Replies

1. 
   dsrtrt2 | Aug 18, 2006 08:00pm | #1

   I purchased a bramaking book & video from a bramaker in Australia.  Both were excellent!  However, I am still working on the one that fits perfectly.  It's not as easy as it looks.  To me, the construction is not the hard part.  It's the fit. 

   I would like to hear about anyone's experiences in bramaking.  I still have a lot to learn and would appreciate any tips.

   Dsrtrt2

    

1. 
   woodruff | Aug 18, 2006 10:24pm | #2

   Not to just send people to another site, but in the interests of spreading knowledge, a while back, there was a very lively discussion of bra-making at http://www.patternreview.comOne would have to enter bras or bra-making in the search box to pull it up.

1. 
   dsrtrt2 | Aug 18, 2006 11:44pm | #3

   Thanks!  I will check it out.

2. 
   diday | Aug 20, 2006 12:52am | #4

   View the table of contents of Beverly Johnson's "The Bra-Maker's Manual" at:

   http://www.bramakersmanual.com/

   "Making Beautiful Bras" by Lee-Ann Burgess is another good book (and video). Both books have received excellent reviews at patternreview.com and are available at bramakers.com.

   "The Bra Dilemma--Solved" by Cindy Elam is an excellent article on bra construction. It's in Threads #71, pp. 36-40, and online at http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00111.asp. Cindy's own website Elan Pattern Co. is no longer active but the Elan patterns are available elsewhere.

3. 
   FitnessNut | Aug 22, 2006 07:29pm | #5

   I purchased a copy of Beverly Johnson's "The Bra-Maker's Manual" only recently. I've read most of it, but have yet to actually put it to the test of making a bra. To be fair, I have made several bras in the past, the first with the assistance of Cynthia Elan's article in Threads that someone else referred to. And I have taken a class with Beverly Johnson, which was wonderful. So I'm not a complete novice and I also have training as a professional pattern maker, which helps a great deal. From my perusal of this book, I would say that it contains just about everything you should need to get started, plus lots of inspiration and solid instruction for advanced designs. Just take the time to work through any fitting issues to prefect your basic pattern. Then the sky is the limit!

   Sometimes, the hardest part of making a bra is sourcing the materials. I don't know where you are located, but there are a number of on-line vendors selling both fabrics/findings and patterns for bras and other lingerie. I can highly recommend Beverly Johnson's website, http://www.bramakers.com for excellent service and products. (I am not associated with them in any way, just a happy customer.) Her site is also loaded with information you may wish to read.

   Good luck!

1. 
   Lise_W | Aug 23, 2006 07:17pm | #6

   One stateside source for materials is Needle Nook Fabrics in Wichita, Kansas.  The owner, Ann St. Clair, teached bramaking, and sells the materials.  She also has a new book out on bramaking that is fairly inexpensive and a line of patterns.  I took an all-day workshop with her at the American Sewing Guild's annual conference and really enjoyed it.  The bra I made fit me beautifully, and the pattern needed no tweaking, so I can go right into making another one. We got enough materials in our class kit for 3 bras.

   I don't think the shop has a website, but the email address for the shop is [email protected] and the physical address is:

   Anne St ClairNeedle Nook FabricsElite Bra Patterns2714 Blvd PlazaWichita, KS 67211316-684-5989<!----><!---->