I have been keen to sew a bralette for a while. I love the idea of a beautiful but comfy bralette. I’ve looked at RTW ones but they are either a bad fit for me or lack support. So obviously I needed to sew one for myself. I actually have a massive stash of lingerie elastic and other bits and it would be nice to put some of it to use. I made one version to test the fit of the pattern first. Then I made a second one to go with some joggers I planned to make, as a sort of sweet sporty set.
Pattern & Sizing info:
Mama Bridgette Bralette from Made For Mermaids (MFM). This pattern came up a lot in my search for a supportive bralette for bigger busts. Bridgette comes in Women’s full bust sizes 30″ to 50″. Plus includes 7 cups per size, sewing cup sizes A-G. The pattern is a PDF download and is super easy to put together. I used the measuring system in the pattern and cut a 38F and that was a good fit.
The bralette has a racerback and the cups crossover at centre front. It can be made single layer or lined. It is designed to be made with wide stretch lace (galloon lace) but can be made with other stretch fabrics. Power mesh or cut and sew bra foam can be added for extra support.
The pattern prints edge to edge (or close enough) so there’s no trimming or folding, love that! Honestly, it’s sooo much easier this way and I have already bought and made other MFM patterns because of the ease of use. Also, this has a layer feature so you can separate out your size and save on paper, which is also super cool. The pattern includes very comprehensive instructions that walk you through each step, some even have little explanatory videos. I was really impressed with the level of info. There is also a Facebook group where you can ask Q’s so you are covered.
Fabric info:
My first version was made from some wide stretch lace from stash. It wasn’t wide enough to cut out the side cup from lace, so I made that from some cherry print lycra scraps. I used some soft, very stretchy picot elastic for almost everything and firmer plush elastic for the underbust, both from stash.
For my second version I used some grey, stretchy scalloped lace and a super soft cotton lycra in charcoal marle. Both were from stash, I think I bought 10m of the marle from eBay years ago. I have made quite a few garments from that grey marle; a sweetheart tank, an A line skirt, a pair of matching joggers and some pj shorts for my husband. I added cut and sew bra foam which I also bought years ago, I think it was from Boobytraps. I also used the black plush elastic I used in my first version and some sliding bra straps which I cut from an old but lightly worn bra.
Pattern alterations or design changes:
I made the first black and cherry one exactly as the pattern suggests, with no changes at all. I knew would probably need more support but wanted to test the fit before changing anything. The fit was pretty good! The racer back was a bit too long for me, riding forward at the neck and with the waist band sitting too low at the back. I am quite short from apex bust to shoulder (I am forever shortening straps on tops and dresses) so this came as no surprise. As it was single layer version of the bralette, it didn’t offer much support but I also expected that. It is comfy and very cute and I wear it under my pjs quite often.
Knowing how everything came together I was ready to make a more supportive version that fitted perfectly. I started by shortening the racerback by folding some length out of the pattern pieces. I wanted to swap the font lace straps for bra sliders, so I can adjust the support as the day wears on. I altered the upper racerback section, so I could run elastic along the top edge to attach to the bra strap rings. I really love how these tweaks looked and the fit was perfect.
I added cut and sew foam to the cups but my machine really struggled with sewing both bulk and delicate lace. I definitely got sweary sewing them. The foam did really add support though, so it was worth it. I have bought some power net (from Boo Designs) and I will be interested to see how that compares. I would like to make a tutorial on adding support, once I get the method down.
I was going for a more sporty look and swapped the lace bottom band for a double layer of cotton lycra instead. There are so many tweaks that can change the look of this bralette.
Thoughts:
I love how these turned out! The design is so pretty and I found the fit to be spot on. There’s something very ‘self care’ about making something beautiful that’s just for you. I’ve always been into buying myself lingerie but it’s harder at my size and you can beat handmade couture.
This was a relatively quick make for me, cut and sewn in one day. It probably would have been quicker if my machine didn’t try to eat fine fabrics. Putting a strip of tissue paper between the feed dogs and the fabric helped. Then I found some tear away stabiliser for machine embroidery while I was rummaging and that worked beautifully. I also used a new stretch needle in a fine gauge, as recommended in the pattern.
Would I make it again? Would you recommend it?
Yes! I already have plans to make more at some point. As I said, I’d like to try power mesh and see what kind of support I can get from that. I also think a tank top version would be wonderful for bra free summer wear that still offers support.
I would definitely recommend the Bridgette Bralette! The size range is good, especially for the bigger busted, the proportions are good. Sewing the filmy fabrics might be challenging for a beginner but the instructions are super clear and the facebook group offers extra help if you need it. Sourcing lace and bra components can be difficult or pricey in Australia and I can see that holding people back. Most of my lingerie stash comes from eBay, so definitely look around. If you make this, I’d love to see it!
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