/r/MAKEaBraThatFits

Photograph via snooOG

When you can't find /r/abrathatfits, sew one!

When you can't find /r/abrathatfits, sew one!


Rules

  1. There is a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, including sexual, political, and otherwise. This is a safe space for seeking genuine advice on bramaking and alteration, as well as sharing finished works. Violators of this rule receive an immediate ban.

  2. Submission Rule: For image posts showing finished works, please keep the first image of the album/primary image as the bra only, not worn. Worn finished objects can be part of an album if it is not the first image, or linked in the comments.
    This rule is to protect our users.



Our /r/MAKEabrathatfits work-in-progress wiki: https://old.reddit.com/r/MAKEaBraThatFits/wiki/index


/r/abrathatfits Beginner's Guide to finding RTW bras and fitting advice: http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/wiki/beginners_guide


Basic size calculator: http://www.abrathatfits.org/brasizecalculator.php

/r/MAKEaBraThatFits

13,445 Subscribers

0

If I'm buying a bra to sew down the band, does the cup size get brought in with the band?

Okay, if I have a 6" difference, and I'm planning to alter a bra. Taking in the band two inches could make the cups fit tighter, right??? I'm trying to get a 28E fit, from a 30 band, but can't decide on whether getting a 30DD with a 5" difference from a too big band will be too tight in the cups when the band is sewn down. Or if a 30E, which would be 2" bigger in the bust and band, if sewn down 2" in the band, would bring the bust 2" closer as well.

2 Comments
2024/12/01
17:03 UTC

8

Pattern search?

I have been scouring the internet for any bralette pattern that has more of a wide cup than a tall cup. I wear a 32g/h (weight fluctuations + hormones) Almost every bra I've ever tried (even underwire and foam cups) just ends up shoving my boobs in instead of bringing them up a little bit and they all dig into my armpits within minutes and some even start to cut off my circulation. I'm so sick of bras not fitting. šŸ˜­ I just want a bra with no underwire that makes it so I'm not feeling so loosey goosey after breastfeeding a kid.

6 Comments
2024/11/27
10:46 UTC

4

Wool padding?

Has anyone tried using a natural material, like wool batting to pad their bra? I am trying to stay away from plastic materials.

7 Comments
2024/11/25
22:31 UTC

23

Buying sewing notions + lingerie findings on Aliexpress: recommendations?

Hello! Coming out of lurking to ask if anyone shops on Aliexpress and has store or even product recommendations?

I've come across some garment sewing recs here and there online, but am interested in lingerie sewing lately so I thought I would ask here. Thank you in advance!

12 Comments
2024/11/11
14:11 UTC

10

How much can I trust the Black Beauty sizing to buy a store made bra the same size?

So, a bit of context here. I've never tried on a store made bra that fit me, because in my country, my size simply isn't made at all. That's why I starting making my own bras a few years ago. The ABTF calculator put me on a 28FF, so that was the first size I made with the Black Beauty pattern, but it was too small. Went up to a 28G, still a bit small. As that's the largest cup the pattern carries, I took the 30G cups and adjusted them to fit a 28 band and voilĆ”, it fit like a glove!

From all this, my understanding is that my size is 28GG, but can I trust it to buy a bra from a store? My dear husband is going to the US next week and said he can bring me some bras, but I'm afraid of getting the wrong size as I won't able to return them. And shipping them straight to me isn't an option, my country has a 90% import fee, it would be ridiculously expensive...

7 Comments
2024/11/11
00:43 UTC

0

Sports bra design for soccer players

Iā€™m a grad student in the US researching sports bra solutions tailored specifically for female soccer players with chest sizes above a D cup. Iā€™m seeking insights to drive new design innovations, and your feedback could be invaluable. If you fit this description, please take a few minutes to complete my brief survey on your current sports brasā€”their benefits and limitations. It only takes around 6 minutes and would greatly help! Thank you in advance!

https://oregon.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cFKck8ghJ4HttNs

8 Comments
2024/11/07
11:24 UTC

24

Sew busty jet set natural bra?

Has anyone seen any reviews or examples of people that sewed it up? I'd love to have a woven bra so I could use natural fibers but being a larger bust size, I really want to see more reviews from those with a larger bust size. I'm concerned it would hurt my shoulders or not offer enough support.

7 Comments
2024/11/03
21:47 UTC

7

Looking to Add Slings

I posted this in r/sewing already, but thought it might be better here: I am hoping to find an easy tutorial to add side slings to a ready-to-wear bra. I have looked a little, but only finding instructions on how to add them to a made-from-scratch bra. I have extremely limited time to sew and don't want to waste it experimenting or frustrate myself trying to speed-sew a whole new bra (I am not an experienced bra-sewist)

0 Comments
2024/10/24
17:48 UTC

5

Different wire sizes

Iā€™m making a new bra (Lusamine) & I have measured my roots, left side is fitting a 38 wire and right side a 36(a 34 might even fit)wire. Iā€™m wondering should I use two 38 wire? Or two 36ā€¦ with some wire spring it might fit both side? Going with 2 different side seems odd. As anyone else have this situation, what have you done?

6 Comments
2024/10/15
16:39 UTC

6

How to fix seam lengths no

Iā€™m running into a big problem the more I straighten the less lentgh I have for the top panel compared to the bottom. Itā€™s causing ripples as Iā€™m easing in too much to match, how do I remove lentgh on the bottom of my pattern? Without messing up my apex point. I measured the bottoms cups seam is 2cm longer than the top. How I do remove 2cm smoothly without messing up things? Thank you so much Pls anyoneā€™s advice

4 Comments
2024/10/14
00:48 UTC

4

Advice for a strapless bra for a large bust - is a corset the way to go?

Hello hello! There are so many strapless looks I've loved and been unable to wear through the years and now that I can sew I'm hoping I can make an actually sufficient strapless bra for myself!

I'm wondering if a corset is the way to go, since it distributes the weight beyond a narrow band and it is adjustable to fluctuations. Is that a crazy idea? Are there standard strapless bra patterns you'd recommend instead?

My measurements: bust: 44 under bust: fluctuates between 33-35

4 Comments
2024/10/13
16:55 UTC

4

No commercial bras will stay in my IMF/slide down a lot. Has anyone had success making bras for themselves that donā€™t do this?

Hello! I've been unable to find a bra that will stay in my IMF and not slide down 3-5cm below the bottom of my breasts, while the back band stays in place.

I'm pretty certain it's an immediate projection, bottom cup depth issues or depth at the centre. My breasts are very centre full and pushing it down to get the space they need, with gaps at the sides or for some reason commercial underwires just don't work with my breast shape. This happens even in narrow wired/deep cup brands like Polish brands.

I've been sewing a long time so thinking I'll try bra making as tired of wearing wireless bralettes and given up on commercial bras!!

Would love to hear from anyone whose had similar issues and had success making bras for themselves that don't do this. What alterations did you make, which patterns etc. Roughly a 36FF/G if that helps. Thank you!

4 Comments
2024/10/13
16:54 UTC

1

Sensitive skin = no comfy support

Hi, everyone. I am not a super strange size (32DDD US), but no matter what I try my bras always cut. They either cut under my arms or the underwire cuts under my boobs or the shoulder strap cuts into my shoulders. They feel fine in the morning when I put them on, and by 5:00 I'm tempted to take them off in traffic! But I hate going braless because then my boobs hang against my chest and get sweaty.

I am looking for recommendations that won't cut but also won't roll up (long line bras always seem to roll up). I'm also fine being told I'm just wearing the wrong size, but TBH it is SO MUCH WORSE when I go to 34DD. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong or what I should even look for. You all seem like pros, so I'd love your advice!

0 Comments
2024/10/13
04:36 UTC

0

Adjust top cup

Ok, so when you open that top cup along the slash, itā€™s ok to smooth the line over that wedge and you might even cut off the sharp corner of the two sides of the wedge and thatā€™s ok. You want a gentle curve. Hard to show drawing, but like this:

0 Comments
2024/10/12
19:27 UTC

5

Adding length to top

20 Comments
2024/10/12
19:20 UTC

0

Add length to cross cup seam after raising apex.

1 Comment
2024/10/12
19:20 UTC

7

Raise apex

7 Comments
2024/10/12
19:09 UTC

3

New bra cup pattern

0 Comments
2024/10/12
17:41 UTC

16

Tips to recreate favorite bra?

I love this bralette and basically live in it, but it's inevitably starting to fall apart ā€“ I have a bunch of ill-fitting sports bras I never wear that I could use for parts, plus a few different cute fabrics, so I thought why not recreate this one!

It doesn't have to be mesh/lace/pretty like the original, my goal is just to copy the shape/size

Do you have any tips or warnings on what to look out for so my chances of a successful end result are higher?

(for context, I'm around a 28G UK and I do have some sewing experience but have only ever tried making a bra once, a simple bralette with a step by step guide like 10 years ago)

https://preview.redd.it/33prf4b3zytd1.jpg?width=3461&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4f8e5fbc4618f5e12ef70458ce9fae13eeef3630

https://preview.redd.it/zv1sk0b3zytd1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f9e91e20f6b0bf45ec75efac354e16675fc2b9d8

8 Comments
2024/10/10
18:15 UTC

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