Thread: Making a bra with attached sleeves?

I really love the look of a bra with attached sleeves but can't find exactly what I'm looking for. I always see them in short sleeves and I really want long sleeves. So I've decided to try to make one for myself....my first undertaking of the kind.

So I've got a bra to use as a base. I've got fabulous forest green velvet fabric. Now I have no clue where to go from here. ..l;,

Can any of you costuming mavens out there point me in the direction of good instructions? Are there any books out there that address this? Or come close enough that it would help me figure it out?

And while I'm at it, any suggestions for resources to learn beading? I'm talking the kind of beading and decorating used in making BD costumes of course. I can't seem to find anything on the types of techniques needed for this kind of thing at the local craft store. And I hate to spend money ordering a book that will do me no good once it arrives.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

I've been wanting to do this too! Unfortunately, I've not tackled it yet and wasn't quite sure how to approach it either. What I thought to try, though... is to put on an old fitted long sleeve shirt, then the bra and mark the shirt with a fabric marker. Take them off, and cut away the excess fabric of the shirt. Take it apart at the seams, and use it as a pattern, adding a little extra for seam allowance.

Haven't tried it yet, but it's an idea I've been wanting to tackle when I've the spare time! Please keep us posted on whatever you decide and your results? I'd love to learn how, too!

I make 16th century historical gowns and bodices (mostly use Margo Anderson patterns or modified versions of those), so I had actually thought to try using one of the sleeves patterns from those...I'm just worried about the way it attaches more than anything. I'm worried about making it too bulky at the attach point and that resulting in it rubbing me raw. But I have a ton of interesting sleeve options from the renaissance costuming that I work on so it would be very cool if I could figure out a way to modify them.

I think I'm going to call my grandmother too...she used to be a ballerina and made a lot of her own costumes...she may have some insight. Would be very cool to figure out a way to make the sleeves detachable. But I think I'll go for that next time. ..g.: Baby steps! Hmmm...I wonder if there are some patterns out there for ballet costumes with built in bras that I could modify? Or maybe figure skating. I think I'm going to do some research on that!

Coolest thing about the project is that for beading I have tons of gorgeous tiny iridescent crystal beads that were once part of one of my grandmother's costumes. Its like instant good karma!

Once I tackle the project, I'm going to definitely take pictures along the way...this is going to be the first non-tribal belly dance costume I've ever made. I'm honestly really nervous about tackling it! Going to be a lot of trial and error along the way I suspect. And a ton of note taking for future reference. Ha!

Originally Posted by safiradokos

she used to be a ballerina and made a lot of her own costumes...she may have some insight.

this style of sleeve attachment can be done by constructing 2 sleeves and tacking them securely to the shoulder strap. once in the front of the shoulder and once in the back of the shoulder. if you finish the edges and create the 2 connection points, you will have a bit of exposed shoulder and under arm and full range of motion

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

this style of sleeve attachment can be done by constructing 2 sleeves and tacking them securely to the shoulder strap. once in the front of the shoulder and once in the back of the shoulder. if you finish the edges and create the 2 connection points, you will have a bit of exposed shoulder and under arm and full range of motion

Awesome! Thanks so much!

Dina's Bellydance Costume Galleries

Here is another link that I have used before.

Something that I saw the other day (and didn't quite get a good enough look at to grasp it completely) was that there came a bit of a decorated "roof" out of the bra strap on the shoulder, kinda like some of the old-style bedlahs, and then the sleeve came up and was somehow attached to the roof. Looked mighty cool, but it is beyond my duplication skills, sadly.