Bryn and Luna are our newest patterns to hit the Lounge & Lace Collection. Both patterns are available in Women’s and youth sizing. Bryn is a “brami” with bra, crop, and cami cut lines. Luna is a leakproof brief featuring a center panel. Read more about the Bryn and Luna options below:

On top of the adjustable and/or nursing straps already included in the pattern, we also have a few simple hacks for you.

Bryn Swim/Binding Hack

If you were thinking the Luna and Bryn would make a great swimsuit, you’re right! For this hack you’ll need your Luna pieces cut from swim fabric (front sides, back sides, the middle piece in main and lining, waistband, and elastic) and your Bryn pieces (front, back, underbust band, and neckline and strap pieces).

I lined my Bryn front, so I cut two of the front pieces. I cut my front neckline and strap pieces 1.5″ by the length of the pattern piece and am using 3/8″ swim elastic. 2″ would have been better, or using 1/4″ swim elastic, but the 1.5″ and 3/8″elastic still got the job done. Cut your swim elastic for the front neckline and strap the same length as the pattern pieces. *I did the fixed strap option

Note- You can use just the binding hack without the elastic if you don’t have FOE on hand!

First, construct your Luna pieces per the tutorial, and that’s it, the Luna is finished. For the Bryn, it’s a bit more work. Take your Bryn pieces and construct up until the point where you do the front neckline and strap.

Find the center of your front neckline. Find the center of your front neckline piece.

You are going to attach the front neckline piece right sides together to your Bryn front.

Then, take your elastic, and put that to the wrong side to your front neckline piece and attach, lining the elastic up to the raw edge of your neckline.

 

Now, you are going to  flip the neckline binding up over the elastic, to the wrong side of your Bryn top. This is a view from the front:

This is a view from the back:

 

You are going to pull the binding taught to the elastic and either clip/pin in place and stitch as is . Or you are going to fold the raw edge of the binding in half to meet the elastic and fold again over the elastic to cover the elastic . Pin in place and topstitch.

Now you are going to fo the same method for the strap piece. Find the center of your back piece and your strap, and follow the instructions in the tutorial for pinning the strap piece at the notches, only you are going to do this right sides of the strap piece to the right side of the Bryn bodice, just as we did the front neckline.

You’re going to stitch the strap piece with right sides to the Bryn. Then, take your elastic and just as you did the front neckline, stitch this over the wrong side of the strap piece.

Fold the strap piece up and over to the wrong side of your Bryn and either pin and stitch in place, or fold to meet the elastic, then fold again to cover the elastic and pin/stitch in place just like the front neckline.

Continue with stitching the straps in place per the tutorial, and add the  band. I pressed my seam allowance for both the Bryn and Luna waistband/underbust band toward the suit and top stitched, but this is optional.

That’s it! Your Bryn & Luna swim suit is all finished! -Stephanie

Lined Without FOE hack

Running low on FOE for your Bryn? No problem; you can skip it for the front neckline, and use this easy hack instead! Let’s get started.

You will need all the same pieces for your Bryn, with the exception of the front FOE.  Place your two front pieces right sides together and sew the front neckline together with 1/4″ seam allowance. NOTE: This hack will lower your front neckline by  1/4″.

Flip your lining so that wrong sides are together and press the neckline.  Continue sewing the rest of your Bryn as instructed in the pattern.

Elastic Band Hack

Plush back elastic is often used on bras and underwear, and is easy to use on either your Bryn or Luna pattern instead of a regular fabric band. This is another very quick and easy hack that gives your Bryn or Luna a different look.

For either Bryn or Luna, you will cut all of your pieces as normal but just omit the band for either/both patterns. Instead, cut a piece of your plush back elastic the same size.  Sew your elastic together using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  You can sew it together and then fold your seam allowance out like I did here, or you can overlap your elastic by 1/2″ and sew together. You could also cut your elastic one inch shorter and butt the edges up together and sew together.  I used a zigzag stitch to sew my elastic together.

Next, you are going to quarter your elastic and your Bryn/Luna. Match up your quarter points.  Placing wrong side of elastic to right side of garment, overlap edges by 3/8″. Pin in place.  Top stitch your elastic in place using either a wide zigzag stitch or your coverstitch.

All done! – Angela 

Picot Elastic Hack

Picot elastic can be used instead of clear or swim elastic on your Luna briefs as well. The only difference with picot elastic is that you will sew your elastic onto the right side and then turn and top stitch. Check out the video here if you need help!

Have questions about either the Bryn or Luna patterns? Head over to our FAQ post here, or post in our Facebook group for additional help! We can’t wait to see the sets you sew up. Happy sewing!