I can't breathe when wearing a sports bra. I don't know how others can wear them and breathe. But the idea of a hybrid of a sports bra might work, just have to look at different materials and designs.

Texas Jan, That's a pretty machine and cabinet!!

What a coincidence that I just logged in today when I've been MIA for a few months!! Why coincidence??...because just yesterday I started making my latest batch of bras, I find it easier to make several at once than one per session although in saying this it's not really possible (imho) until you have a pattern that is not only comfortable but well fitting.

Vintage, I find the 'best' pattern is to take a bra that fits and is comfortable, doesn't matter about it's condition...you should see mine, lol.... unpick ONE side of the bra and leave the other side intact for reference purposes. This current batch will be all white as I plan on dyeing them in various colours once finished. I've made my own bras for many years although a few times have decided to lash out and buy one but always regret that decision because they never fit as well as my own, nor are they as comfortable.

It takes a bit of searching to get all the bits 'n pieces you'll need, just yesterday I decided I needed some satin-finish FOE (fold over elastic) as the plain old dull one currently in the stash just doesn't look so good with the satin look bra, so this means the bras won't be completed for at least another week until the FOE arrives from the US. In the meantime I'll have to buy more sliders and possibly more (strap) rings.

If you don't wish to buy all these for your trial bra, try your local Op-shop as often you can buy a bra for a $ or two and you have the sliders/rings/back hooks etc. Better still if you know one of the workers there and ask them to save really old bras that people donate and are too far gone to sell...they usually just throw these in the scrap bin and welcome a donation for possibly 6-12 bras that you can scavenge the hardware from. If you prefer to buy new hardware and have to buy in bulk then someone else might be prepared to share a bulk purchase with you....I know I would!

Hope this has helped a little, keep in touch because I'm always interested in chatting with someone making their own bras because it seems not many are interested....they are NOT hard, but they are fiddly and the effort is well worth the result, not to mention the money you save.

Bronwyn ;-)

Speaking of bobbins, I brought the Touch & Sew from my church home with me to try to get it sewing. It's a 639 and fills the bobbin while in the machine. I haven't tried that yet. It also has a chain stitch and, yippee, it's a straight stitch only machine which is what I want it to be. I just read a 48 page manual online so I'm ready see if it will behave better than it did last week. Two piece plastic bobbins.

The Pfaff was made in West Germany, model 4B. After cleaning and oiling, it sewed by hand, but screamed when the foot pedal was used. Had to be the motor - nope - the belt was so stretched that I had to drop the motor to take up the slack, then it sewed nicely. Not as quiet as my Elna, but a lot of the noise is because it is in a plastic base sitting on a plastic table. It also hasn't been used in a while. I bought a new belt as it's belt is all cracked and almost broken, but the biggest one my LQS has wasn't quite big enough even with the motor raised up. Sew-classic, here I come.

I found multiple buttonholers today - Giest, Singer and, whohoo, Montgomery Wards for the machine 15 clone I purchased. The prerequsite rufflers, etc.

Sorry, Dan, the industrial machines sold quickly so I never saw them. One was a bartacker and one was a double needle machine.

Thanks!!! You have some excellent suggestions! I was thinking of taking my old padded bras hardware off to reuse.
I recently purchased some elastic for bras (FOE, strap, and the other needed one) and fabric. I have enough to make several, and I purchase enough for trial and error. I found a Jalie video tutorial on bra making which looks super easy, an inspiration. I was going to use their pattern for my first homemade bra. I do like your idea of taking a bra that I like apart to use as a pattern. I might just do that for my second bra.

Thanks for posting! I agree that there aren't too many folks out there making their own bras. I did find some blogs that some have posted on their achievements, which is also an inspiration and help. I feel like I treading into unknown territory of the sewing world; at least for me it is a new endeavor or challenge.

I'll let you know how it goes!:)

My mom used to make bras on her FW back in the 60s - all cotton just a bit of elastic across the back. They weren't too bad. She copied a store bought one.

what do you think?
May 22 - VINTAGE..MARTHA WASHINGTON SEWING MACHINE CABINET - $50 (RIDGECREST) antiques - by owner pic

I decided to round out my education. My sister and I were at GW and bought a real basic Brother (sewing machine) and took it apart, oiled it and generally gave it a look see. WELL. WOW. THAT is so NOT progress. We cleaned it, oiled it and tried to make it sew. It's tension doesn't want to adjust enough. At first it looked like the bottom tension was way too tight. I adjusted it where it should be. Then the needle fell out. Sigh. Then I adjusted the top tension - makes some good loops - I'm thinking there isn't much adjusting in the tension. So we adjusted away and then the feed dogs quit for a while. I still don't know why they worked again after we messed with it. Anyway, I'm done. Bed time... LOL Martha can stay up all night and mess with the stupid thing.

and this? May 9 - Vintage Sewing Stand - $15 (ABQ/Lomas & Tramway) collectibles - by owner pic

Free Necchi machine in table alert for Bay area, CA residents! http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/fuo/3034363781.html

I would LOVE this machine. I hope one of you nearer by can nab it.