(December 2004)

My first attempt at making a bra for myself. The pattern is Queen Elite from Needlenook.

I first made a trial run with just plain t-shirt cotton and some findings that I salvaged of old bras. It turned out to be much too small. So, I increased the cups to a G size and now it fits much better. I was surprised at how easy it was to sew a bra, something I thought was totally impossible with a just a regular machine. So, I think I have that part down - the construction process. But, there is still lots of problems with fit. But as many who have been down this path are telling me, making a bra that has a great fit takes several tries and quite a bit of adjustments. But if I end up with a pattern that acutally fits me, it's worth the time and energy.

Things I have learned:

~ sewing a bra is really not that hard once you figure out the whole process

~ this particular pattern is not very flattering on me, since it has horizontal cup seems and also very horizontal shaping of the cups

~ I still need more support, maybe wider band and angled downward in the back

~ I will probably try a diagonally seamed bra pattern. I think that should flatter my figure better