TUTORIAL: Noelle Underwear 3 Ways – Basic Bikini, V-Back and Thong

Simple – yes. Versatile – also yes. In mid September, I released the first of three online lingerie courses with Creativebug. For the inaugural class, the project was a high waisted underwear. I was super stoked to release the class, but a part of me felt like I was teaching how to boil water. Sewing the Noelle is just a handful of steps – simple as boiling water. However, one of those steps is sewing elastic and sewing elastic probably takes up about 60% of my lingerie sewing. Maybe more. So, it’s essential to know. And by just knowing just this step, you can spice up a basic pattern like the Noelle. So today, I’m showing you 2 variations – a v-back and a thong. When I showed Samm, the model, the thong, her eyes lit up, “Ohhh, I’d wear this everyday!” Scroll down to read about the different styles, to download the pattern and to shop the kits!

BASIC NOELLE

This is the pattern straight up with no alterations. I may be biased, but it’s the comfiest of comfy underwear. Depending on the length of your torso, the waist hits just below the belly button. The bum is full bottom and the leg openings isn’t high cut – it hits close to the thigh. I usually wear underneath dresses and skirts or jeans. I wouldn’t wear underneath tight fitting pants because it’ll cause VPLs.

V-BACK NOELLE

Ow ow! This version of Noelle is for when you want to spice up your underwear drawer. Look at those back dimples on Samm? Dang gurrrlll! Super sexy without being va-va voom. I used the same strap elastic as a bra to create the strap attachment at the back. I wear this underneath dresses and skirts – not pants or jeans because it can be bulky.

HIGH WAISTED THONG NOELLE

Seriously, can a thong get any better? During colder month, which is like three quarters of the year here in Philly, I live in pants. I don’t know how I wore low waisted as a teenager, but I hate anything of the like. Low waisted skirts, low waisted pants, low waisted undies – hate them all. Okay, hates a strong word. I strongly dislike. This version of Noelle is the perfect undie to wear underneath tight fitting pants and jeans. Super comfy too. Win win!

Want to up your undie game and try to make the Noelle?

Click here to sign up for my class on Creativebug and enter the code LINGERIELOVE to receive your first month free!

Click here to shop the DIY underwear kits for the Noelle, which can also be used for the Madalynne X Simplicity 8229.

Click here to download the revised pattern. The thong and v-back are marked in multi-colored dotted lines. It kind of looks like one of those Japanese sewing patterns with 50 patterns marked on 1, but personally, I would like to have all variations on 1 pattern. Less to print out too.

Happy sewing! Don’t forget to share your comments and photos on Creativebug and on Instagram! Tag @mmadalynne and @creativebug and use the hashtag #bramakingwithmadalynne

Last, a huge thank you to Jennifer from Porcelynne who helped in the grading of the Noelle pattern to 3XL and these variations. You rock!