Welcome to the Power Bra Sew-Along!
This week we will be sewing up our Power Bras! I can’t tell you how excited I am to host this event- I’ve litterally been thinking about hosting the SewAlong since the pattern went into testing late last year. I have no less than 6 Power Bras in my closet already, and look forward to making many more. It’s addictive like that- don’t say I didn’t warn you!
The Power Bra is the perfect pattern for a beginner bra sewist or a more seasoned seamstress, and it works equally well as a lounge bra or a hardcore workout topper, depending on which fabric and options you select.
Nursing mamas and those needing a customizable strap fit can also rejoice- those options are built right into the pattern! The finishes are really high quality, and I love that I can get a better fit with better materials (for less than half the cost!) than I’d find in one of the big box athletic stores, like Lululemon or Athleta.
If you’re curious about some of the versions I’ve made, you can check out this post that I wrote when the pattern was released!
If you’re new to my Sew-Alongs, here’s how they work:
I will be breaking the pattern steps into daily tasks, with one each day for the next 4-5 days. You can comment here, with questions, or on the daily posts inside the Facebook Group– I’d love to see your progress each day and am here to help!
Grab your pattern!
The Power Bra is on sale (ends today, so snap it up!) for 25% off! Use the code “PSBSAL” .
The Fabric Fairy is also offering a 10% discount on fabric for the bra through today with the code “PBSAL” (hint: Get extra and make a pair of matching leggings for a FitCapsule!). Kits are also available (but not subject to the 10% discount).
If you’ve never downloaded or purchased a Greenstyle pattern, you can find a tutorial on how to do that here.
The Schedule
Day 1: Supplies, Sizing and Cutting (YOU ARE HERE)
Day 2: Front Assembly
Day 3: Front, Back, Straps and Lining
Day 4: Bottom Band
Day 5: Hacks/Finishing
Each day, I’ll post a video and/or blog tutorial with that day’s tasks, and you can comment with any questions and your progress for that day, so we can all keep each other motivated.
At the end, I’ll be choosing a winner for a fun PRIZE! (and who doesn’t love prizes?!)
Sound awesome? It is! (check out my other Sew Alongs HERE on the blog)
Today’s Tasks: Supplies, Sizing and Cutting
Today we are selecting our size, gathering our supplies and cutting our fabric!
Before you dive into the video, here are a couple pro-tips to get you started off right:
1) Measure yourself!
I can’t emphasize the importance of measuring enough here- please don’t go by your ready-to-wear bra size! Many people are not wearing a very well fitted bra anyway, and most sports bras for sale out there aren’t cup sized- a huge benefit of this pattern and getting a customized fit! So grab that tape measure, put on a (relatively) well fitting sports bra (this one will be better!) and follow the steps in the video for determining your cup and band size.
If you’re surprised by your results or unsure about this step, feel free to ask! If you’re between sizes, we recommend sizing down, since its designed to be supportive, and that requires a little bit of compression (but not too much- no uni-boob here!)
2) Make a Muslin:
A Muslin is a test garment, that is sewn quickly to assess fit before cutting into your final fabric. This is an excellent habit to get into with all patterns, and you’ll thank yourself for taking the extra time here as well. Don’t forget, in order to be informative, a muslin should be cut from a fabric that has a similar stretch and weight as your final fabric (this pattern requires 75% 4 way stretch).
For a muslin, you’ll need the following pieces (at a minimum)
- Center Front (main and lining)
- Side Front (main and lining)
- Back (main and lining)
Sew the Side front to the Center Front, and the assembled front to the back at the sides. Do this for both your main and lining. Don’t worry about pressing or topstitching your seams.
Place the main and lining right sides together, and sew the main to the lining around the neck, arm and back, basting in straps if desired.
Add in clear elastic by zig zagging it around the neck, arm and back while the main and lining fabric of your bra is wrong sides together. I highly recommend this, since the clear elastic effects the support and fit of the bra, and it’s good practice for later!
Turn it right side out (through the bottom, which is still open) and try it on. See how the cup feels. Do you have any gaping? Does it feel snug enough? The top may not sit perfectly under your bust, since you don’t have the band on, but it should be enough to assess the overall fit. The addition of the band will add support and about 1.5-2″ to your bra bottom. You can also pin the straps in at this point, and see if the strap length needs any adjustment.
Feel free to post a quick selfie or send me a message with your photo so I can help if needed!
3) Adding Extra Coverage
Now you’re ready to go on and cut your main fabric! Before you do, read the note below!
I mentioned it briefly in the video, but there is one of more thing to consider: extra coverage. This is an option for in the band sizes 40 to 46 and cup sizes F to H. We added this during testing to eliminate the dreaded “side boob” and add a little extra support in these sizes. I don’t need it on mine, but if you fall in these band/cup sizes and you want to add a little coverage, you can cut on the “more coverage” line- be sure you have that option selected in the layers menu prior to printing!
Day 1 Video:
Ready? Let’s get started!
One more thing! I talked about the differences in power mesh vs power net- you can find all that information in this mesh post!
Thanks for sewing along- see you back here tomorrow!
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