Thread: Best way to keep some stretch in a costume bra?

I'm making a bedleh, and I'd like the bra to have some elasticity to it. The last time I made a costume, I just covered the elasticized back straps of a store-bought bra, but I worry that that type of strap won't hold its elasticity well over time.

Is there another method that would work better, such as making the straps out of canvas/interfacing and adding small strips of elastic to the ends?

I use stretch denim to cut out the chest straps. Caveat is that your fabric must have at least as much elasticity as your denim.

That's an interesting solution! How much stretch would you say you get out of the denim? Ideally, I'd like to have a leeway of about 4".

Originally Posted by iamdancer

Good job.

Stretchy fabric is very difficult to bead nicely, so I do all mine like this, below. Cover some elastic with fabric, keeping the stretch, and insert it as shown, it's under the arms, so doesn't need much decoration.
It's covered, because any elastic that contacts eh... sweat, will deteriorate very quickly! You can vary the width of the elastic, to suit the size of your back strap. Lots of breathing room! When the bra is lined, it looks very neat.


red bra-3a.jpgred bra-2a.jpgred bra-1a.jpg

I use 2 cm wide waistband elastic covered with lycra for elastic side straps on a modern style costume. If you want to read the full story, read this post on lj.

In short, stitch pieces of elastic together in the shape of your side strap. Make a side strap cover out of lycra. It's easy and fast, with the only caveat that you can't bead the side straps and I wouldn't put a lot of heavy beading on the cups. The less weight on the cups, the longer the straps will last.

Just have to say this:

I BHUZZERS!

Thank you all for your replies! It seems there are lots of potential solutions. Keep 'em coming!

Originally Posted by Ainsley

That's an interesting solution! How much stretch would you say you get out of the denim? Ideally, I'd like to have a leeway of about 4".

It will depend mostly on the amount of stretch your denim has. Cheaper/thinner denims tend to have more, but not necessarily. I did a denim quilt a couple of years back and people donated truckloads of all sorts of denim to me, so I got to experiment a bit. I found that generally, a medium weight denim with +- 5% spandex works best. if you need 4 inches, that's 2 inches by strap and it shouldn't be a problem with most medium weight denims. As always, a test run will be a better indicator (and acts as an offering to the Costume Goddess *g*)

I don't have any issues covering or beading those kinds of straps.

Originally Posted by mekyria

I use 2 cm wide waistband elastic covered with lycra for elastic side straps on a modern style costume. If you want to read the full story, read this post on lj.

This kind of construction is why I love my Hanans so much--I think the elastic she uses is a good 1/4 inch thick or even slightly more, so it can actually support more weight. If anyone knows where to find that kind of elastic, I'm all ears!

I layered normal elastic until it reached the required thickness, as I haven't found elastic that thick for sale. I got the idea from a Hanan costume too, it is so comfortable!

Wow, this thread is awesome! I am just getting started in costume making and have this issue too...I have so much to learn!

Thanks guys