Fashion Fabrics for Bra-Making?

In article ,
Sally Holmes wrote:

Phaedrine wrote:

If you need a temporary bond, would that spray stuff used for embroidery
or temporarily bonding quilt layers (instead of basting or pinning)
work? I have not used it so I don't know. And I also don't know how it
reacts with various fabrics but I thought I'd just throw the idea out
there.

http://www.sprayandfix.com/505.html

Good stuff. I've used it for quilts and applique.

The only potential problem I can think of is "strike through", whereby
the adhesive would go through the organza to the layer behind. You
could get round that by spraying it onto the other fabric rather than
the organza, I would think.

Look at the FAQ at the link above for information about how long it
lasts.

You see this stuff discussed all the time on the quilting forums.
Between this kind of product and that Avery micro-tach tool, it looks
like the drudgery of pin-basting quilts is on the wane. I like that it
has no CFCs but I sure wish I knew what was in it. In particular, I
wondered whether there was any wheat/gluten starch like some of the
spray starches.... Or any dangerous chemicals.

Phae

--
I fear me you but warm the starved snake,
Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your hearts. (Henry VI, Shakespeare)

In article ,
(NightMist) wrote:

If you need a temporary bond, would that spray stuff used for embroidery
or temporarily bonding quilt layers (instead of basting or pinning)
work? I have not used it so I don't know. And I also don't know how it
reacts with various fabrics but I thought I'd just throw the idea out
there.

A good thought, but IME it doesn't work for beans on synthetics.
Unless it is a low percentage stretch and a high percentage natural
fiber it wouldn't stick very well.
Nasty fumes too, it is a use in a well ventilated area then have a
cuppa while you come down off the glue buzz kind of product.


Well I wondered.... it was just a thought. Nasty fumes, eh? I feared
that. LOL..... glue buzz...... very funny! When I was drafting for a
living, we used spray fixatif (Krylon usually) all the time to set our
inks, and the like on various media. And man were there warnings on
those cans. Is the stuff used on quilts similar??

Phae, having a nice cuppa

--
I fear me you but warm the starved snake,
Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your hearts. (Henry VI, Shakespeare)

In article ,
Karen Maslowski wrote:

This is something I've been mulling over, as well. If you are making a
custom garment, what is the point of having so much of an adjustment?


For those who are at the outermost reaches of the amply endowed scale,
the monthly calamity (j/k) can easily take you up another cup size or 2.
Adjustable straps are most welcome at those times. That is also a good
time for a corset. Straps are an abomination.

Phae

--
I fear me you but warm the starved snake,
Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your hearts. (Henry VI, Shakespeare)

On Mon, 01 May 2006 09:17:57 -0500, Phaedrine
wrote:

In article ,
Sally Holmes wrote:

Phaedrine wrote:

If you need a temporary bond, would that spray stuff used for embroidery
or temporarily bonding quilt layers (instead of basting or pinning)
work?

You see this stuff discussed all the time on the quilting forums.
Between this kind of product and that Avery micro-tach tool, it looks
like the drudgery of pin-basting quilts is on the wane. I like that it
has no CFCs but I sure wish I knew what was in it. In particular, I
wondered whether there was any wheat/gluten starch like some of the
spray starches.... Or any dangerous chemicals.

I happen to have a can of the June Tailor brand to hand.
Reading the lable and having used it I can tell you it is what we used
to call tac one in art classes, a standard repositionable high tack
adhesive that will mostly wash out. I don't know if they have added
starch to it for sewing, but I don't see why they would.

Other than that check out what else is listed in ingredients (in order
from the can):

Hexane
Acetone
Propane
Isobutane

Not something you want within a mile of delicate synthetics!

NightMist
--
The wolf that understands fire has much to eat.

I've purchased some Sulky Solvy. It's a rinse-away stabilizer. It's
not fusible, but it has directions for dissolving in water for brush-on
application. I'm intending to try stabilizing just enough of the edges
of the stretch fabric to cover SAs and topstitching allowances. Since
it's intended for garment sewing I hope it's not too toxic. And less
fumes either way.

Pora

In article ,
(NightMist) wrote:

On Mon, 01 May 2006 09:17:57 -0500, Phaedrine
wrote:

...In particular, I wondered whether there was any wheat/gluten
starch like some of the spray starches.... Or any dangerous
chemicals.

I happen to have a can of the June Tailor brand to hand.
Reading the lable and having used it I can tell you it is what we used
to call tac one in art classes, a standard repositionable high tack
adhesive that will mostly wash out. I don't know if they have added
starch to it for sewing, but I don't see why they would.

Other than that check out what else is listed in ingredients (in order
from the can):

Hexane
Acetone
Propane
Isobutane

Not something you want within a mile of delicate synthetics!

.... or your lungs!

--
I fear me you but warm the starved snake,
Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your hearts. (Henry VI, Shakespeare)

On 2 May 2006 10:10:44 -0700, wurstergirl wrote:
I've purchased some Sulky Solvy. It's a rinse-away stabilizer. It's
not fusible, but it has directions for dissolving in water for brush-on
application. I'm intending to try stabilizing just enough of the edges

I'm pretty sure Solvy is a film of PVA, polyvinyl acetate. Major ingredient of
white glues. You may find that something like Elmer's School Glue works as
well and is cheaper.

Kay

--
NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth

Kay Lancaster wrote:
On 2 May 2006 10:10:44 -0700, wurstergirl wrote:

I've purchased some Sulky Solvy. It's a rinse-away stabilizer. It's
not fusible, but it has directions for dissolving in water for brush-on
application. I'm intending to try stabilizing just enough of the edges


I'm pretty sure Solvy is a film of PVA, polyvinyl acetate. Major ingredient of
white glues. You may find that something like Elmer's School Glue works as
well and is cheaper.

Kay

It's the same stuff that hospital laundry bags are made of. They throw
the whole thing, bag and all, into the wash. If you can get a bag or
two, they will last you a while. Or you can buy them from the Bag Lady,
Sharon, at http://webpages.charter.net/sgrissom8/index.html NAYY

--
Joanne
stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us.earth
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/
http://stores.ebay.com/Sound-FuryRecords

On Fri, 28 Apr 2006, wurstergirl wrote:
Is anyone able to discuss fashion fabrics for bra-making? I'm
interested in going further than the typical solid tricots. It sounds
like organza is a fabric of choice for sheer lining. Does it do well
as the fashion fabric too? I'm also considering georgette, crepe de
chine, charmeuse, and cotton-poly eyelet. Also, is rayon cooler
overall than polyester? Pros and cons anyone? It occurs to me to
consider nylon, too....
As for "fashion fabrics"
I've used poly stretch satin and a light weight stretch denim (cotton).

The problem with the polyester is that as a fiber it is oil-philic (is
that the right word?) it attracts oil. Which being that it is an
undergarment near your underarms this can be a problem. Since body oil
has a scent..you may not see it, but eventually you may smell it. Regular
detergents may not always do the job to get rid of it. I've heard of
specialty products out there, but haven't tried any of them.

Now if you wear the bra everyday for months this will be more of an issue
that if you wear it once a month for years....

Cotton doesn't have the same, problem but I've noticed it does wrinkle up.
Ok, so it's not bad enough that I have to iron it, but it does make the
trip out of the wash look pretty mangled up. I've had more issues
getting the seam along the cup to lay flat. Like it streched more while
being sewn, I'm hoping that will get better.
I also found to to be too restricive because it didn't stretch enough in
the band for comfort, but that might be more of a "me" issue than the fabric
issue", (it was about a 15-20% stretch). I fixed it by making the back
band out something else (powernet works). I added a side seam so that
from the front it all matches and from the back view it matches. The side
seam is unnoticeable. Many RTW plus size bras have a support stay in the
place anyway, the seam acts like a suport stay, without the plactic
poking out.

I've lined the lower part of the cup with regular tricot and that seems to
take
care of the "itch,and comfort issue against the skin". I've also seen
swimsuit fabric used,
but for the lif of me I can't remember what the fabric content was.

For straps I've used a self fabric tube to match the cups. If I leave it
adjustable, I don't use elastic, if they are fixed lenght I add about 4
inches of strap elastic attached to the back for comfort. I also used
fold over elastic once in a pinch I doubled it and it worked out pretty
good. That one is adjustable, but I usually don't have to.
What determines adjustability is whether I can find rings and sliders to
match. And time. Non-adjustable takes a few fittings to get it right, so
it's faster at the sewing table to make it adjustable.

Hope this helps
Raelynn

Well, it sure does smell like white glue. But if I were to water down
the Elmer's, brush it on and let it dry, will it rinse out again?

Here's a big question for you experienced bra sewists:

If I'm using organza as both lining and fashion fabric in the cups, is
there a reason not to cut one layer on the bias? My intention is to
sandwich the SA's between the layers to give the least seam
show-through. If possible I won't even topstich, just stitch in the
ditch. Does anyone forsee difficulties? I've heard many of you say
that you do this for bottom cups, but fusing them together.

Pora