Sewy is a German lingerie supply shop and pattern maker. (Both the website and patterns are written entirely in German.) With the help of Google Translate I was able to navigate and place an order on their website. If you are comfortable doing this – and at the point in you bra making journey where you are not overly price sensitive – the Sewy website is an excellent resource for high quality lingerie supplies. The quality and selection are comparable to what Elingeria offered, though the prices are a little higher. All of the elastics and fabrics that arrived in my order had great recovery, and a lot of the channeling they offer is that super-plush, slightly elastic kind with the woven backing that is very common in RTW but difficult for individual bra makers to find.
I recommend placing one large order if you can, rather than several smaller orders, since otherwise shipping outside the EU is quite a large percentage of the order total:
Orders under €10 have a €7.50 shipping charge. (With the exception of the Isabell and Schalencup most of their patterns are under €10.)
Between €10 and €20 shipping is €11
Between €20 and €50 shipping is €20
Above €50 it is a flat rate of €35
Here’s the translation guide I created for myself. If you speak German and have a better translation than what I’ve offered here, please post it in the comments.
Schnittmuster Dessous: sewing patterns
Schnittmuster Dessous: lingerie patterns
Schnittmuster BH: bra patterns
Schnittmuster slip: panty patterns
Schnittmuster top: camisole/tank patterns
Schnittmuster body: bodysuit patterns
Schnittmuster Bademode: swimwear patterns
Schnittmuster Badeanzug: one-piece swimwear
Schnittmuster Badeeinzeloberteil: bikini/swimwear tops
Schnittmuster Badeeinzelunterteil: bikini/swim bottoms
Schnittmuster Patterncompany: regular garment patterns
Stoffe Spitzen Nähpakete:
Stoffe: fabrics
Badedrucke: swimwear prints
Badeunis: swimwear solids
Mikrofaserband elastisch: various stretchy microfiber fabrics suitable for lingerie
BW: cotton
EL: lycra/spandex
PA: polyamide (nylon)
Naturstoffe: natural fiber fabrics
Baumwolle: cotton
Viskos: viscose/rayon
Viskosestrick: viscose/rayon
Elasthan: spandex/lycra
Pareostoffe unelastisch: non-stretch fabrics, suitable for pares and beach cover-ups
Strukturstoffe: more lingerie fabrics. Translates roughly as “structural fabrics,” which I interpret as fabrics suitable as the fashion fabric for bras and such.
Wäsche Mikrofaser Cups gemoldet: washable microfiber seamless bra cups (they are not foam)
Wäschedrucke: prints
Wäschetülle: mesh/powermesh fabrics
Wäscheunis: I am not entirely certain about this one, but I think this is nylon milliskin.
Wäscheuni glänzend: shiny milliskin
Wäscheuni matt: matte milliskin
Wäschestoffe schwer: looks to be the stronger, beefier fabrics more suited for larger sizes
Leibweiten: translates as “body widths.” These are fabrics for making seamless camis and panties.
unelastische Stoffe: woven fabrics
Stoffe (auch) für Herren: menswear fabrics
Stoffe (auch) für Herren elastisch: stretchy/knit menswear fabrics
Stoffe (auch) für Herren unelastisch: woven menswear fabrics
Spitzen: lace
Spitze Breitware: wide all-over stretch lace (not galloon, which is narrower and has scallops on at least one side). Use this for tops, camis, panties, etc.
Spitzenband elastisch breit: wide stretch lace trim (galloon style). Use for bra cups and bands.
Spitzenband elastisch/unelastisch schmal: narrow lace trim (stretch and non-stretch). Use for finishing the edges of bras, panties, and other lingerie items.
Spitzenband unelastisch: non-stretch lace
Trendpakete und Klassiker: bra/panty kits
Nähgarn: thread
mit Nähgarn linke Farbe: spool of thread matching the left color
mit Nähgarn rechte Farbe: spool of thread matching the right color
Größe: notion size. You need to check the PDF attachment in the image section to verify the width for each size.
In general bra straps (Trägerband) seem to be:
XS = 1/4″-3/8″
S = 3/8″-1/2″
M=1/2″-5/8″
L=3/4″-1″
XL=3/4″-1″+.
I believe Zierlitze refers to the type of bra strapping. XS-M are elastic and stretchier, and ML-XL are usually more stable and/or non-stretch.
The back closures (Verschlüsse) seem to be 2 hooks for XS-M, 3 hooks for L, and 4 hooks for XL.
Unterbrustgummi: underbust elastic
Einziehgummi: finishing elastic for the armholes/upper band
Bügelband: channeling
Trendpakete: the more creative, colorful style kits for matching bra and panty. Very similar to what Merckwaerdigh offers.
Klassiker: more basic kits. Most look to be for panties (usually 2 pairs) and camisoles
Kreativpakete Bademode: swimwear kits
Alle Dessous – Nähkurse: I think these are in-person classes.
Gutscheine: gift cards
Praktische Helfer: various sewing notions (things like needles, rulers, rotary cutters)
Bücher zum Thema Dessous: books about lingerie sewing
Nähkursangebot bei unseren Partnern: information about classes offered by people that have partnered up with Sewy
Die Materialien aus dem Buch “Süße Dessous”: materials used in their lingerie book (offered under Bücher zum Thema Dessous)
Zutaten und Kurzwarenpakete: notions; basically anything that isn’t a fashion fabric or lace, like elastics, channeling, linings, etc
Badegummi: rubber elastic
Badeverschlüsse u.Ä.: Plastic/metal closures for swimwear
BH-Bügel: underwires
Bundgummi: looks to be wider elastic for bustiers and perhaps panty waistbands
Bügelband: underwire channeling
Einziehgummi: plain elastic (for stabilizing edge of upper cups)
doppelseitig klebendes Volumenvlies: double-sided fusible padding
Futterstoff: bra linings
Futterstoff unelastisch: non-stretch linings
Klebeeinlage: some sort of fusible bonding web
Füttertüll: lighter-weight sheer cup lining. Most of the ones listed in this category are non-stretch.
längselastisch: stretches horizontally
Badefutter: swimsuit lining
Tüll elastisch leicht: lightweight stretch mesh/lightweight power net. Good for underlining stretch lace when you want to strengthen but not eliminate the stretch.
Maschen: bows and other decorations
Paspelband: fold-over elastic
Ringe + Schieber: rings and sliders
Schaumstoff/Cups/Abstandsgewirke: foam/cups/spacer. Anything to do with padding and pre-formed molded cups.
Trägerband: strap elastic
Strumpfhalter: garter fasteners
Unterbrustgummi: bottom band elastic
Verschlussband: hook and eye closure (tape style; for corsets and longline bras)
Verschlüsse: hook and eye closure (individual; most in this category look to be heat sealed)
Zierband: non-elastic decorations (like appliqués and non-stretch laces)
Zierlitze: picot edge/finishing elastic
A few more notes about ordering from Sewy:
While the order shipped quickly (I think the day after I placed it), it took about two weeks to arrive on my doorstep. Everything was very neatly packaged.
I didn’t see a tracking number included with the shipping notification. Not sure if this is something not included to keep down costs, or if it is something provided upon request.
I have heard that the owner speaks English, but I have not confirmed this myself.
The prices on the website include VAT. But if you are a foreigner and create an account and login, it will deduct the VAT from the item price.
I highly recommend getting a CapitalOne credit card if you order online internationally on a somewhat regular basis. It is one of the few credit cards I know of that doesn’t charge a fee when dealing with foreign currency.