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#1
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Replacing bra shelf foam with horsehair?
I'm trying to innovate on a support shelf built into a soft cup bra, which is made of tricot-fused foam. It would be nice if it were a little cooler and thinner, making "less bra". (In a size 48J, that's a lotta foam.) My current thoughts are toward layering tricot with an equally supportive, flexible layer that's more open-weave. Maybe horsehair? Does it come in 6" widths? Stiff tulle would be light, supportive and strong. I might try sandwiching it between sheer tricot to prevent creasing/binding. Any thoughts? Pora P.S. Anybody else reading Beverly Johnson's blog? She answers comments using the login BraMaker One. She's such a guru I'm going to think of her as Bramaker-Wan Kenobi. |
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#2
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Replacing bra shelf foam with horsehair?
"wurstergirl" wrote in message
ps.com... I'm trying to innovate on a support shelf built into a soft cup bra, which is made of tricot-fused foam. It would be nice if it were a little cooler and thinner, making "less bra". (In a size 48J, that's a lotta foam.) My current thoughts are toward layering tricot with an equally supportive, flexible layer that's more open-weave. Maybe horsehair? Sure, and if that doesn't work, try course sandpaper, it would probably be just as comfortable. /sarcasm |
#3
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Replacing bra shelf foam with horsehair?
Yes yes, that's what the tricot would be for, a complete layer against
the skin. I have to cover all the SAs with tricot strips anyway, so that part is okay. But I'm not sure if the horsehair will be flexible enough. Do you guys have any other suggestions for fabrics? I suppose there are various weaves of power nets. Why do bra manufacturers use this foam stuff instead of power net for interior shelves in general? I guess I should consider stretch laces, which are soft and I assume more breathable than the foam. I like the idea of layering a soft fabric and a stronger one, both very thin with open weaves. Pora |
#4
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Replacing bra shelf foam with horsehair?
Power net = stretch = bounce
VERY bad idea for cup material. Joy "wurstergirl" wrote in message oups.com... Yes yes, that's what the tricot would be for, a complete layer against the skin. I have to cover all the SAs with tricot strips anyway, so that part is okay. But I'm not sure if the horsehair will be flexible enough. Do you guys have any other suggestions for fabrics? I suppose there are various weaves of power nets. Why do bra manufacturers use this foam stuff instead of power net for interior shelves in general? I guess I should consider stretch laces, which are soft and I assume more breathable than the foam. I like the idea of layering a soft fabric and a stronger one, both very thin with open weaves. Pora |
#5
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Replacing bra shelf foam with horsehair?
In article om,
"wurstergirl" wrote: I'm trying to innovate on a support shelf built into a soft cup bra, which is made of tricot-fused foam. It would be nice if it were a little cooler and thinner, making "less bra". (In a size 48J, that's a lotta foam.) My current thoughts are toward layering tricot with an equally supportive, flexible layer that's more open-weave. Maybe horsehair? Does it come in 6" widths? Stiff tulle would be light, supportive and strong. I might try sandwiching it between sheer tricot to prevent creasing/binding. Any thoughts? Pora P.S. Anybody else reading Beverly Johnson's blog? She answers comments using the login BraMaker One. She's such a guru I'm going to think of her as Bramaker-Wan Kenobi. Sorry but it won't work. You just can't have something like that (hair canvas) so close to the body and it will ruin the tricot aside from not being very washable. The foam is useless and merely adds more bulk and induces more sweating than anything else. The amount of foam padding needed to actually provide a framework would be ridiculous. Heck, you'd be better off with heavily quilted layered cotton for padding.... as in a stomacher. And that still would not work because of lack of boning or other support. Someone who is a 48J needs a framework of support and a bandeau bra won't provide support. The bra will hang from the shoulders and the sides will collapse under the weight. You have to look at it from an engineering POV. Even if you made the cups out of hard plastic and if there's nothing to support the cups, they will still hang fro the shoulders and flop. An analogy would be a chain link fence supported with posts made of cardboard. You can use the bottom of the cup as a shelf or "balcony" ONLY if the shelf is supported by an underwire or some other kind of framework. One thing you can use to your advantage with a 48J is the extra circumference. Friction does add some modicum of support and the more snug contact the bra has with the body surface, the more support you will achieve. But I still don't think that will go very far with a 48J with no underwires. This person cannot wear underwires? Phae -- I fear me you but warm the starved snake Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your hearts. (Henry VI,Shakespeare) |
#6
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Replacing bra shelf foam with horsehair?
Oh, oops. I should have described this better. Here's a picture of
the bra I'm hoping to copy for her: http://www.herroom.com/Glamorise-Mag...01-1005,4.html The foam shelf I'm referring to is a 4-inch wide strip inside the lower cups, like a bandarin in a custom-fit bra. You can see it through the cup fabric in the Fitter's Comments picture. Other brands sometimes make this element an entire sling around the breast and hang it from the strap. This particular brand criss-crosses the flat foam under one breast and over the other, turning it up to become a padded strap. This is a bit like a sports bra with the cups of a heavy Cool-Max type fabric. The frame is actually entirely of power net. (Huh?) The foam bandarin is stretchy under the breast and switches to stable above. Can a less sweaty replacement to the foam be found? Suggesting horsehair was my attempt at thinking outside the box, but maybe that wandered 'way off into the woods :-) It's been a while since I handled it. Yes Phae, I would very much like to put her in underwires. We haven't found one to copy yet, so I might have to pattern that from scratch. Pora |
#7
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Replacing bra shelf foam with horsehair?
Sorry, Pora. I did not mean to sound so terse or bossy! It was late
and I was in a hurry... sorry. In article . com, "wurstergirl" wrote: Oh, oops. I should have described this better. Here's a picture of the bra I'm hoping to copy for her: http://www.herroom.com/Glamorise-Mag...lam01-1005,4.h tml The foam shelf I'm referring to is a 4-inch wide strip inside the lower cups, like a bandarin in a custom-fit bra. You can see it through the cup fabric in the Fitter's Comments picture. Other brands sometimes make this element an entire sling around the breast and hang it from the strap. This particular brand criss-crosses the flat foam under one breast and over the other, turning it up to become a padded strap. Yes, I understand what you are talking about. Most bras of any consequence are made of power-net these days but it still does not provide much of a structure for a 48J unless you make it so tight as to bind her. I do like the way the back is made on the bra. But it's still not enough for the size in question. We're talking Enell for 48J methinks. This lady needs compression, coverage and structure. This is a bit like a sports bra with the cups of a heavy Cool-Max type fabric. The frame is actually entirely of power net. (Huh?) The foam bandarin is stretchy under the breast and switches to stable above. Can a less sweaty replacement to the foam be found? Suggesting horsehair was my attempt at thinking outside the box, but maybe that wandered 'way off into the woods :-) It's been a while since I handled it. While I still don't think the bra has enough supporting structure to support a shelf that actually works, an alternative would be to run a corset channel on the underside of the cup where it would not show (it would be curved to conform with the "sling" in the picture and the channel would have to connect to the center and sides of the bra. Then you fill the channel with a spiral steel bone like this: http://www.farthingales.on.ca/spiral_bones.php I think it was Goddess that made a long-line strapless bra for amply endowed women.... I have one somewhere but I vastly prefer a corset to it. Anyway, it has spiral steel bones that run diagonally over the entire cup just above the nipple IIRC. And no, incredibly, it did not show. But it was damned uncomfortable which is why I opted for corsets. I can't recall whether the bones ran from the middle out or the reverse. I lean toward the reverse. Phae Yes Phae, I would very much like to put her in underwires. We haven't found one to copy yet, so I might have to pattern that from scratch. Pora -- I fear me you but warm the starved snake Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your hearts. (Henry VI,Shakespeare) |
#8
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Replacing bra shelf foam with horsehair?
We're talking Enell for 48J methinks. This lady needs compression, coverage and structure. ahh i fear this is my problem. Bra manufatures think like that. I'm a 38H. and i hate compression, coverage and structure. The words firm support make me cringe and full coverage makes me retch :-) as a result i've pretty much given up wearing bras. use duck tape when 'have' to have shape. backless, strapless and cleavage. just takes 30 to put on. but on the original idea.... have you considered moving away from the fabric idea completely? i've done some along the bioform idea using clear silicone RTV on a papermachie mold and creating a shaped insert. Could try something similar using harder material under to be the shelf and replacing the cup foam with more bendy stuff. would have to punch holes in it for breatability but you wanted out of the box! emma |
#9
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Replacing bra shelf foam with horsehair?
Phaedrine wrote: Sorry, Pora. I did not mean to sound so terse or bossy! It was late and I was in a hurry... sorry. Don't worry offence taken :-) Yes, I understand what you are talking about. Most bras of any consequence are made of power-net these days but it still does not provide much of a structure for a 48J unless you make it so tight as to bind her. I'm puzzled myself, but apparently it is very comfortable to wear as an everyday bra. She's not using it for exercize. I do like the way the back is made on the bra. Me too. Architecturally neat. But it's still not enough for the size in question. We're talking Enell for 48J methinks. This lady needs compression, coverage and structure. She's already ordered a custom one! That was the first thing she did after I showed her what's available in her size. That bra changed my *life*. While I still don't think the bra has enough supporting structure to support a shelf that actually works,an alternative would be to run a corset channel on the underside of the cup where it would not show (it would be curved to conform with the "sling" in the picture and the channel would have to connect to the center and sides of the bra. Then you fill the channel with a spiral steel bone like this: http://www.farthingales.on.ca/spiral_bones.php [snip] (I'm impressed that the boning did not show in the Goddess strapless.) I understand the desire for the ultimate in support solutions, suggesting boning. But, she'll never wear such a thing. I'm shooting for "pretty good", which is much better than what she had before. I'll feel I've contributed a lot if I can simply equal the support of the foam while reducing weight and heat. That's proving to be a very big challenge! I might just visit the sports fabric store in Berkeley and browse the technical stuff for inspiration. Pora |
#10
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Replacing bra shelf foam with horsehair?
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