Without cutting the chain, continue back and forth at increasing lengths until you have as many rows of chain as you desire! Carefully close the jump rings by twisting the open edges back towards each other until the edges meet, and cut the chain.

 

Admire your beautiful work, and drop everything to try on your amazing creation! Maybe even make a matching Bryn Bra 😉 Just make sure to hand wash this beauty so your jump rings aren’t pulled on too much!

-Sonia

Continuous String Back

There’s another way to finish the string back style, you can do one of the legs and string back in one continuous piece.

To start, you will subtract 1/2 inch from both the string back and one of the leg elastic pieces, for mine I just overlapped the pieces 1/2 inch. You may also decide to add the 2 lengths together and subtract 1 inch.

Depending on what finishing method you’re using (lace, picot, FOE etc) decide if you want to finish the non-continuous leg and crotch by turning the 1/2 inch and hemming or not. If not, you can also subtract 1/2 inch from the other leg elastic piece at this point, as well as 1/2 inch from the point of the crotch. I wasn’t sure how bulky my picot would be once turned and topstitched, so I chose to just trim the 1/2 inch off at a later step.

Finish the non continuous leg, and at this point, turn and hem the bottom 1/2 inch or trim 1/2 inch off.

Mark the point where the leg would end and the string back would begin using your leg elastic piece with the 1/2 inch subtracted. Then mark the center of the leg portion and the center of the unfinished leg.

 

Attach and finish the elastic of the leg portion. When folded over, there is only a tiny bit of raw edge from the crotch showing, I chose to leave it raw to avoid excess bulk.

 

That’s it! Now continue attaching your waistband elastic and string back as directed in the tutorial! A great way to avoid bulky seams in the crotch.

-Stephanie

We can’t wait to see how you take Aphrodite and make it your own! Don’t forget to share with us on Insta, in our Facebook group, or over on TikTok!

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