We need to form a "support" group .....*laughing* for large busted girls. They can be a pain at times, huh......I need the help too. I wanna look good, but I certainly don't want any wardrobe malfunctions!

What are you using for regular bras? One of those that gives you good support would be a good place to start as long as the cups aren't foam. (Sweat disintigrates foam cups) Cut off the straps and use nonstretch straps in a criss cross for the halter look but none of the neck pain associated with suspending the girls from your neck. *grin* I'm making my first dance bra and started with a sturdy convertible strap bra as a base because its desgined to hold you up from the cups and ribstrap. I'm using a double layer of bias binding as starp material and then covering it and the cups, back etc with a stretchy fabric to use as my base. I also sewed a layer of buckram on the outside of the rib strap to reinforce it and prevent back strap stretching.

Do you have a Nordstrom's where you are? They do free bra consults. Even if you don't buy, it would give you an idea of what to look for in a less expensive bra.

Found it! Threads magazine did a piece several years ago on bra making: www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00111.asp

This piece refers to a slightly older article that I think I have at home. PM me if you want more information

I found these pieces really useful, and there are also some very good bra making resources that I've found out on the web, just doing a search for "bra making"

Somewhere I may still have a thread from the MedDance List on bra engineering. I'll dig for that also.

Go to your local Walmart-type store and check out the cheap bras there. Try on 38 or 40 D-DDs. The band will be too big on you, but you'll be replacing it and the straps anyway. Just hold the bras on as best as you can to find a bra with cups that fit and give you the coverage you need.

There's a great tutorial here: www.annabella.net/coinbra.html

Find a good bra that fits well.
Go to your local salvation army or goodwill thrift store (or whatever in your area)
Buy the most inexpensive shiniest, most beautiful fabric you can.
I bought a vest and managed to use only one sleeve to cover two cups.
Go to the fabric or craft store and rummage through their clearance bins for a coordinating ribbon to make covers for the straps. I like to leave the elastic on my bras and just make casings for them to slide into. You can probably also find trim for the rest of the bra.

If you're lucky you've spent maybe $10 on the decorative materials.

I was at Target (hides face) recently looking for bras to cover and I noticed that someone (Oprah? Can't remember for sure--sorry!!) has a new line out that was displayed right at the front of the lingerie section, specifically for larger cup sizes. The prices were good (if you have the $$ to start with...) from $15-$30. If you have a Marden's or AJ Wright near you, they get overstocks, water-damaged goods, etc. and sell them for CHEAP--bras are all like $3-$6 and they do actually have a really good selection for all sizes, at least in the one near me.

I would definitely recommend cutting off the strechy elastic straps (both shoulder & around the back) and replacing them with wide grosgrain ribbon. It won't strech and you can find it in all widths so you can find a size that won't cut into you. Comes in all colors, too. Those flat hooks-and-eyes like this are great and hold really well for the back closure. www.joann.com/catalog.jhtml

Also, I absolutely second the notion of using the cross-back method. It gives the support (the pulling-them-in-at an-angle) of a halter but won't hurt your neck. And it looks nice too! You can experiment with safety pins to figure out where along the back you want them to attach both for looks, support and non-neck-pinching. Pin it all up, wear it--dance a bit--and *then* sew.

Good luck!!

If you're interested in making your own, Kwik Sew ( www.kwiksew.com ) has bra patterns in larger sizes. They're not overly difficult to sew, and you can tweak the pattern until it fits you perfectly. The red bra with gold drape in my profile came from a mix of Kwik Sew 3300 and Kwik Sew pattern 2374. It's the most comfortable, fitting bra I own, but it looks really funny under T-shirts!

The one thing you may need to know is that you have to have the cups and band sewn together before you can try it for fit. I'd suggest basting the seams first, then fitting it. And it helps if you do it in "throw away" fabric, first.