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• A comment regarding altered bras. If the alteration is not super drastic you can add the bra twice (as if you had two bras) to the site, with one with the data before alterations and a second entry with altered data (and indicate that the bra has been altered when entering measurements)

  The first entry serves for usual purposes, the 2nd one having the altered measurements flag will not affect other averages but will be used to know what numbers are better for you (considering you've entered bra fit). It makes it easier also for you to search based on measurements.

• I hope you figure out how to post the pictures. I really want to see it!

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Apr 06, 2014 EM alteration

I don't want to stir the pot on the whole EM fit issue thing again but I finally got around to altering my Sm Bezyk and I can't believe what a difference it made.

I may have chub but I have very narrow shoulders! Swimsuit straps refuse to stay put, scoopneck shirts end up with me rocking an off the shoulder Flashdance look, and shoulder/underarm seams are always down on my arm. So it comes as no surprise that strap placement is going to be an issue for me!

Link to a couple of before and after pics:

70J - Ewa Michalak » Sm Beżyk

http://www.bratabase.com/bra/dl3ma/

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Shared on Apr 07, 2014 Flag this

9 comments

• I need to do that to some of my bras too. You did a good job.

• How did you do your alteration?

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• I turned a Panache Andorra into a nursing bra and thanks to the stretch lace it worked great. Of course, that was 'only' a 28F, so not quite in the same range you are, but still.

  I scavenged some bra strap elastic from an old bra and used that for the little 'place holder' straps inside the cups. To attach them I unpicked a couple of stitches on the inside of the wire casing, tucked the elastic strap underneath the casing and (with help of a narrow zipper foot) carefully stitched through all layers to close the little gap in the stitching. For a more comfortable and supportive place holder solution you can also take some (non-stretch) fabric, fold it over, and use as a kind of in-cup 'sling', the folded edge towards the front. I hope this made any sense ... if not, just ask :)

  I have no idea what that felt-like stuff is called, though ...

  The only comfort straps I have experience with (I haven't made them myself, though) have been made out of the same foam bra cups are made of edged with bias tape. The comfort straps Ewa Michalak offers for the other Onyx models are like that and the straps on my Change Lingerie Tactel Balconette Bra are narrower but otherwise very similar. The latter still have a slight amount of stretch to them, though. To reduce that further, I suppose one could back the the foam with a soft, non-stretch fabric like cotton flannel for example.

• I'm turning my Jasmine into a nursing bra today because I have so many clips from sewsassy. I don't see anywhere that it'd be a problem. We'll, I suppose the stretch lace might do worse for the wear over time but I don't mind it. Better than having an angry baby clawing at me.

  But the clips from sewsassy are small so with some bra straps you'll have to bend the strap just to get it through. I'm still looking for some for wider straps. I could see how the km straps could roll. My S Onyks I just use the comfort straps but they aren't included with the km for some reason.

  I actually am just using a few of my bras without the elastic bit as nursing bras atm but I used old bra straps last time which can be a bit irritating. I'm hoping to buy some wide satin ribbon to serve as that part to hold the nursing straps from flying back, as I feel like that would be more comfortable.

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• I would love to know that too. I recall I had this wireless bra years ago that was my first non 40DDD or whatever bra and there were these comfort strap things that slid on. I think it was called an Elia softcup bra.

  EDIT - Found it. http://www.amazon.com/Elila-Wirefree-Coverage-Jacquard-Embroidered/dp/B0006L12X2

  I'm half thinking about buying one just to harvest those comfort strap things from it. I know there's silicon strap things you can buy but they look like they'd make you sweaty. The only other comfortable strap I know of is from Kris Line and that's definitely not cheap!

• You can buy the straps separately. They are on ebay sometimes but also websites like bramakerssupply.com carry them. That's a Canadian company but you can probably find a more local one as well:). I found this out when looking for clips to make my regular bra into a nursing one.

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I removed padding from my Deco Half Cup

I am going to list this bra later today for exchange, but I thought I would explain how I removed the push-up padding for anyone who is interested first. Sorry, no pictures of the process. I will link to the completed bra at the end of the post.

First, using tiny sewing scissors, I cut the lining as close to ... the wire casing as possible, stopping where the bump padding stops at each side. Next, I slowly peeled the fabric away from the padded area until I got to the smooth molded portion of the bra. Now using the tiny sewing scissors, I clipped away small sections of the padding, trying to keep it smooth across as I went. The top part came off in small chunks, but as I got into the lower layers it began to come off much more smoothly in sheets. I stopped when I felt the bottom of the cup was about the same thickness as the top (moulded, but unpadded) portion.

There was excessive fabric in the lining at this point and I determined that most of it would be filled and pressed into the cup when I was wearing it, and so settled on a few pleats at the base to gather up the extra along the seam line. Using a pink thread matched to the exterior of the cups, I sewed as close to the wire casing as possible. The stitches are barely visible from the front of the bra and only if you know exactly what you are looking for (check the pic!) Finally, I came back and trimmed any of the excess lining that was hanging out past the stitches.

The only post alteration measurement that changed was that the left cup increased by .5". Obviously, those measurements don't really reflect the differences, which are found at the base of the cups. But it feels like a pretty big difference, at least a half cup. It does need to be noted that the altered cup is not as firm as the regular deco material that is used in this bra and that it collapses much more easily.

The alteration was made to only to the left cup because that is my larger breast. This alteration was an attempt to create a bra that would even out my asymmetry a bit for certain shirts. And it worked great, for the few months that I was able to use it before I gained a few pounds and now it is too small I love the shape created by this alteration and would probably buy a ton of these bras if Freya would just make a molded half cup without the push-up pads.
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30F - Freya » Ashlee Half Cup (1002)

http://www.bratabase.com/bra/dlew5/

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Shared on Mar 09, 2014 Flag this

• That's very clever!

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• Hooray! Was I right that the Deco was the wrong material for dyeing? Also, I have the Marvel in the black & purple and I love it. Remember to be very, very careful with washing (maybe don't do it till after your wedding if you're not planning to wear it till then) because the coffee may come out.

• catiebabe85 I'm dyeing the Deco now, actually. It seems to be taking dye, but I'm doing it in steps because the heat (which is what makes nylon and polyester take) might not be good for the molded cup. So I'm simmering it, washing it out, and putting it back in as needed.

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• Don't forget to indicate you altered it on the measurements :)

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• You're welcome! Measuring a bra is the most onerous part of entering it into Bratabase, but it's definitely valuable! Glad you, too, are finding the database useful. Good luck on the bra journey!

• I agree.There are so many bras in my size range that are listed on here but not measured and it can get frustrating.Looking at similar cuts and sister sizes is helpful but I wish more people would measure more though I know it can be a pain. :P

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• You could just fold them down and sew them without cutting off the excess :) How does it fit otherwise?

• That's a great idea...but I have no sewing skills period :/ I made an extender out of one of my old La Senza bras and it looks so horrible I don't want to risk trying something on this one. I might have to go to a tailor if there aren't any other options :(

  It looks decent but the top of the cup gapes a bit. I just read your reviews for Betty, Eve and this one - we seem fit similarly in all of them :)

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• If you want to make your own bra I highly recommend looking at the Clothhabit sew-a-long... http://clothhabit.com/category/bra-sew-along/ She posted some great resources regarding patterns, supplies, and tips on pattern manipulation.
  In terms of sewing your own bra I recommend starting with a good pattern like the Classic Pin-Up from BraMakersSupply.

• This is a Finnish site where you can buy all supplies for making a bra, fabrics, patterns, etc. Supplies/fabrics don´t come in many colours though, there are only black/white (was there also nude..?) but you can always cover the cups with any other fabric you like!
  There is also a video tutorial for bra-making :)

  http://www.makebra.com/make-bra/

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By Zeus, I think I've got it! How to make your bra into a corset-back bra!

I just posted an adventure, but I thought the solution deserved its own post. Original adventure: http://www.bratabase.com/profile/4lp/adventures/3078/
Results: http://imgur.com/a/dx4tm
I wanted a bra that, instead of a hook and eye closure, laced up the back like a corset. This would work best with a longline, but I tried it with my Curvy Kate Elegance (CK1401) ... and an extender (white for visibility).
I fastened the extender's hooks to the last set of eyes, making it a loop (if anyone can think of anything better for this, let me know). Then, I hooked the middle set of eyes to the bra's hooks. It'll be backwards kind of, but the tension should hold it together. I got a spool of ribbon I had lying around (the thinner, the better) and from there, just laced it like any corset (or shoelace) in the two sets of eyes that this made. Viola!
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imgur: the simple image sharer

http://imgur.com/a/dx4tm

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Shared on Feb 06, 2014 Flag this

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• That's such a good idea!

• Thank you! After Ereshiy's suggestion of a do-it-yourself, I had to figure it out! :P

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top of the cup alteration

My 30H - Cleo » Bella Balconnet Bra (7001) got here today, and I loved everything about her except for the seam at the top of the cup. It was a bit too tight and was pushing down on the top of my boobs. I took my trusty seam ripper to that seam. Then I ... took scissors to the inside layer of mesh under the embroidered part. Results: no more cutting in, a rounder shape, and I think it's more visually appealing without the second layer. It reminds of Millie or Marcie now with it being see through up top. Now I want another Zia so I can do this! Album below:
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Cleo Bella 30H top of cup alteration - Imgur

http://imgur.com/a/XZkBQ

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Shared on Feb 04, 2014 Flag this

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• I these before after or just after?

• Lovely! It certainly looks much better with the extra layer removed! :)

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• Link isn't working for me :(

• Weird... I'll try to update it! Stupid phone...

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• I find my EM wires to be some of the most comfy,but it's for a G cup and with the CH style...do you know if it's different with the plunges?

• SparkleDarkles I cannot wear the CH's myself, so unfortunately I can't compare the two styles.. All I know from my experience with their plunges is that up until a G cup, in band size 60, the underwires were hardly noticeable during wear. In the plunges I tried cups F-FF-G-GG. Although, I do remember that the underwires of a 65G were just as sturdy as those of a 60GG, so maybe the underwires could be aligned according to the size matrix as well.

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YAY

I went to Trousseau in northern Virginia a week or two ago, got some bras, and had 3 of 4 altered. I just got those 3 in the mail and I'm in love. The one bra I was able to take home was the 28G - Cleo » Jessie Padded Balconnet Bra (7241). It fits pretty well, but ... I hated the mesh that covers the cups. It's so lumpy. It's like I put freaking sprinkles all over my cups. Which is pretty, but not practical. So as soon as I got it home, I cut the mesh off. Now it's just plain black except for at the armpits where the mesh was sewn on. The gore is a little stabby, but I can pad it.

Then come the alterations!

The second bra is got is 30FF - Panache » Envy Balconnet Bra (7285). It's so pretty. I mean really beautiful. I wish I had someone to show this bra off to! I got about 4+ inches of band removed, so it's really like a tight 26GG?! The wires went a little wide (which never happens to me. like ever.) so the outsides of the wires are padded ever so slightly. I haven't worn it yet, but I have high hopes. It's really soft lace, yet sexy and structured.

Next up is the 30FF - Fantasie » Smoothing Moulded T-shirt Bra (4510) . This padding is such a strange material. It's not a particularly pretty bra, but it looks fantastic under a shirt. I had the gore bent out slightly and padded because I have no boob tissue in the middle of my chest, and it stabs. Hopefully the alterations will actually solve this. I think this is the biggest band of all (minus the cleo) at 23 inches unstretched. I had the bows removed from the straps on this.

And the most expensive for last ... 30G - Masquerade » Ardour Sweetheart Moulded Bra (7181) it's beautiful. We altered this one pretty tight to get extra wear out of it considering the $80 price tag. I've tried on masquerades before, and the fabric is so soft I just cannot stop touching it. OMG SOFT. The straps are possibly impractical for tank tops, but I don't care. I also had the bows removed from the straps. It's like a luxury bra. Even the hooks and strap adjusters are pretty and solid. I'm a sucker for nice details like that.

So all my bras are like a 24HH or something ridiculous, but I don't care because they fit, and hey, free alterations!
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Trousseau LTD Vienna, Virginia

http://www.trousseaultd.com/Lingerie/index.html

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Shared on Jan 30, 2014 Flag this

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• Where did you get your bras altered? Free alterations? Where?

• That's great that you had good luck at Trousseau! They have a wonderful selection. I've not had terribly good luck with fittings there (it doesn't matter how much I'm spilling out of a cup; they almost always bring me one that's even smaller), but if you find something that's close to working, the free alteration offer is hard to beat.

  Just as an FYI, a bra store just opened in downtown Leesburg, in the Market Station. She doesn't yet have a wide selection, but I think she "gets" fit - it's called Best Rack Around. I realize you're going to have to have most things altered due to your under bust size, but this might be another place to check all the same.

  Congratulations on all of your purchases! I love the Masquerade.

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• I remember on the abtf reddit someone dying their Marcie black- might want to sniff around there? Also someone got the Marcie babydoll in black and snipped off the bottom so it was just a bra.

• I've got lots of experience dyeing.

  I use an acid (hot) dye. I use my big wok to boil several cups of water, pour in the dye packet and vinegar, and simmer for several minutes to mix. I dampen the garment(s) I'm going to dye in warm water, and then plop them into the dye mix, simmer for several minutes more. I then pour the undiluted dye down the toilet, and rinse thoroughly in the bathtub (make sure shower curtains/towels/etc are out of the way) until water run over the garment runs clear. There will be some additional bleed-out during the first wash.

  Most bras are primarily Lycra, which will take acid (hot) dye just fine. If you overdye dye a patterned bra, even black (since no black dye is perfect), you will get faint ghosting of the pattern in different shades.

  Also, keep in mind that polyester WILL NOT TAKE dye no matter what. So things like bow details, coloured seams,embroidery etc will stay it's original colour. If you were to dye,say, the Cleo Melissa, it is likely that you would end up with BRIGHT RED clouds on an otherwise nearly black bra. I suspect the Cleo Millie would look quite sophisticated dyed black, but you might have to remove/replace the neon bow :)

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• Great idea! My jeans usually meet their end by splitting down the rear. You could probably do that alteration using an extender so that no bras are harmed.

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• The Jude is a poorly designed bra. I'm pretty sure there's very little that you can do.

• Jillsas I've talked to another couple people who have also had this problem with different bras. My 30FF Jude doesn't have this problem. The construction seems fine to me, it's just the 30G that I'm having problems with. One theory I heard was that maybe the previous owner put this in the dryer. The inside and outside layers shrink at different temperatures, so what this could be is that the outside layer shrunk. This would explain why it seems too small for the inside layer. Is there any way to "unshrink" this, I wonder?

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