I have been obsessed with the George and Ginger Lovesick Bralette {now called the Little Black Bra} for the last few weeks. I have made 3 5 a million of them in these past few weeks! I've been sewing up a storm during the Shelter-in-Place orders from COVID-19 and thee bralettes have been perfect to wear when lounging around or working from home.
This is the first and at this point, the only bra I have ever made. This pattern was really attractive to me because I didn't need any special supplies, I could make it from fabric I already had. I actually made all of these from swim/athletic knit scraps I had left over.
Also, it's a free pattern! If you go the the George and Ginger Facebook group, you can download the pattern for free. It's available in sizes 29AA-48E.
Since I used swim fabric, I could also wear these as swimsuit tops. I might make some solid black swim bottoms so I can wear whatever tops I feel like wearing.
Pattern tips
I never print my patterns in layers because usually I blend sizes but do yourself a favor and print this in layers. There are so many sizes and the lines are so close together, it's really hard to follow your size line, especially for the darts if you print all the sizes and it's unlikely you really need to grade between sizes for this pattern as they're very granular and it's only a top.
Versions I made
This was my first version in a black and white swim from Fabric.com. It's self lined and I didn't put any bra cups in this version.
I made a size L14 B, which is what I measured but as I was putting it together it became clear it was a little too big so I took 1/4" out of the size seams. You can see it's still a little baggy on my dress form.
Since my measured size felt too big, I made version 2 in size L12 B and I decided to sew foam cups in this one for more wear-ability. At this point, I was hooked and ordered a 6-pack of foam inserts, so there will be more in my future!
It's a little tricky to figure out where the cups should be sewn in. They can't really tell you in the pattern because it will depend on the shape of your individual breasts. For version 2 I held up the pattern front to my body and then pinned them and hand tacked them to the lining but for version 3, I had a brainwave to use my dress form since it's an exact match of my body!
I sewed the back piece on before doing the cups to make this easier (out of order from the pattern directions). Put the lining on my form and pinned the cups on. This was much easier and they're placed much better.
I could probably use this for low-impact exercise, like Pilates. This was made in nylon spandex from LA Finch Fabrics. I had to piece the back because my scraps were a little too small for the back band and I lined it in tan swim liner. The lighter weight liner fabric is nice!
This size was a much better fit for me. I almost feel like I could down one more size and make it in spandex to have a light support sports bra.
Version 3 is hacked to have two straps! Each of these straps is the length from the pattern piece (size L12 that is 11.75") and 1" wide. The cute watermelon print is from LA Finch Fabrics and I can't remember where the red accent came from.
This is my favorite one so far! I love this fabric from LA Finch Fabrics, it's a nylon spandex swimknit. I might do a cross back strap next time around, I wouldn't have had enough of the watermelon to make straps that long! I had to be very creative with my pattern placement to make this work with my tiny scraps.
Here is version number 5! This is also a swim knit nylon-spandex like my earlier versions. I have sized down two full sizes from what I measure and I think this perfect! Also, I didn't tack down my cups in this one so they can move around and I kind of like that better, you might try it!
This is the first and at this point, the only bra I have ever made. This pattern was really attractive to me because I didn't need any special supplies, I could make it from fabric I already had. I actually made all of these from swim/athletic knit scraps I had left over.
Also, it's a free pattern! If you go the the George and Ginger Facebook group, you can download the pattern for free. It's available in sizes 29AA-48E.
Since I used swim fabric, I could also wear these as swimsuit tops. I might make some solid black swim bottoms so I can wear whatever tops I feel like wearing.
Pattern tips
I never print my patterns in layers because usually I blend sizes but do yourself a favor and print this in layers. There are so many sizes and the lines are so close together, it's really hard to follow your size line, especially for the darts if you print all the sizes and it's unlikely you really need to grade between sizes for this pattern as they're very granular and it's only a top.
 |
| Without using layers...it's a mess. |
 |
| With layers, this dart was very difficult to follow when all sizes where shown! |
This was my first version in a black and white swim from Fabric.com. It's self lined and I didn't put any bra cups in this version.
I made a size L14 B, which is what I measured but as I was putting it together it became clear it was a little too big so I took 1/4" out of the size seams. You can see it's still a little baggy on my dress form.
Since my measured size felt too big, I made version 2 in size L12 B and I decided to sew foam cups in this one for more wear-ability. At this point, I was hooked and ordered a 6-pack of foam inserts, so there will be more in my future!
It's a little tricky to figure out where the cups should be sewn in. They can't really tell you in the pattern because it will depend on the shape of your individual breasts. For version 2 I held up the pattern front to my body and then pinned them and hand tacked them to the lining but for version 3, I had a brainwave to use my dress form since it's an exact match of my body!
I sewed the back piece on before doing the cups to make this easier (out of order from the pattern directions). Put the lining on my form and pinned the cups on. This was much easier and they're placed much better.
 |
| Yeah I'm using two different swimsuit lining fabrics, scraps, ya know? |
This size was a much better fit for me. I almost feel like I could down one more size and make it in spandex to have a light support sports bra.
Version 3 is hacked to have two straps! Each of these straps is the length from the pattern piece (size L12 that is 11.75") and 1" wide. The cute watermelon print is from LA Finch Fabrics and I can't remember where the red accent came from.
This is my favorite one so far! I love this fabric from LA Finch Fabrics, it's a nylon spandex swimknit. I might do a cross back strap next time around, I wouldn't have had enough of the watermelon to make straps that long! I had to be very creative with my pattern placement to make this work with my tiny scraps.
This is my 4th version, I used the skinny straps and deepened the v about an inch. The deep v make it less sporty. This is also a rayon spandex and lined with DBP. Unfortunately, I tried it on and it's huge so I will have to give it to a friend. These fabrics are stretchier than the athletic fabrics I used for the first 3, which I think accounts for the larger final product.
This has a double half-width strap (I just fold the strap pattern piece in half and cut two) and I lowered the v neck 1.5". I am totally in love with this bra!
This is a standard Little Black Bra top combined with an Ellie and Mac Oasis bottom, to make a simple swimsuit. These are the low rise Oasis bottoms, lowered another ~2 inches in front and ~1 inch in back.
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