DIY Bra Extender
You know when you get a new bra, how it’s suppose to just fit the last row of tabs? It’s sort of tight/snug, but not unbearably so, so you just deal. Well, that is how it was for me at least. But the last time I bought a pack of bra extenders I found out the hard way that they simply don’t (or very rarely) come in a row of five like my actual bras do. Having just purchased four new bras and not wanting to just deal with the initial tightness of them, I decided to take matters into my own hands…literally!
I took a pair of scissors and snatched the two broken bras from my trash can and cut the hooks and tabs out of them. You can see in the first photo here that one side is all tabs and the other is a row of hooks. I wasn’t sure at first how I’d go about attaching them, but I just went ahead and dove in head first! I simple flipped the hooks under the tabs and sewed them (I do have a machine, though I’m not fully skilled at using it yet) on the opposite side (facing the appropriate way so that they could be used of course). I couldn’t manage to sew a straight-across line with all of the hardware in there, so instead I went in short bursts between each hook:
You can see on the beige one (’cause I used black thread) where my stitches are. I made one black and one beige since that is what I had on-hand and pretty much all I wear. And they worked like a fucking charm, I tell ya! Perfection! They fit, I don’t even notice them when they’re on and best of all my new bras fit spectacularly! It took me all of five or so minutes and didn’t cost me a dime! I love stuff like this.
Do you have a cheap and simple DIY projects you’d like to share? Hit me up! I’d love to post about it here and try it for myself, too! notblueatall@notblueatall.com
I don’t have anything in particular that cool to share ATM, but I just have to say that’s fucking brilliant, dearie!
@Twistie: Thank you!
Now if I could only figure out something similiar to do with pants or skirts with a too tight waist. Thanks for the great info.
@Anna: Ha-ha! Right?! Not sure I have the know-how for that one, but I do agree! Thanks!
@ Anna Mills: if they have a button hole use a covered hair elastic (or two)simply make a hook by placing the hair elastic throught the button hole and doubling it back through itself forming a loop and then slip the hook over the button and voila an extra inch or two, works a treat with my favourite jeans.
@Lori: Great tips! Thank you!
Thanks! Ideally, I’d like an extender for each bra and now I know how. I’ve been saving the hook and eye parts from old bras for their color coordinated notions. Now to go find my stash and make extenders.
My tip is on replacing worn out elastic on pants and skirts. I don’t rip out all the stitching and resew in new elastic. I slice a slit into the inside of the waistband, at the back. Then I thread through a piece of new elastic and sew the new elastic to itself ( to make a new waistband-sized loop). Often I will pin the elastic together first and wear the garment around the house for a while to check the fit. Then I either sew the slit up by hand or just use a seam sealer on the slit to prevent fraying. If the original elastic is sewn through the middle, then I use narrower new elastic and use 2 pieces (one in each channel) to fix the garment waist.
@Susan: I think you just helped me save one of my favorite tops! It has elastic around the arm holes (puff sleeve) and one side is down to a thread of a elastic, this will allow me to save it! WOO HOO!
A
ll great comments and ideas, Thanks
I have the hardest time with bras. I am not very large chested, (a C cup) but I have prodigious side fat under my arms and it seems that the bands are never wide enough. the tend to bunch under my fat and its really uncomfortable, or it kinda slices it in the middle making it look really strange under shirts. I have noticed that they do make wider bands (some even in light boning) but always in larger cup sizes. The C and below cup sized come in those crappy thin straps that hurt. Finding a bra is really hard for me. 🙁
@Jenna: LB has that new back smoothing bra you might try on/out. A former friend swore by those things, but hated how quickly they stretched out. C seems to be the most popular cup size, but yeah, in fatter stores the typical is DD I think. Sorry hun, if I ever figure out how to make a bra (Marilyn Wann says it’s not so hard and I believe her) I will let you know! =0)