A well-fitting bra is essential for your comfort and appearance. But finding the right size and style can be tricky.
The first step is knowing your measurements and determining your band and cup size. Once you know your size, it’s time to find the perfect fabric.
Stretch Lace
Lace is one of the most popular materials for bra making. It can be used for various styles and offers support and a beautiful aesthetic. It is often paired with elastic for a seamless look. Lace can also be sewn to a lining fabric for added structure and support. When selecting lace to make a bra, it’s important to remember the amount of stretch it has. Lace with little to no stretch may not suit a bra material needing extra support.
The amount of stretch in a lace can affect how well it fits the bust. It’s best to select a lace that can stretch with the body or be lined with a thicker fabric for more support. Stretch lace is often recommended for women who experience size fluctuation throughout the month or during pregnancy, as it can accommodate changes in the bust size.
Stretch lace is available as fabric in typical widths of 45 to 60 inches or can be purchased as a wide trim that can be used for insets and bands. It’s easy to machine wash and dries quickly. It’s also easy to sew, which is ideal for beginner bra-makers.
Power Mesh
Power mesh is a type of fabric that’s very popular in athletic and dancewear. It’s also used in lingerie as a lining and adds decorative effects to your bras. Power mesh has a lot of stretch in the warp and weft, making it durable and comfortable.
You can find power mesh in various weights, which allows you to choose the right one for your project. Lightweight power mesh works well for lining a bra because it pulls the garment closer to your skin while smoothing out any lumps and bumps. Heavier power mesh is typically used in control wear like girdles because it has fewer holes per inch and provides firm support.
The nylon-spandex power mesh is soft and drapes beautifully. It’s available in various colors and has 4-way stretch, so you can easily use it in your bra patterns. This fabric is also breathable and doesn’t retain sweat, which makes it perfect for activewear and swimwear.
When you’re working with this material, we recommend using a sewing machine instead of scissors to avoid accidentally cutting or snagging it. Also, if you have to use scissors, hold the fabric tightly and carefully cut around the pattern piece to avoid creating uneven or jagged edges.
Lining
Generally, bra cups must be made from fabrics with low to no movement to contain the breasts. This means a specialized stretch fabric like tricot, raschel, or jersey knit is used along with a stable lining fabric for the bridge and frame of the bra. Typical lining fabrics closely match the main fabric and go unnoticed or can serve an aesthetic purpose by adding color or pattern.
It’s important to remember that a well-fitting bra can make or break how your outfit looks. It’s also a necessity for feeling comfortable throughout the day. Please choose the best fabric for your needs and test how it feels in different situations. Also, remember to adjust the band and straps and move around!
This bra has excellent compression and encapsulation, perfect for larger busts. Our testers also loved the soft and breathable fabric. However, this type of bra could be uncomfortable for those with nipple shapes that need more elasticity or space for the nipples. Also, the band sits slightly higher on the front and armpit area, which may cause chafing in some body types. This can be easily addressed during fabric manipulation (covered in our online course) by moving the band’s seam to the correct position for your body.
Other Fabrics
When choosing the perfect bra, you’ve got plenty of styles and closures to consider. But finding a bra that fits, feels comfortable all day, and looks great can be challenging. And if you have sensitive skin, you’ll likely find that certain materials irritate your skin more than others, leading to issues like chafing and itching.
If that’s the case for you, try a fabric like cotton or bamboo to avoid irritated skin. These fabrics are soft, breathable, and natural, which means they’re gentle on the skin. They also dry quickly, allowing them to keep you feeling cool and fresh all day.
Another great option is silk, which has been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines around the neck and face. And like cotton, silk is breathable, letting sweat and odors evaporate easily.
This bra combines a stretchy power mesh with smoothing lace and a stretchy lining fabric for a comfy, supportive fit. It is soft lining and tagless construction are also great for preventing irritation. And its swan hooks and adjustable shoulder straps help you scale up the support to meet your needs.
