Once I get started

Remember the song by Rufus and Chaka Khan? It's how I feel about making bras. I've started and just can't stop. Could be that a few of my bras are looking kind of ratty. Today I tried my hand at dyeing a finished bra. After hearing so much about the Dylon brand, now available at JoAnns I figured, "Why not?" It's not as if I'm going anywhere anytime soon, what with 16" of snow on the ground!

Using Flamingo Pink dye, this is what I got...

Very interesting results. The lace took the color marvelously but the "Simplex" not so much. The "Powerknit" is more the color I envisioned the results to be. The hooks and eyes also took the dye very nicely as well.

Just had an interesting phone call. Andrea from Knit-Knac just told me I used the wrong kind of dye if I was expecting a uniform color I should have used iDye poly or Dharma Trading Co. Okay. Lesson learned. I also made sample cups using two different fabrics to make a Elan (530) bra. Using my "bra frame" was a tremendous time saver. Using one fabric I need to go down a size while the other fabric just needs to be trimmed down and reshaped. I love the "bra frame" and will save it and continue to insert and remove the cups to "audition" different cups. Stay tuned for another finished bra. I think I'm going to move all of my bra posts to another tab so that I can reference them more easily and visitors can as well.

Bra making discovery

I've been fairly quiet for two reasons. One is I haven't felt like blogging and the other is because I am on another bra-making binge. I've sewn at least six bras with only one fitting. That is a complete bummer. If you don't already know, You have to nearly complete the bra before you can try it on. Of course by then it's too late to make alterations. I've used up a fair amount of supplies and I'm desperately in need. All is not lost. I've made an amazing discovery and I hope this discovery will help someone.

The main problem in bra making is finding the correct cup size and shape. Like ready-to-wear, bra pattern sizing is strictly up to the designer. The easiest part to fit on a bra is the band. If you have bras that you've made previously with ill-fitting cups don't fret. Below is my solution to having to sew a complete new bra each time you want to try a different pattern.

Retrieve a previously sewn bra

Cut the cups out of the bra

Be sure to leave at least 1/4" of fabric around the inside "frame"

Remove wires if added

Now you have your very own "bra frame!" Construct new cups and attach to 1/4" seam allowance of frame using 3.5 mm stitch size and reinsert wire (if needed).

Actually I only constructed one cup. From it I was able to determine how to alter the cup and where. Although my frame is from a partial band bra, I used it for a full band bra and it worked like a charm. It was the first time I had success with a new bra pattern without using the "Goldilocks" bra making formula. You know the one...this one's too big, this one's too small, this one's just right. If you ever get into bra making, file this tip away for future use! You can easily remove the cups for future uses.

I'll be back in the next couple of days with photos and reviews.

More Adventure in Bra Making

I'm still in the throes of bra making and having some success. Following Sigrid's advice, I'm sticking with the band for Anne St.Claire's Queen Bra Elite pattern. I used the cups from the Pin Up Girls Classic Bra pattern.

The cups fit perfectly into the band from the Queen Bra Elite. As I was sewing, "Mr. Know-it-all" (aka husband) informed me that the cups looked way too big. Based on my measurements, I chose the 38F. I guess based on his experience, he was right again. Darn cups are too big!  What a bummer. (I added shoulder pads to the cups to fill them out in the photo.)

 

This time it only took me about two hours of sewing. I will not be deterred. I will forge ahead with another attempt tomorrow. I'm going to adjust the shape of the cups as they are too pointed. I think I also need to adjust the position of the straps on the upper cup and added coverage on the side of the cup. Wish me luck!