Thread: Fabric stiffener

Can someone please tell me how a fabric stiffener works and how to use it?
Thanks!

Basically, its a glue which bonds with the fabric. It can be made from many different materials as simple as cornstarch and as complex as polymers.

The stuff you get at Joann's

Aleene's Fabric Stiffener : Clothing Care & Dyes : Sewing & Quilting | Joann.com

you basically either dip the fabric into or paint it on. As the instuctions say, you can add colour via acrylic paint.

Hope that helps!

{{{HUGS}}}

Permanent, or like a heavy starch? The lamentably named "Stiffy" is a product that you would use to make a fabric craft hold its shape, laminate lace to fabric, like that. It's the stuff you use to make those little gauze ghosts at Halloween--What are you doing, if you don't mind me asking? I work at a craft store, but someone might know better in your specific instance how to apply it for best results.

This is timely, since I am planning to make a base for mounting a coin bra: From my unscientific research (reading labels at JoAnn), the available fabric stiffeners will re-soften when wet, which makes them of limited use for e.g. making a commercial bra into a more durable bellydance bra.

My current best idea is to start with a stiffener, cover the bra, apply "something waterproof" and then line it - which sounds terribly complicated and messy ;-)

I want to stiffen a rather floppy bra of mine. I was thinking if I couldn't actually stiffen the bra, I would least be able to stiffen the cups that are inside the bra (they're removable).

I'm not sure if this would work, but maybe inserting a few strips of plastic boning might do the trick. It might give just enough support for your purposes, and boning doesn't wash out. You just have to be sure to size it correctly, cover the ends, and have the right side facing correctly (it curls).

I reinforced my bra using buckram...alot of it...I cut pieces and hand sewed them inside...Audra gave me the tip...but she recommended doing it on the outside..I had a hard time doing that, so I did inside..I have to pad it and sew a lining anyway...then I covered it w/ the fabric...it isnt totally stiff like a regular costume bra, but it works....well hopefully it does..I havn't attached the coins yet..LOL

also try iron on interfacing. i use that stuff TONS in my costume projects. they have several different types which range in stiffness -get the stiffest kind, cut it up into small peices and iron on the inside. you can layer them as well.

Originally Posted by steffib

This is timely, since I am planning to make a base for mounting a coin bra: From my unscientific research (reading labels at JoAnn), the available fabric stiffeners will re-soften when wet, which makes them of limited use for e.g. making a commercial bra into a more durable bellydance bra.

My current best idea is to start with a stiffener, cover the bra, apply "something waterproof" and then line it - which sounds terribly complicated and messy ;-)

Did you ever finish this for your coin bra? That is what I'm researching now and found this thread. I'd like to get one of those heavy coin sets from Sara Skinner but they look like it'll take a heckuva stiff bra to hold up under that.

Hi
For heavy coin costumes START with a good bra and a good heavy canvas belt base, usually I will cover the outside of the bra w/ a layer of "duck" (heavy cotton canvas) pieces will have to be cut and hand sewn for best outcome. The belt will need to have at least 2 layers of duck and an inner base fabric.
Using glues has never been my preference, I prefer to use the fabrics and stabilizers, (buckram, boning, canvas) to re-enforce something that needs it. Glue only makes hand sewing REALLY hard and gums up needles making them break. I use "aleens OK to wash it" if I use glue at all. I only use that on appliques that I am stabilizing for application to a project. The tradition of using a fabric stiffener is for lack of a better alternative at the time that this method was invented. These days you can find really good stiff bras that only need an outer layer of canvas for the operation. These can be found in thrift stores and discount stores now. The outer layer needs to be securely sewn to the base bra in cross section so that you avoid sagging in unsewn areas. There are times when you may need to mold and stiffen a bra cup but for coins you really need that extra layer of cotton to absorb the moisture to prevent rusting.
Andrea

Thank you so much for that explanation, baadrobot, but I don't even know where I could get "duck" fabric around here. Hadn't ever even heard of it (or maybe I know it by a different name).

Is there a 'really stiff bras for dummies' tutorial somewhere? I'm eyeing the mirror coin set on Sarah Skinner's site (Shakemyday by Sarah Skinner) and I may just email her and ask her opinion. She seems like a really sweet, chatty person.

Emailed Sarah Skinner and her reply was simply:
"I take interfacing and stitch down several layers on the bra."

But isn't interfacing floppy too? Even several layers of floppy is still going to be soft. Sorry to come across so helpless, but I swear I can do the technical work if I only understand about the materials that are needed. I figure I need something really "hard shell" type for it to hold up under a heavy coin bra?

I'm curious about this too, but what is buckram or boning? And where do you get it?

Originally Posted by Darbla

But isn't interfacing floppy too? Even several layers of floppy is still going to be soft.

There are many different thicknesses of interfacing. The stuff you put in the facing of a shirt, that's pretty thin, there are much heavier types.

If you're not finding it, talk to the folks at your fabric store. I know Hobby Lobby has 4-5 types, and one is sorta heavy (and dark-colored). Keep asking, though. Some clerks don't know what the store has.

I'm a big fan of drill and of spiral boning myself. But to each their own. My favorite long-time supplier of demin, drill, duck etc is Gohn Bros, who supplies fabric to Mennonite households.
They have a website at Gohn Brothers Home but you can't order anything from it :) Ask them for their catalog. They sell swatches.

Is there such a thing as really hard boob cups you can build a bra around? I've got one finished costume that is like that, bought from Dahlal; the cups feel almost like hard plastic with fabric added on top of it. I'm wondering if I can get hard cups, and then layer and build-up a regular bra and/or padding and fabric over it to finish it?

that stuff is so gross! it stinks too. you should use easy felt. That's what I use. you get it at michael's

Originally Posted by Darbla

Is there such a thing as really hard boob cups you can build a bra around? I've got one finished costume that is like that, bought from Dahlal; the cups feel almost like hard plastic with fabric added on top of it. I'm wondering if I can get hard cups, and then layer and build-up a regular bra and/or padding and fabric over it to finish it?

Sugar Petals sells very firm cups. But not the 'plastic' kind. I believe I know what you are referring to. I had to take apart a costume bra that turned out to have cups that looked like shaped/fused 'leather'. It looked very much like it was made from the craft foam that SCA folks heat and shape into armor.
Craft Foam Armor Tutorial

there has to be a maufacturer who supplies the egyptian designers. Can someone find out who? Currently I use standard hardshell bra cups but with a secret stiffener inside. It's like my trade secret he he.
But lots of ladies say they like it better than the plastic football bras from egypt.

Darbla, every Joanns sells duck cloth (canvas) in several colors in their "basics" section where the felt, rip-stop nylon and outdoor treated canvas is located (typically back towards the back of the store somewhere). Its just a heavy cotton canvas. :-)