Sewing Bras: Designer Techniques

Class Preview

Sew custom bras that are the perfect complement to your curves and your fashion sense! Learn designer techniques for exquisite undergarments.

Introduction & Partial-Band Bra

Meet your fairy bra mother, Beverly Johnson, and learn how to use your class as a reference for designing and modifying bras for comfort and style. Beverly begins by showing you how to take a full-band bra pattern that you’ve already determined is a good fit and turn it into a partial-band bra with a few simple pattern adjustments and sewing changes.

Modifying Upper Cups & Straps

Change the neckline of a full- or partial-band bra with Beverly’s guidance and learn how to add padded, tapered or multiple straps. You’ll see how the trifecta of the straps, top of the cup and top of the bridge interact and how your design takes all three areas into account.

Modifying the Frame

Beverly shows how to modify the frame on both full- and partial-band bras. Learn how to make “the world’s thinnest band” or turn the bottom of your bridge into a gothic arch. Beverly also shows how to create a front closing on a partial-band bra and how to add a keyhole to your bridge.

Modifying the Back Band

Add comfort and style to the back of your bra with Beverly’s modifications, such as changing the width of your fabric or angling the closure downwards. Prefer front-closing bras? See how to make a Y-back or add a keyhole.

Power Bars

Give your bust a boost with built-in power bars. Beverly shows how to add a bit of sheer nylon or seams in just the right places to help accentuate your shape. An external, ruched power bar can even be a fashion statement!

Modifying Cup Seams

Altering the seam lines on your cups can give your bras a different look. With Beverly’s guidance, draft your new seam lines using both 3-D and paper techniques and get an amusing but important lesson on the correct choice of fabric.

Side-to-Side Modifications

Discrepancies in cup sizes are no problem when you can draft your own alterations. Beverly shows how to bridge the different sizes easily with pattern adjustments or padding. You can also make your own push-up bra!