Attention ladies. Need help!!!

[Egyptianangel]

Need some guidance if you don't mind.
I would like to design and sew on beads and sequins to a £3 bra I bought the other day. I'm aiming it to match a skirt that I did the same thing to.

I really don't know where to start. Do I sketch a design on to paper first? Use tailors chalk to mark where I'd like everything to go. Then do I start on the outside of the bra or from the middle? As you probably can tell I haven't done anything like this before. Please help!!!!!!!!!

[TediThomas]

When I did such a thing (year's ago mind you), I'd sketch out my design first to get an idea of what I might be going for. Of course a fully finished design in the flesh (so to speak) may end up looking a whole lot different once it is executed. Sometimes I might mark out spacial parameters to keep the design as even on both sides (when they needed to match or mirror each other). Often times I just eye-balled the design and it's placement on the base (bra or belt) as I went along. Thinking back on it, for the designs I created I believe that I did start most of them from the outside of the cups and worked in. Hopefully we'll be hearing from some more recent designers/creators very shortly.

[tahiradancer]

What I have noticed on some of my Egyptian costumes is that the basic design is drawn onto costume itself in a contrasing marker. I have a beautiful shite dress which had a few black line still exposed. I went back inadn covered those with beads and then did the same where ever the design was repeated! ARGH!!!

So my suggestion based on that is to draw the design straight onto the fabrick you have covered the cups with, then bead away. You may want tostart with chalk incase you want to djust, then proceed in something a little more perm.

One note, tthough, you may want to use a marker which is close to the colour of the fabric but different enough that you can see it distinctly. ie green fabric, blue marker. Even a contrastin colour of green would work.

{{{HUGS}}}}

[firefly5]

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

I have a beautiful shite dress

And was it also white? Sorry, couldn't resist!

[Egyptianangel]

[quote=tahiradancer;112421]So my suggestion based on that is to draw the design straight onto the fabrick you have covered the cups with, then bead away. You may want tostart with chalk incase you want to djust, then proceed in something a little more perm.


So do I have to cover the cups with another piece of material? Or can I sew directly on to the bra itself? Which is easier?

[tahiradancer]

Here is the issue with not covering the bra with another fabric, and this is my experience so take it with a grain of salt, the bra still looks like a lingerie bra. Unless the underwires are hidden.

But that having been said, your design may be dense enough that this isn't a consideration.

You also plan on replacing or covering all of the straps, yes?

{{{HUGS}}}

[The_Fourth_Wind]

Depending on the design you could just sew them on matching fabric. cut them out and then sew them onto the bra a la applique. Then embroider around the edges for a smooth finish. If the beading and embroidery or sequins arent heat sensitive or too thick, fusible interface will work for the initial attachment, the edges will still have to be finished for the best result. This would be the easiest way i can think of to do the work, because you would be working on a single layer of fabric stretched flat, rather than a bra base. Also it will make exact placement easier. Even if you want the whole thing covered with beadwork and sequins, the major design elements could be made this way then the remaining spots could be filled in.

-Jessie

[kiyaana]

If you want a bra for dance performance, definitely cover the cups, replace/reinforce the band and straps, then cover also. Otherwise it will look like beaded lingerie.

Here are some bra related links:
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...ormal-bra.html
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...-question.html
Bellydance by Anthea: Costumes
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...cover-bra.html

They are also on this thread, which has lots of great costuming advice: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...-costumes.html

Originally Posted by Egyptianangel

So do I have to cover the cups with another piece of material? Or can I sew directly on to the bra itself? Which is easier?

[kiyaana]

This thread has some amazing beaded bras and advice on beading: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...ng-thread.html