How to sew a Bralette Top

A bralette top is an unstructured version of a bra – it combines comfort with style. There are many types of bralette tops – one with straps, strapless bralettes, lace bralettes, shirred bralettes, halter neck ones. You can wear it with trousers, shorts, skirts, jeans. Here is a very easy pattern to make a simple bralette yourself.

You can either make it in a non stretchy cotton fabric with a zipper fastener or make it in a stretchy fabric without the fastener.

Whichever you are making make a pattern with the same pattern. For this, Take the following measurements
Shoulder to shoulder
Chest round – Just across the armhole above the bust
Bust round – on the widest part on the bust
Waist round
Top length = 14″
Under bust line round
Armhole round

SEWING PATTERN FOR a bralette top

To make a bralette top with a non stretchy fabric you will need to use a side seam zipper, to get it along your body properly, fitting you snugly. If you are using a stretchy fabric like a stretch velvet, no need for that.

You need to cut out two fabric of the following dimension from outer fabric and two from lining fabric.

A-B = 1/2 of shoulder to shoulder
G-F = 1/2 of armhole
E-F = 1/4 of Bust round + 1.5″ dart allowance + 1″ seam allowance

E-F = 1/4 of chest round plus 1″ seam allowance
M-N = 1/4 of bust round plus 1/4″ ease + 1″ seam allowance
C-L = 1/4 of waist round plus 1 1/2 ” dart and 1″ seam allowance

Mark a line straight down, such that E-H = 1/2 of bust point to bust point

Mark the darts

Cut out your pattern

You can alter the pattern in anyway you want. Cut it under bust to make it two parts. Do not forget to add seam allowance etc. And transfer the darts.Make it overlaping or a straight one- it is your choice.

For the back pattern of your bralette

Mark a 1 1/2 inch dart on the line from the shoulder

Cut the pattern from the fabric on fold.

On this pattern, add seam allowance etc near the darts and then cut it from fabric.

Cut from lining.

Mark the darts on all the four pieces. Ensure that dart positions are on exact positions.

Sew the darts on all 4 pieces.

Join the pieces by the middle. So that you get one outer front piece and one lining piece.

Cut out the back pieces – fold the fabric for outer and lining and cut as in the picture below.

When you open it up your outer and lining pieces will look like this.

Calculate how much strap length you need. Take that measure plus 1 inch extra – you can make fabric tubes following the tutorial here.

I have cut two straps which are 11 1/2 inch long .

Keep the tubes sandwiched between the outer fabric and the lining fabric. Place the fabric tubes on top of the outer fabric as in the picture below. Keep the lining on top of this, effectively sandwiching the fabric tube in between.

You sew the top edge (do not sew the side seams) together and then turn the whole thing rightside out.

Now sandwich the other end of the tubes between the two back bodice pieces kept rightsides to the inside.

Sew the top edge. You will get the straps attached like this.

You need to finish the bottom edges of the two pieces now. Either you can bind with a fabric piece or just turn under the edges to the inside and top stitch. I pressed the edges to the inside, pinned and then top stitched.

Join one of the side edges fully; on the other side just sew the top 1 inch. The rest is for attaching a zipper. An invisible zipper is preferred.

You can follow the tutorial for sewing invisible zipper here.

Turn the zipper ends to the inside and hand stitch in place. Try it on you.

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