Patternmaking tips for Bras

some patternmaking & sewing suggestions to help guide you through your first underwire experience

Step 1 Breast basics

before getting started, it is useful to review some basic breast physiology. you may have your own method for brushing up on this, but to aid in your research at home, here are one or two facts:
+each breast is 90% water, can weigh 200/800 gms, sits on the chest wall between the 2nd and 6th rib,

+statistically, left breasts are often slightly larger than right ones, (up to 2 cup sizes!) though i encourage anyone to challenge this by submitting your own research on the topic.

+breasts have no internal support structure and rely almost totally on skin tension for their shape. this is where the bra comes in.

Comments

[deneicer1]

http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns?for=1&free=1&garment_type=8&most_recent=1

Here is the page for the free bra pattern! It is on the Burda site...and you might have to read in the comments to figure out which pattern size you will need!

I wear a 34GG and I had to get pattern #5. I will have to alter it a bit down from the 36....but is pretty darn close!

I am excited to give it a try soon!

I will probably start some personal sewing after my daughter gets back to school from holiday.

Hope you all post great pics!

[Thursday Next]

go to amazon/books/ hobbies and crafts/sewing. and type in underwear. there are a lot of them. I tried to post a link but it didn't show up as a link.

[JenXer]

"here is a picture of an ineffective underband." LOL!! :D

[melissabalaban]

you are great.

[neffk]

Looks like good information but I wish I could find a set of patterns that had various sizes. Reverse engineering every piece of clothing I want to make takes a lot of time.

[crafthooligan111]

very helpful, thanks millons

[fineline]

Great information - thank you for sharing ! Now lets see if I can make a 36G.

[nehmah]

good morning fineline; If you goto: www.burdastyle.com and check out the "free patterns" member fiefje has posted bra patterns and basic directions. There are, at last count, three styles, and I lost count of how many individual sizes. But, G was one of them. You do have to register to download patterns. It is still free, and not full of spam. Cordially, Nehmah

[artychick]

hi I couldnt seem to find the pattern could you post a link? thanks Stephanie

[nehmah]

Hi Stephanie, I'll try but am lousy at linkage. There are two sites to cover. About both, you must be registered to download any pattern. It's free and the spam was minimal. Also, at the "old" site, the Sept.closing date is for real. If you want any of the free patterns best to download now. Many of these never made it to the new beta site. Here they are: http://old.burdastyle.com/patterns?filter=115&mostrecent and http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/green-and-blue-lace-lingerie-set-5 for the others, change number from 1 to 6. Now, let's see if I got it right. Cordially, Nehmah

[nehmah]

The second link to the new site may not work, due to registration restrictions. If you goto: http://www.burdastyle.com you get there, (on my username(?) oh well, as long as you get there. I hope that you find the site(s) they are useful. Cordially, Nehmah

[nehmah]

NOTE: The "old.burdastyle.com" will be unavailable after September 30, 2009. If you want to download any of these patterns, get them now. They may not all be transferred over to the beta site. There are some super patterns on there that are still free. Cordially, Nehmah

[artychick]

Hi thanks going there now Stephanie

[1955momaduck]

Thank you so much for the information. I have had many years of unfit, overpriced bras...and now I will make me some.

[BoxOfAshes]

Sounds fun!! =]

[Jollyrgr]

Actually the breasts do not rely on skin for support. Breasts are supported by Cooper's Ligaments. Ligaments stretch over time but do not rebound. Hence this will eventually lead to sagging if the breasts are not supported by some other means (i.e. a bra, corset, etc.)

[BoxOfAshes]

I remembered reading from many places though, that bras actually contribute to sagging...

[WurdBendur]

I'll also note It doesn't really matter if the breasts are supported. The ligaments weaken and stretch naturally, not because the breasts were unsupported, so they'll sag either way. Wearing a braw is more about keeping them shapely now, not so much preventing the sag later.

[acexkeikai]

Breasts are going to sag anyways.. exercise can help but it's like other parts of the female and male anatomy... after a while nature takes its course downward with gravity

[hautemommies]

Looking for a patternmaker to help get a nursing bra biz up and going! Anyone up for a challenge with exciting possibilites?

[akinich]

the first picture in which the bra and the person is in who is it can you paste more like that

[gingersroots]

Hey there, would you happend to have, or know where i can find info about underware grading?

[karossii]

Of course every statistic has its exceptions, but my wife's right breast is the one which is larger... about half a cup size, though not quite.

[kevinnjanet]

I need help I have a step daughter that has just gone beyond all things puchasable I cant sew is there anywhere or a maker that can make me a HHH or better bra please email me at [e-mail] she needs a bathing suit that hlods her in also I cant do it I cant even make a pattern of her body well too jerry springer she is 16 and I am dad just too well you know any help would be nice even fig leves doest have anything for her anymore would a taylor do this ? I cant find anything in my area at all please help picture this dolly parton without a bra yikes

[sonisonali]

Dear jenna, extremely good information. will be very helpfull for my students.thanks. sonali

[bumpus]

woah thats intresting, the left breast can be bigger than the other...wierd

[CARLAELANE]

I´m pattermaking, I study about bras. Please Can I get the email of who did this? Dou you know some books it. Thanks [e-mail] [e-mail]

[CARLAELANE]

step 4. I love it! Please,Can I get the email of who did this. [e-mail] [e-mail]

[neutral leopard]

Wow, I had no idea one could make bras that look so good! That is amazing. Would you consider doing any um, challenging, custom work? (That sounded dirty - not what I meant) I'd love to hear from you if you have time: [e-mail] -elise

[CARLAELANE]

HI! ARE YOU PATTERMAKING? I AM. I LOVE MY PROFESSION, I´M WRITTING A BOOK ABOUT THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH OTHER PROFESSIONAL. sorry my english [e-mail]

[CARLAELANE]

HELLO I AM PATTERMAKING IN BRAZIL, I WANT TO DETAILS OF BOOKS OF PATTERN FOR BRA. WANT TO KNOW OTHERS ALSO MODELISTAS. SORRY MY INGLES.

[inquisitive]

Way to support the girls! I was a certified bra fitter for years {known in some circles as "The Bra Guru"} and really think the information you included on the physiology and engineering of the proper bra really quite superb! One thing I would remind makers is that it is all-too-common for women to wear bands too big and their cups too small. A good fitting can change your life!

[Darkshot]

cool <):D

[Delkaetre]

Very useful... the left/right imbalance in size holds true for me, so if I can make my own bra I can make sure that I've actually got support for both instead of feeling oddly lopsided! Now... to find some way of making a similarly accommodating steel-boned corset...

[Austringer]

Mrs. Austringer wants to know where one can get underwires? I suggested that they could be forged from old box springs but she seems resistant to the idea.

[rachel]

One useful source is old worn-out bras. Any time I throw out a bra, I first cut out the underwires. The metal lasts a lot longer than the fabric!

[dchall8]

First of all, how the heck did I end up linking to THIS Instructable. The last thing I remember I was looking at a Universal Nut Sheller!?!?! Secondly, aren't you missing a few elements of the design? Maybe if I was more of a seamstress (or seamster), it would follow logically to the conclusion, but I need more drawings at least. Thirdly, I'm imagining Kathleen Turner's breathy voice saying, "my favorite is lounging on a lazy and hot summer afternoon with a close friend, sharing secrets, sipping tea or a vodka tonic, and trying on underwear!" and finally, I'm really a girl who wants to make a bra and I live near you, too. Maybe we can meet...and bring your friend Josefina.

[Nilu]

Great. I learnt a lot. Thanks Jenna. Can I know more info on this.

[such_momjeans]

TIP: Instead of real wire, I have used junk mail papers. Roll it, dunk it in decoupage-type medium, then shape when wet. Let dry and voila! Boob Tube.

[jenna]

ooh! i love that idea. have experimented before with making a hoop-skirt out of paper, but didnt think of using medium to make it hard. are you going to post photos?