will save you time and heartache when making your first bra.
Underwires
Having good bra making supplies is essential to success when making your bras. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to sewing or have been in the craft for years; extra bra-making supplies can help you get the most out of your experience. A good bra wire will provide a lot of support to your bust and help lift and separate the breasts. It’s important to find a wire that fits snugly but doesn’t poke in your breasts and has the right length and size.
Underwires can also splay too much across cup sizes, negatively impacting their ability to provide the support they were intended for. The amount of splay depends on several factors: the size of the underwire, the band tightness, and the horizontal force around your body that pulls the wire.
Fabric
Cotton is a staple for many bras, with its smooth and satin weave, shiny luster, and great stretching properties. It is also antibacterial and breathable. Another popular fabric is stretch silk charmeuse, a cotton and spandex blend that provides excellent support while retaining its softness. You can get this fabric in a wide variety of colors and styles. Other fabrics used for bras include microfiber, power mesh, and lace. These fabrics are lightweight, thin, breathable, and can be dyed to match. Different kinds of bras exist, from simple everyday lingerie to elaborate pieces for special occasions. Each type of bra requires a different kind of fabric.
Choosing the right fabric can be tricky, but it is essential for a good bra. Consider the type of bra you will make, its purpose, and how much elasticity you need for comfort before selecting your fabric.
Strap elastic is an important bra component and should be a soft, plush elastic with a “picot” edge on one side but a flat finish on the other. The width of this elastic should vary by cup size, with the larger cups using wider elastic to increase stability.
Lace
When making bras, you must ensure you have the right materials. One of the most important is lace. Lace is a very delicate fabric that can be made from silk, cotton, or wool. It comes in different types and designs, such as floral, botanical, or geometric. It is the most time-consuming and laborious fabric and requires great skill and patience. This is why most sewists find lace to be the most difficult of all fabric types to sew.
However, lace is a delicate fabric for finishing or decorating clothes, sewing evening and festive dresses, or creating lingerie. It is also a popular choice for wedding gowns. The most important thing to remember when working with lace is to treat it with care. This is especially true if it contains synthetic fibers that can melt when ironed. If you must iron lace, place it on a towel and press a plain cotton cloth between the iron and the lace before choosing an adequate temperature.
Elastics
Elastic is one of the most important supplies you’ll need when making bras. Elastic is the fabric material that allows your garments to stretch and hold their shape. There are different elastic types, depending on the project you’re working on. They all have different properties and are made from other materials. Most elastics are made of polyester and rubber. These are good for most uses, except swimwear, because they break down under harsh conditions such as heat and chlorine exposure. They come in many widths and are available in pre-cut lengths. Some are woven with extra ribs to help them hold their shape and prevent twisting, while others are knitted or braided. There are also specialty elastics that offer the best softness and stretch. These include fold-over, lace lingerie, and strap elastic.
Trims
When it comes to bra-making, you can go right with quality trims. Whether you’re making a lace or stretch bra, you’ll want to ensure the final product is soft and smooth to the touch. Another important element of making bras is cutting. You want to cut your pattern pieces in a way that allows for maximum stretch. This is especially true if you’re using knit fabric. To keep your cut pieces smooth, use a rotary cutter and mat to ensure that you have even cuts across the grain of your fabric.
Having a kit can be helpful, but you’ll need to ensure that the trims in your kit are sized appropriately for your pattern. Also, you’ll need to be careful to ensure that your kit includes all the little things you need to make your bras. This is especially true if you’re new to bra-making and are trying to figure out what you’ll need for each part of your project.
