Learn to make your own bras!
Since 2013 the Bra Making Sew Along has remained a popular resource for bra-making. The series walks through the basics of fitting and sewing your own bra pattern, and includes bonus tutorials on making design changes to a pattern.
About the Patterns
During this sew-along, we worked with patterns with a full frame–also known as a “full band” bra. You can read more about the differences in band styles in my article Bra Anatomy.
Some of the patterns I used for demonstration are no longer in publication but since then many new patterns have come on the market, including my own line of bra patterns! With a little imagination, many of the steps in this sew-along can apply to any bra pattern.
FAQs
Where can I buy lingerie supplies?
This prep post has some information on basic supplies and traditional bra-making fabrics. For more ideas, visit my Lingerie Resources page.
What kind of sewing experience do I need?
Making a bra requires some basic sewing experience, because you will be working with a lot of elastic and tiny, very curved seams. The great thing about making a bra is that it helps with your sewing accuracy and creativity in so many other areas!
What happened to the sew along badges?
I had to move them! Hosting images for blogs outside of my site was causing issues. Please visit this page if you’d like to download your own badge.
What pattern should I use?
During this sew-along, I used patterns with a full frame (also known as a “full band” bra). Many of the steps here can apply to any bra pattern.
Can I make a foam bra?
Foam bras are not covered in this sew along. However, I wrote a separate series on adapting underwired patterns to use foam linings. See Make a Foam Cup Bra.
Note: When shopping for underwires, buy more than one size! For insurance. See also: Fitting an Underwire.
Hello, I am looking for week 1 posts? Have I missed them?
Hi Judy, nope you haven’t missed anything. Anything I’ve posted is linked above in the schedule… keep checking back on my home page to see if it’s been updated!
Hi! I just learned about the bra-making sew along from the message board on Pattern Review. I’ve been planning to tackle lingerie for over a year, so this is perfect timing (especially since I’m already doing the sewing for a year challenge and it’s time to restock lingerie without the option of shopping!).
I have a Kwik Sew KP 3300 underwire pattern, plus an Élan pattern (not sure of the model number). I have tricot, stretch lace, lingerie elastic, lingerie straps, power net, even an assortment of underwires in my stash, just waiting for my mojo to engage. Thank you for the help and guidance!
I’ve learnt about this from a couple of Australian bloggers, Carolyn and Robyn and between them they have made me realise that I need to learn to sew my own bras, so please count me in. I have a Booby Traps patterns B003 (Australian company) and also plan to purchase the KS3300.
I am really looking forward to this and appreciate all your help and guidance.
I just saw this sewalong on Carolyn’s website. Am I too late to join in?
No, feel free to join along!
Thanks!
I’ve come here from Carolyn’s blog too, what a great sew a long. I have several bra patterns but have not made one I’m happy with yet. I need some prompting!
Hello! I´ve come here from Carolyn´s blog too! I´ve been planing to make underwear for some months, I have a kwicksew pattern that I think will do, some of the notions are tricky to find where I live but I can manage…can I join you?
Hi Merche, sure!
Hi Amy, I would like to join in, (from Carolyn’s blog also).
I have just purchased the Elan pattern, so am awaiting its arrival in my mailbox.
Hi Amy I’m interested in making bras but I want to make ones with padded cups in them. Could you give me any tips on how to sew them in properly?
Hi Atty, I didn’t cover foam cups in the sew-along but there are a few patterns that use them if you wanted to learn some techniques. I hope to post about some of my own experiments in foam bras soon, so keep checking back!
I signed up for the bra making sew-along, but did not receive the first few lessons. Could you please email them to me? Thank you!
Hi Brenda, the sew-along was posted as a series of entries on my blog. I don’t have a way of emailing them but each entry is listed under the heading “Schedule and Posts” on this page. You can click through the ones you missed.
Another option is to subscribe to my blog via an RSS reader like Google Reader. It works a little bit like email and it’s the best way to subscribe to blogs so that you can view all past and current posts in one convenient spot.
Hope that helps!
Amy
I received my Elan pattern yesterday ! Looking forward to the sew along !
elise
Just purchased the Danglez patterns. Got two as I wasn’t sure of my size & it seems they are quitting business! Of course, the 50% off was great. Thanks for sharing that.
Glad you were able to get one in before she closes!
Is this still going on? I just found it and am wanting to build my own bras since store bought ones don’t fit.
Hi Lynda – the sew-along ran in January, but all the posts will stay up so you are free to follow whatever you’d like to! The Flickr group is closed.
I am a little late to the party but I am going to be joining in soon!! Blogging about it on my website too… thanks for all the amazing advice, it’s quite fired me up!! xxx
Glad you found it! And hope you have fun on the bra-making journey!
Laura, what website do you have?
thank you
Hi , my name is janna , is still possible for me to join ??
Hi Janna, please read through this page – the Flickr group is closed & all tutorials will remain on my site.
Just out of curiosity, has anyone here ever tried making a bra (foam or non foam) sewing by hand as opposed to using a sewing machine? I never actually learned how to use a sewing machine and want to know how much more difficult it would be to do.
Hi Colette, I would guess that depends on what kind of bra you want to make and your skills in various hand stitches. For a bra with elastics and elastic fabrics, such as those we made in this sew-along, you need to be able have a stretch-able stitch (zig zag). The stitches around the underwire and cup seams would need to be pretty secure and hard to do without a machine.
But there are all sorts of bras–something like a soft cup bra made from non elastic material might be a better candidate for a hand-sewn bra. BTW, you don’t need an expensive or fancy machine to make a bra–I’ve made several on this inexpensive, simple machine. This would be very easy to learn on if you are interested in learning basic machine sewing.
I do quite a bit of hand stitching (clothing repairs, drawstring bags for SCA stuff) so have some experience with zig-zag stitches. I guess it probably wouldn’t take much to learn how to operate and thread a machine, but I’ve always enjoyed hand sewing and it would mean I could make lingerie for photo shoots while I sit in Tafe lectures without disturbing anyone. I’ll definitely check out the Janome Mini though 🙂 And the fact that it goes slowly is probably a good thing for me 😉
I think, based on your reply, that I might go ahead and give it a go, just to see whether it works out or not.
Thanks 🙂
Hi, thanks so much for the info on bra making. I am making one this week.
I love your blog and am going to follow.
Please hop over to mine and follow me and like me on http://www.facebook.com/sewmanysavings
Hi Amy thanks for sharing such wonderful bra making sew along. This sew along was easy to follow.
Hey, this looks really neat. I also saw your tutorial for a strapless bra you made and it looks very beautiful and professional. The bras I have now are actually too small, and shopping for bras is very difficult, so when I saw your strapless, I began to think that making one myself might be the answer. One thing I’d like to know: what you have here all seem to be made with underwire. I don’t need any underwire or extra-thick padding for my bras. Is there anything on doing one without underwire?
Hi Kitty, I know this is an old comment but I somehow missed it earlier. Soft bras are constructed using the same methods as underwired bra, except wires are not inserted at the end. So there isn’t any special construction to it! You may be interested in my Watson pattern which is not designed for wires at all.
If you wish to make a strapless bra, I do suggest using wires. They are really crucial for a strapless bra to stay up. Without them, you don’t get any support and the bra cups will keep creeping down your chest… 😉
hi! my daughters and I have very small frames. its hard to find bras size 30 DDD-EE and 32 F. can you assist me in picking out appropriate patterns?
Hi Cathryn, you may want to look at my lingerie supplies page and investigate some of the pattern companies to see if their style/sizing fits your needs.
I really believe that 90% of bra-making is fitting so it’s best to look for a size equivalent instead of exact sizes, and buy a pattern in your general size range. Also band size is totally dependent on fabric and how much stretch reduction the patternmaker used. So even if you can’t find a 30 band, a 32 could fit just like a 30 band in certain materials. Or you could simply make an adjustment to shorten the band. So instead of looking for a 30DDD, look for a 32DD which is the same cup volume on a different band. This isn’t a hard size to find.
If you feel stuck on a pattern company’s sizing or fit, I also suggest writing the patternmaker. Most bra patternmakers are small businesspeople who are experienced in bra fit, and they’ll be the best at suggesting sizes from their own patterns.