[Azhia]

Mon grain du sel (from someone who has made her own bras)...

PART 1

My bra/costume fabricator guru is Ellen Laincz in Kutztown, PA. I have followed her advice and it has never lead me astray. While this may seem time-consuming or tedious, it is worth the effort and you will get into the good habit of making sturdy, durable bras.

Since they no longer make Jezebel bras, for the sturdiest bra that will withold jiggling, and sewing on the bling, obtain a strapless bra that has BONING on the sides. These strips of boning will be located about an inch or so outside of the bra cups.

The only thing you will need to discard from this strapless bra is the straps!

Keep everything else. This gives you the support (underneath the cups, around the ribs). You will add straps as the very last step. You may choose to go a cup size larger, as mentioned above.

Stiffen the cups with just a few layers of fabric stiffener. You're not making Jean Paul Gaultier bullet bra, just stiffening the cups to give your "twins" support, as well as to provide a base that will not "flop" once you sew on your bling (this is the characteristic that makes Egyptian style bras stand, and walk around, on their own).

You'll cover the entire bra with 2 layers of fabric: 1) ugly whatever sturdy fabric first, 2) then your decorative blingy fabric. This will hold the bling sturdily in place and provide more stiffness/support.

The sides of the bra...this can get technical. If not sure how to proceed, let me know, I can walk you through it more detailed (it's 5am!). Basically you will need to account for the stretch of the sides (because you're keeping them on the bra) and will be making "slip covers" for the sides. The slip covers will consist of fabric layers #1 & #2 for the outside part of the bra sides, and the cotton lining for the inside of the bra.

Once the slip overs are made (again, ask me for details should you choose this adventure) you will anchor the ends to the boning. The only open end on these "slip covers" is the end that gets attached to the boning. You can cover the hook and eyes that come with the bra because you will replace them with your own sturdy hook and eye AND a snap closure (this is how a bra has never popped open on me in 18 years. *knocking on my noggin as I type this*).

cont'd...