My first bra creation! Before I wasted money on supplies that I would never use, I opted to just use some scrap fabric that I had. This particular fabric was what I cut off the bottom of an ankle length tube dress that was too long. It is cotton, but has some stretch to it. The dress is in storage so I can't say for sure the % of cotton at the moment. But I will update after I pull it out of the box.

While it didn’t turn out exactly as I envisioned, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and is wearable ... so I’m happy.

I’m calling this my unlined deep plunge bra, since I overestimated how much fabric I should remove for the scoop of the gore. ☺ The wing is also shorter than I anticipated, as I didn’t add enough inches for the side pleating for bust roundness, but it still works for a lazy hot summer day lounge bra, or a “it’s way too hot and humid to wear clothes” summer sleep bra.

I also didn’t taper the bottom of the band enough (or at all https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":-D" />) so it is a bit looser than I’d prefer. Again, not the ideal fabric for the task, but still worked for the test run.

I can also use this as a top paired with the tube dress worn as a skirt, or I can actually sew it to the top of the dress to transform it into a bra top dress. So, it’s currently multifunctional!

As for the sizing, since I created it, and based on how it fits, I’ve opted to label it as a 28KK, or 28:16. It doesn’t have an actual size label, as I was too lazy to create one, and since I am not selling it, it honestly doesn’t need one. My anal-retentive inner self screams at me for this, telling me all bras need labels, but I am ignoring it for now.

I have ordered additional fabrics to play with, in hopes to create the perfect wireless bra for me, so more creations are to follow within the next month or so. (Galaxy print, yay!) Wish me luck!
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Updated on May 07, 2019 Flag this

Nightfall Space Galaxy-
I finally got to my Galaxy Fabric. To be honest, I only made this one at this point because I was a bit bummed about the Andromeda Comexim bra being more of a Marble instead of Galaxy print. Don’t get me wrong, Andromeda is gorgeous, but it wasn’t the Galaxy print I was thinking it was going to be.

So…..I forced a bit of time for “Me” into my schedule and sat down to whip out two more bras, the Botanical Leaves and this Space Galaxy one. I’ve been wearing my S style bras without the straps on for about a week due to my current skin ... sensitivities, as I can’t handle having any straps currently. Amazingly enough, the S style with a tube top works pretty well and stays in place all day, so I was impressed.

As I stated in the Botanical Leaves review, these did not go exactly as planned, and they don’t provide a sexy look, but they are comfortable, and can be worn both as a crop top or under a regular shirt, so I can’t complain too much, aside from my sewing failures while making them. Like with the Botanical Leaves, I love the fabric pattern on this one too.

This fabric is Robert Kaufman Jersey Knit Nightfall Space Galaxy, which I ordered from Amazon. It is 95% Cotton/5% Lycra and has 50% 4 way stretch.

The lining is Black Cotton Jersey Lycra Knit from Fabric Wholesale Direct. It is 95% Cotton/5% Spandex with 4 way stretch.

The ribbing is Black T knit ribbing from Fabric Merchants (purchased on Amazon.) It is 96% Cotton/4% Lycra and comes in a tube. The listing says 15” but it’s really 13” flat (26” around) and is sold by the yard, so it basically comes in looking like a tube dress. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" /> It is labeled as 15% stretch across the grain, but I’d say it has more a lot more stretch that that. It has a good hug to it.

I have several more fabrics I bought with my dreams of grandeur of making myself a bunch of bras, but I have lost my confidence and enthusiasm at the moment, so I’m not sure if/when I’ll be doing more. :-/
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Nightfall Space Galaxy colorway

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Updated on Jul 10, 2019 Flag this

Bra Number Two! I opted to go with a tank bra style this time. The fabric was labeled as “Telco Galaxy Stretch Velvet Knit Metallic Stars Silver Black” and the photo gave the illusion that it was a black and grey galaxy print with random stars, but in all reality it is simply black velvet with metallic stars and dots. While it is still gorgeous, it wasn’t what I thought I was buying. Since I was disappointed, I decided this would be the perfect fabric to test my second bra pattern on, so I wouldn’t be wasting my beloved fabrics if the bra didn’t turn out as I ... planned. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" />

The fabric is 90% Polyester & 10% Lycra Spandex Velvet. It is a lightweight knit base, with 50% stretch on the grain & 10& vertical stretch, and is machine washable.

Like with my first one, this didn’t turn out exactly as I planned. I originally made it too high, having shortened the straps too much, so the front and wing were too tall for my liking. I lowered the front slightly, but opted to leave the wing since I didn’t want to take the whole side stitching out to lower the front bullet pleats. So basically I made the complete opposite mistakes with this one in comparison to the first, haha. This does make the straps shorter than I prefer, but hey, I get great lift due to those straps!

The material is far sturdier than my scrap fabric of the first one, so this one is very supportive, giving lift and holding everything in place. I could actually exercise in this one, though I won’t be running any marathons in it.

As for the sizing, I’ve opted to label it as a 28KK, or 28:16. Like with the first, this one doesn’t have a label. I tried sewing one, but it didn’t work so well. Freehand sewing of small numbers isn’t as easy as I thought it would be!

I am waiting on a longer spool arm to use my twin needle, since my spools are too tall for the secondary arm that came with my machine. Once that comes in, I will attempt a 3rd bra with one of the other fabrics I bought. (A Blue True Galaxy print, Mermaid Scale print, and a Halloween theme eyeball fabric in addition to solid black and solid orange.) I am taking it slow, trying to think it through instead of just rushing through them, but I’ll have at least 5 more! I also bought the Laurel Sports Bra pattern from Porcelynne which I will attempt to tackle at some point. I must admit I am a bit nervous about working with an actual pattern instead of my makeshift ones I’ve been creating. I still need to order more supplies to make the Sports bra, but my biggest issue is trying to decide if I want to keep it with the 2 hook design it comes with or attempting to modify it to a 3 or 4 hook. When I have more “think” time, I will look at the pattern and see if I can figure out what modifications would be required to make the change. Based on the supply list, I think it’s a matter of changing out the band elastic width, which is an issue since I can’t find standard elastic to fit the 3 or 4 hook width…..to be continued on the next adventure!
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Black Velvet Galaxy unlined colorway

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Updated on May 22, 2019 Flag this

Botanical Leaves on Olympus-
I haven’t had much free time lately, so I didn’t get to making more of my bras until now. Is it weird that I feel guilty for not having time to do this? Haha.

Due to my current skin sensitivity issues, I opted to go with my Yoga style, but altered it a bit to suit my current needs and time crunch. Instead of curving the front up to meet narrowed (or dual) straps, I opted to do more of a tube style with single wide straps for comfort. I also got my ribbing in so I did both this one and the Galaxy one with ... the comfort ribbing instead of elastic, in more of a longline/crop top style. I do realize this makes it technically a different stlye, but I didn’t want to add another style to the system so I just tagged the current style closest to the “bra” portion. ☺

I also opted to line both in cotton/lycra for added support.

I cut the fabric generously since I was adding the lining, and I was in a hurry due to limited time in a single stretch, so if I didn’t get it done in one sitting, I wasn’t sure when I’d have time again to complete it. I had to sew it tighter since the extra fabric was not supportive at all. I also added the ribbing on initially backwards (as in I was an idiot and sewed the seam on the flipping outside because I was running out of time and being stupid.) So I had to spend an hour ripping the seams and redoing the darn thing.

By the end, I was in tears, and reminded of my inability to sew and feeling like a complete failure. It was a very sad day….
That being said, I did finally finish both bras, and while they don’t look perfect, are not sexy at all (Don’t take these on vacation AGBras, as they are anything but sexy AF haha), and if you saw the crappy sewing corrections in the back you would laugh at me.

Yet overall they aren’t terrible to be worn under clothing or around the house, and they are comfortable so I will wear them.

The Positives are that the fabric is beautiful! I do love this pattern. It is Botanical Leaves on Olympus and I purchased it from Fabric.com. It is 75% Polyester/25% Lycra Spandex with 70% 4 way stretch. It is like swimsuit/sports bra material and quick drying.

The lining is Black Cotton Jersey Lycra Knit from Fabric Wholesale Direct. It is 95% Cotton/5% Spandex with 4 way stretch.

The ribbing is Black T knit ribbing from Fabric Merchants (purchased on Amazon.) It is 96% Cotton/4% Lycra and comes in a tube. The listing says 15” but it’s really 13” flat (26” around) and is sold by the yard, so it basically comes in looking like a tube dress. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" /> It is labeled as 15% stretch across the grain, but I’d say it has more a lot more stretch that that. It has a good hug to it. (Side note-@AGBras, you would rock this ribbing as a tube mini dress or a tube top/mini skirt, seriously.)

I haven’t added measurements (honestly I figured why does it matter since I made them for me so no one really needs that data, do they?) but if I’m bored later and have some free time, I’ll add them just to get them to 100%.
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Botanical Leaves on Olympus colorway

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Updated on Jul 10, 2019 Flag this

Bra Number Three. I opted to go with a lower horizontal cut yoga style bra this time. Maybe I should have called it a wireless demi or half cup bra? I used the same fabric as the #2 Tanktop style, “Telco Galaxy Stretch Velvet Knit Metallic Stars Silver Black” and I still have enough fabric left over to do a skirt if I wanted, or for a few more bra experiments, depending on my mood. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" />

The fabric is 90% Polyester & 10% Lycra Spandex Velvet. It is a lightweight knit base, with 50% stretch on the grain & 10% vertical stretch, and ... is machine washable.

Third try, and third “not as planned” results, haha. Like with my first one, I failed to compensate for my bust size fully, so the top on this one is too short for full or proper coverage of my breasts. As a result, it is compressive and cuts in on top, though it is still quite comfortable and I don’t fear flop out. If I’d made it 1.5-2” taller, I think it would have been better, so next time I will raise that for more coverage.

My goal with this one was to have a wireless bra that I could wear under normal tank tops, as my DE bras are too wide as it tapers up to the straps, which are also too wide for a standard tank top. In that aspect I succeeded, as I could wear this under a tank easily, but I just need to give myself a bit more upper coverage and/or space for a better fit. That being said, I will have no problem wearing this one around the house, but don’t think I’d venture outside it in just yet.

The material is very sturdy supportive and works beautifully for the bra purpose.

Though this one is tighter and lower, I’ve opted to label it as a 28KK, or 28:16 for consistency. Other brands do this, so hey, why not? Different style, different fit, right? https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />

Since I was impatient, I didn’t wait for the longer spool arm to use the twin needle, so I stuck with the zigzag stitch again. I also added a looper loosely since if I tightened it down, my nips would have been hanging out on top saying hi. I can slip the looper fabric between my breasts to stop skin on skin rub and sweat though, so it does still serve the separation purpose as needed.
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Black Velvet Galaxy unlined colorway

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Updated on May 26, 2019 Flag this