Changes: How-to alter a bra

Revision as of 06:25, 22 February 2017

Alterbra — There are several different ways that one can alter a bra.^[1]

Knowledge as to how-to alter a bra for better fit is a skill that can come in useful if bra selections are limited for any reason, or if a bra simply doesn't fit anymore. There are band tightening and underwire modification tutorials available online.^[2]

Alter band size

Shorten band

Occasionally, a bra's cup may fit the correct breast volume, but the band is too loose. For such a purpose, there are a few possible routes to follow which all affect overall fit in different ways.

Manually shorten the band:
- Fold the band over onto itself, and sew it in place.^[3]
- Remove and reattach closure.^[1]^[4]^[5]
Restrict the stretch from the elastic.^[6]
Tighten the band with elastic.^[7]
Use a Rixie Clip.^[8]

Lengthen band

Sometimes, a bra's cup volume may be perfect, but the band is too tight. Increasing band size is simple.

Use a bra extender.^[9]

Alter cup shape

Sometimes, a cup may fit the breast in an uncomfortable or unflattering way. There are several ways to fix this.

Make a "pointy" cup round.^[10]
Make a high-cut bra low-cut.^[11]
Take in the top of a baggy cup.^[12]^[13]
Take in the upper-lace section.^[14]^[13]
Remove padding from the cup.^[15]
Make a shallow bra projected.^[16]

Alter gore

Narrow the gore.^[17]^[18]
Shorten the gore^[19]^[20]

Alter shoulder straps

The shoulder straps of a bra may require adjustment, due to discomfort, poor fit, or any number of reasons.

Decrease distance between straps.^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]^[25]
Turn regular straps into racerback.^[26]^[27]
- No-sew option is a plastic racerback clip.^[28]
Lengthen the bra straps.^[29]

Alter underwire

Underwires can often become painful or prove problematic. However, with a little ingenuity, these issues may be fixed.

Fix underwire that pokes the sternum.^[30]
Fix underwire that pokes the armpit.^[31]
Fix uncomfortably straight underwire.^[32]
Cut and tip too-long underwires.^[33]

Other alterations

Make a lined cup sheer.^[34]^[35]
Fix uncomfortable under-cup lining.^[36]
Convert a regular bra into a nursing bra.^[37]^[38]
Convert a nursing bra into a regular bra.^[39]
Convert a bra into a bikini top.^[40]^[41]
Make a Pokébra.^[42]
Fix gaping lace on the bra cups.^[43]
Remove seamed lace outer-cup lining.^[44]
Dye a bra a different color.^[45]

References

[sew-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Sew Glamorous: "Bra (Band) Alteration - Tutorial"

[2] Bras I Hate: "What To Do With Those Pesky Wide Underwires"

[3] hourglassy: "Leah’s Second Column: Shrinking a Bra Band"

[4] Dressing Curves: "Alterations: Reduce the band width"

[5] reddit: gideon_mooncat's Taking in a bra band via the hook and eyes

[6] Venusian Glow: Tutorial: tightening a bra band without distorting the fit of the underwires

[7] Venusian Glow: "Bra Band Tightening Tutorial, Using Elastic"

[8] Facebook: "Rixie Clip"

[9] Amazon: "Individual Bra Extenders"

[10] Bras I Hate: "How To Make A Pointy Bra Round!"

[11] Bras I Hate: "How To Make A High-Cut Bra Lower-Cut"

[12] reddit: luftballoons' Marcie Alteration - Good for Conical/Soft

[allsfair-13] 13.0 ^13.1 All's Fair in Love and Lingerie: Dealing With A Bra’s Empty Cup Space and How To Make a Plunge into a Balconnet

[14] reddit: MsMandrakeRoot's Taking in a loose upper lace section!

[15] Bratabase: I removed padding from my Deco Half Cup

[16] All's Fair in Love and Lingerie: Customizing Your Bra’s Underwires and Making a Shallow Bra Projected

[17] boobiusmaximus: "A quick post on bra alteration"

[18] By Baby's Rules: "Bra alterations- taking in the center gore & lowering stabbing wires"

[19] Arabellas' gore-shortening on a Curvy Kate bra

[20] bras knickers and beauty: gore altering

[21] Dressive Curves: "Alterations: Moving Strap Position"

[22] reddit: gideon_mooncat's Moving straps on a bra

[23] Lingerie Abstracts: Bra Alteration: Moving the Straps on the Panache “Idina” Balconette

[24] The Cozy: Bra Alteration

[25] Bratabase: EM Strap alterations - Option 2

[26] reddit: Alteration Report - I am now the proud owner of a 28GG Freya Ivy longline with racerback straps.

[27] Petite & Plentiful: How thow to make racer backo make a bra racerback?

[28] Amazon: Clothing & Accessories › "racerback clip"

[29] The Lingerie Architect: Lengthening Bra Straps

[30] Venusian Glow: "Fixing Underwires That Hurt The Sternum, By Pushing Them Down"

[31] My Curves: "Quick Fix for Pokey Underwires"

[32] Bras I Hate: "What To Do With Those Pesky Wide Underwires"

[33] Cloth Habit: Lingerie Friday: Cutting & Tipping Underwires

[34] Bras I Hate: "Do You Want A Sheer Bra Up To A K Cup?"

[35] reddit: MsMandrakeRoot's My favorite alteration happens to be no-sew, and super easy! Making a two layer bra sheer; just snip out the lining!

[36] Bras I Hate: "Adventures in Showgirl: Curvy Kate's 'Thrill Me' and 'Tease Me'"

[37] Mamas Worldwide: "How to make a regular bra into a nursing bra"

[38] Venusian Glow: "DIY: transform your regular bra into a nursing bra"

[39] Bravado Designs: Bravado Nursing Bra Conversion Kit

[40] Tasha Delrae: Bra to Bathingsuit DIY

[41] Third Shift Arts and Crafts: Experiment time: Can I sew a bra into my bathing suit?

[42] Szmoon: "How to Make a Pokebra"

[43] reddit: SneakyVonSneakyPants' Gaping lace alteration tutorial on a Cleo Poppy

[44] reddit: babywhatgives's Alteration Betsey Johnson Eyelet Lace bra, minus (most of) the lace

[45] A Bra That Fits: Dyed my pink Cleo Lucy orange! by halloweenkitty

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@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 The shoulder straps of a bra may require adjustment, due to discomfort, poor fit, or any number of reasons.
 *Decrease distance between straps.<ref>[http://dressingcurves.blogspot.se/2012/03/alterations-moving-strap-position.html ''Dressive Curves'': "Alterations: Moving Strap Position"]</ref><ref>[http://imgur.com/a/OZXUJ ''reddit:''  gideon_mooncat's Moving straps on a bra]</ref><ref>[http://lingerieabstracts.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/bra-alteration-moving-the-straps-on-the-panache-idina-balconette/ ''Lingerie Abstracts:'' Bra Alteration: Moving the Straps on the Panache “Idina” Balconette]</ref><ref>[http://andiamco.blogspot.com/2013/08/bra-alteration.html ''The Cozy:'' Bra Alteration]</ref><ref>[http://www.bratabase.com/profile/5vo/adventures/1746/ ''Bratabase:'' EM Strap alterations - Option 2]</ref>
-*Turn regular straps into [[racerback bra|racerback]].<ref>[https://pay.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/comments/1epsix/alteration_report_i_am_now_the_proud_owner_of_a/ ''reddit:'' Alteration Report - I am now the proud owner of a 28GG Freya Ivy longline with racerback straps.]</ref><ref>[http://www.petiteplentiful.com/2013/07/alterations-how-to-make-bra-racerback.html ''Petite & Plentiful:'' How to make a bra racerback?]</ref>
+*Turn regular straps into [[racerback bra|racerback]].<ref>[https://pay.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/comments/1epsix/alteration_report_i_am_now_the_proud_owner_of_a/ ''reddit:'' Alteration Report - I am now the proud owner of a 28GG Freya Ivy longline with racerback straps.]</ref><ref>[http://www.petiteplentiful.com/2013/07/alterations-how-to-make-bra-racerback.html ''Petite & Plentiful:'' How thow to make racer backo make a bra racerback?]</ref>
 **No-sew option is a plastic racerback clip.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_0?rh=n%3A1036592%2Ck%3Aracerback+clip ''Amazon:'' Clothing & Accessories › "racerback clip"]</ref>
 *Lengthen the bra straps.<ref>[http://lingeriearchitect.blogspot.com/2014/03/lengthening-bra-straps.html ''The Lingerie Architect:'' Lengthening Bra Straps]</ref>