I Made Another Bra!

This may be my second bra on paper but it really is a first in many ways: I made it without a sewing instructor holding my hand and giving me useful hints and tips along the way...aaaand...it is the very first bra I made that fits! Yeah!

I've already worn it several times and it has now entered regular rotation in the underwear drawer.

A pop of colour

The reason this bra fits so well is because I made it from a pattern off of a deconstructed bra that used to fit me really well.

I carefully cut the bra up along each seam, so I would have each piece without seam allowance. Then I traced all the pieces onto greaseproof paper and added seam allowance onto the paper pieces.

The deconstructed pieces of my old bra

I tried to use similar fabrics and elastics as used in the original bra to maintain the same shape and elasticity. And it worked!

The construction on the inside

The only sad thing is that it is yet another white bra. I have found it quite challenging to source matching bra elastics, findings and fabric in a funkier colour.

The assorted kits many bra supply sites offer can be expensive and don't necessrily come with the type of notions and fabrics I'm looking for - or the shop is located overseas and shipping costs are too high.

With some creative sourcing and time spent looking for supplies online I'm sure I'll eventually find something more colourful.

The supplies for this bra were all bought from the Sewing Chest with the exception of the white lace and orange ribbon, which I bought locally.

For you bra sewing nerds out there, here is a detailed, annotated picture of what materials I used in the construction of this bra:

I will soon be making more bras. But next time I'll be playing with a pattern, I think. Or make my own. Who knows?! The possibilities are endless :)

UK sewists out there: Do you know of actual physical shops that sell bra supplies? You know those shops that you can't access in your pajamas from bed, but have to physically walk into (preferebaly not in your pajamas) and say "Good Day" and "Good Bye" in, lifting your top hat. What an old-fashioned idea :) (Yes, joking aside, an actual shop, where I could go and touch and see things in real life...)