(April 2005)

I have attempted to take apart an old Playtex nursing bra, which was the bra with the closest fit. I took aparat one side, after I had basted both pieces of the nursing cup together. Then I traced all the pieces. The first attempt didn't go very well. Although the band fit great (I really curved it in the back), the cups were from way too stretchy fabric and no support at all. Still, I got to practice some new techniques and made my first padded straps. This was my first attempt at interfacing the lower cups and diagonal seems cups. Unfortunately it is not wearable due to the lack of support.

Then I made the same bra from tricot. This is much better and is wearable, although the cups are still too small. Here I didn't make padded straps, but I should have. The straps could be closer to the center both front and back and the cups deeper.

Things I have learned:

~ tracing my own pattern and altering it a bit

~ to attach the straps in the back like on RTW bras (with the strap being part of the band in the middle)

~ using the three-step zig-zag to finish elastic application

~ making padded straps

~ using decorative elastic on the cups and straps

~ interfacing the lower cup