DIY Cotton Bralette

I couldn't find a tutorial like this any where, so I made this for everyone else. I love wearing these bralettes! They have replaced all my store bought bras. I hope you can enjoy them as well.

Supplies

2 Cotton Fabrics (at least) 12" of lining and outer fabric

Paper

Chalk

Ruler

Pen/ Pencil

Elastic 2 yrds (at least) 1/2" - 5/8"

1 yrd (at least) 1" - 3"

Straight Pins

Safety Pins

Matching treads (fabric and elastic)

The first thing you want to start off with is measuring yourself.

Measurements :

A- Starting at you nipple measure down to just under your breast. I add another inch to this to just to have extra for placement on the elastic.

B- Starting at end of point A, measure toward your side enough to cover the side of your breast.

C- Starting at the end of point A, measure inward to your sternum. If you wan them to overlap just add to your measurement til your comfortable.

D- Start at your nipple and measure upward to where you want Bralette to stop.

Once you have all your measurements add .5 inch to each one. This will give you your seam allowance.

• Starting on the straight edge of your paper mark 3 points Measurements A+D
• Starting at the bottom marking, measure straight out (Left or Right) with your B measurement
• Then you will measure up with your A measurement
• Connect your end points A and D

(This should make it look like half a house.)

On your measurement A (The line parallel to the edge of your paper.) mark you mid point.

Do the same for your line between point A and D (Your roof)

Take a curved ruler or just freehand a curve between those 2 points.

Inner Pattern

• Starting on the straight edge of your paper mark 3 points Measurements A+D
• Starting at the bottom marking, measure straight out (Left or Right) with your C measurement
• Then you will measure up with your A measurement
• Connect your end points A and D

Repeat the curve then cut them out. Don't forget to name them so you don't forget which one is which.

I used A cheap muslin I bought at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Craft Store ($1.99 per yrd) You can you can use coupons to save more money.

Just cut out one piece of each pattern and sew it together along the curve with a .5 inch seam allowance.

Try this on and see if you need to make any adjustments. If so, remake your pattern using the adjustments you got. Then just make another sample until you get a fit you are comfortable with. Then you can move on to cutting your actual fabric.

Fold fabric in half so that each fabric has 2 layers. If you choose to you can just lay both fabrics on to of each other so you can cut out all pieces at once. when you Have you pieces cut its time to line then up for sewing. Starting with your outer fabric take your outer pattern fabrics and place them side by side, so that your pattern is facing you. Then take your inner pattern fabric and place them face down on the outer pattern fabrics. Do the same for your lining fabric.

This is the BEST way I have found to place the fabrics so that you don't have the wrong pieces together.

Just like with your Mock up, sew a .5 in seam along the curved side of your fabric. Make sure you back stitch on each end. Once that is done on all of your pieces, open your pieces and press your seams. Make sure you fold the flap toward the outer part of your bralette. (You can do this with your fingers if you can't use an iron.) Once it is pressed out you can now top stitch the fabric down. Do this for all your pieces as well.

Taking both lining and outer fabric, place them right sides together. Take your elastic and place in the middle of both fabrics at the tip. Leave a little extra there. Then just pin to hold it in place while you sew. Sew a half inch seam allowance around the edge leaving the bottom open. Make sure you are back stitching at each end. Now you can flip the right sides out and press the seams, use your fingers if you don't have iron. (This takes a little more effort.)

Now you can finish it off by top stitching it close to the edge.

Measure around yourself, just below your breast, making sure you pull it a little tighter. Then add an inch to that. Taking the elastic, fold it in half making sure the right sides are together and sew a half inch seam. Open up that seam, then use a zig zag stitch in the middle of that seam. Then cut off the extra elastic.

Now you can try the elastic and bralette cups on for placement. Using some safety pin you can pin the fabric and straps to the elastic band. (Get a friend if you need to.) To make sure the back straps are evenly spaced, mark the middle with chalk and use a ruler to place then. Once you have the placement can place straight pins where the safety pins are, then take the safety pins out. Then use a zig zag stitch to secure it in place.

This will differ depending on where you place your elastic, but if you are placing it along the elastic you can use then same zig zag stitch. If it is going to be along the fabric use a straight along the top stitch so it doesn't stand out too much, and just trim off the extra.

After that you should be done. Wash it before you wear and ENJOY!