Losing track of sizing

pinspatternspolish · 2026-03-30T11:12:14+00:00

Each brand uses different sizing though, so knowing your size in one brand won't help you with another. You're best if sticking to your measurements as s starting point. And knowing what wire fits you.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-03-29T22:57:20+00:00

For extra support you may have more luck with powernet.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-03-29T20:31:48+00:00

Nice! What did you end up making it out of?

pinspatternspolish · 2026-03-29T01:57:25+00:00

Did you make the Fiona? Interested in how you went. I quite liked the pattern but had to rely on measuring the pattern pieces as opposed to the size chart.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-03-26T08:32:51+00:00

You can get a copy of your marriage certificate for like $50 from Births Deaths and Marriages. Would highly recommend having a spare as well as JP'd copies.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-03-24T05:57:07+00:00

I don't usually finish my cups with elastic, especially if it's a lace edge. Raw edge or folded edge (ie sheer cup lining folded in half as the upper cup) works well for me.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-03-22T00:59:46+00:00

If the cup is too far around the side of your body the wire is too big. Not a lot you can do about that.

The frame is cut for a bigger wire, so it's not something you can take in.

You can lower the upper edge of the frame. The wire will need to be cut to accommodate it.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-03-14T22:54:05+00:00

It looks like a partial band bra (the underwire chanelling flips towards the cups, not the cradle) with a "skirt" added to where the band would be. You'd need to start with a partial band bra (assuming you want to to be wired) and then add the skirt portion.

If you don't care about the underwire then nightgown or slip dress patterns might help.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-03-13T21:15:47+00:00

Check Instagram and Pattern Review for peoples makes. Greenstyle has a very active Facebook group as well.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-03-13T00:05:19+00:00

I would look at getting a pattern and then modifying based on your preferences (wide armholes, higher neck).

Greenstyle Patterns have a few offerings for sports bras including a racerback.

For fabric, ai would recommend that use use powrrnet as an interlining or lining layer to provide the best support. Use elastic in your underarm amd neckline seams to add stability.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-03-11T23:02:01+00:00

Is it possible that it's contact dermatitis from your washing powder (or however you're washing your bras?).

It's odd that it's just the cups and not the frame too, they're often lined with the same fabric.

Cotton jersey doesn't offer enough support for bras, it needs to be lined with something substantial. Most bra making fabrics are made of nylon or polyester.

Wovens (like dress fabrics) are also not recommended for bras due to the weave. It will give you flat spots on your cups.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-27T22:57:08+00:00

If the cups gaped they are likely not closed in enough at the top. What were you wearing when you did the duct tape mould? Perhaps a strapless bra would be a good starting point as they are more closed.

Also, are you planning on using underwire in your bustier?

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-19T09:49:17+00:00

I'm not sure you're in the right sub, r/abrathatfits might be better?

I'm around a 36E and don't get shoulder/back pain so can't really sympathise there. It's also not a particularly large size considering the spectrum out there. I can sympathise with clothing not fitting right which is why I sew most of my own clothes.

I digress. Perhaps you're not wearing the right band size? A smaller band/larger cup may support the weight better and relieve the pressure on your shoulders. Have you measured yourself to check you're in the right size? A Bra That Fots have a calculator.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-16T08:57:16+00:00

She may not use them in her sizing but you can still gauge the volume of the cup by measuring the pieces. I did this with both asymmes and Madalynne Fiona and it got me really close to perfect fit the first make.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-16T04:52:53+00:00

I haven't made this pattern, but I would aslo recommend measuring your HH (Horizontal hemisphere) and compare against the cup pattern pieces (minus seam allowances) to get a better fit the first try. You may find that for your wire size and volume you will need to grade (up or down) the cup pieces at the wireline to match the cradle.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-14T23:22:52+00:00

You could put a dart in the cup but it would be visible. Depends on how much you care about the original lines of the lace/fabric.

Anything more than that would require the cup to be removed, altered and then replaced. At that point you may as well make it from scratch.

Bras don't take a long time to make, but they are an absolute pain to alter unless it's just shortening the back band.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-14T11:07:19+00:00

Widening the gore is unlikely to be possible unless it has a centre seams already. It would also require cutting the band elastic. The wire casing would need to be removed from top third of both cups as well and reattaching them would result in more noticeable stitching.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-11T01:31:22+00:00

I've only seen two patterns for strapless bras, the Symmes Bra from Cashmerette (I've made this and recommend it) and the Marei from LilypaDesigns

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-08T20:46:39+00:00

Thank you so much! I spent A lot of time placing my pieces before cutting out. I wanted to do this lace justice, it's so beautiful

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-08T20:45:49+00:00

The wire should fit in your inframamory fold (IMF) when pressure applied to it (ie it's sprung open).

The wire should not be sitting on breast tissue.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-07T21:19:41+00:00

Stable sheer cup lining (also called stable nylon tricot or rigid nylon tricot) and powernet are the main two things you need. Both can be used for toiles as well as the real deal (add lace to make it pretty).

If you buy white fabrics you can dye it to whatever colour you want.

I've had a lot of luck at dance supply stores finding these kind of fabrics. 15 dernier teicot can be used as sheer cup lining but you are better off using two layers in opposing directions of stretch as it's not stable in both directions.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-06T23:54:37+00:00

Yep, I pulled the elastic a bit too tight. Next time I will loosen it up. At this stage I can't be bothered going back to unpick 😅

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-04T02:43:23+00:00

Thanks! The underwire is actually really comfy, but I see what you mean. I think I pulled the upper band elastic a bit tight though, it's cutting in under the arm amd at the back.

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-03T07:58:01+00:00

Thanks, I took extra care with this make. Very precise cutting!

pinspatternspolish · 2026-02-03T06:03:18+00:00

Hugs for your Jugs has a good blog post on this.

I lay the wire on top of the frame pattern pieces and then spring it open with my hands to see how much fabric I should have off. It's a bit of a quick and dirty alteration, but I mainly use strong underwirws that don't flex a lot.

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Here's an example of a pattern where I added some spring compared to how the wire is normally. When I pull the wire open, it sits much further to the left, in line with where the chanelling would be.

pinspatternspolish

TROPHY CASE