Cage bras have been one of this year’s hottest trends and even as the weather turns a little more chilly, the craze doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. While many opted to wear them as tops, particularly at festivals, they’re also a must-have for anyone who loves layers. You can wear them under loose or sheer tops, or simply add it to your normal wardrobe for a little extra support!
Fabrics & materials used:
- Base: 1/2 yard Black Power Mesh
- Overlay: 1/2 yard Stretch Lace
- 4 18″ Replacement Bra Straps
- MDF012 – The D’Arcy Bralette Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Pattern includes a 1/2″ seam allowance unless otherwise stated.
The best part about this lil bralette is that there are no foam cups to worry about or pokey wires. As someone with a DDD chest, I’m always on the hunt for something that’s both supportive and comfortable, and if made correctly, this pattern can definitely be both.
For this one, I went with a power mesh and a stretch lace, which work very well together. Both have similar weights and about a 30% horizontal stretch. I sewed the side top bodice and center top bodice pieces together to form the cups, like you see above. I chose to use French seams, but they’re not 100% necessary. Neither fabric frays, so I probably could have gone with normal seams. If you have a serger though, I’d definitely recommend it.
Once you have your two cups, attach them at the center seam like you see above, and then add the lower front band. If you have a smaller chest, your vertical seams can be regular straight stitches, but definitely use a zig-zag stitch while attaching the band (like below) to avoid losing any stretch.
The back is made up of an upper and lower band. When sewing them together, match up your notches and add in your bra straps like in the photo below. The wrong side of the strap should be against the fabric, and the right (shinier) side should be facing out. Be sure to have the adjustable hardware at the far end of the strap so it’ll go towards the front.
Attach the front and back of the bralette at the sides and then roll the bottom hem of the garment. Again, make sure to use a zig-zag stitch.
Next, roll the top edge of the bralette, stitching the bra straps to the top back along the way.
Fold the top points of the bra cups inward and attach the front of the bra straps. Take the 2 secondary straps, cut off the adjustment hardware and lace one through each of the rings on the main straps. Pin and stitch them at the center front and sides, depending on your desired fit.
I love the potential for this pattern: future swimsuits, crop tops, lighter bralettes for the summer. I can’t wait to try different fabric and color combinations. Which fabrics are you going to pair together for yours?
37 comments
Merci beaucoup, c’est un très beau modèle
Merci!
Super Cute
Thank you✨
Thank you!! 🙂
Thank you very much. The colour of the fabric is wonderfull too!
Thank you! 🙂
Hi, could you give us the seam allowance?
Thanks!
Yes, it’s 1/2″ 🙂
Love this for my DDD daughter!
Wow, that is beautiful! I have to make it 😀
awesome free pattern – thank you for sharing! I’m pretty happy with the fit and the look and it’s very comfortable. some tips for anyone else wanting to make it: I can’t recommend the rolled hem finish as it was 1001 kinds of frustration on knit fabric (waved and gaped) – perhaps it does fine with the recommended stretch lace (??). I ended up using picot elastic on the bottom hem and double-turning 1/4 inch elastic along the top hem. Note that v-neck points need a little extra technique to finish. Also, I chose to enclose the seams (except for the side seams) between the two layers so they are not against skin. I used two fabrics from Mood: a limoges cotton jersey and nylon stretch mesh. I would definitely like to make this again. thanks!
Thanks for reading, and for the awesome tips! I love the idea of elastic along the bottom hem; I can see how that would definitely help with something stretchier like the cotton jersey you used. I’ll need to try it!! 🙂
Question… with what kind of fabrics besides mesh i could use?
Hi Marya! I recommend a power mesh lining for support, but you can also get away with stretch lace and most jersey or knit fabrics. 🙂
Hey, I love these free patterns a lot, how ever i have not been receiving the emails for the links. I wanted to know if their was a wait time or a second step to receiving the patterns. I would love to be able to sew the amazing patterns available.Thank you so much for your time and understanding.
Hi there! I just resent all the ones that I saw you requested in our system. Let me know if they still don’t arrive!
Beautiful Bra-let.
As a DDD, did you expand the cups to accommodate your bust or use the power stretch and stretch lace to allow for cup expansion while wearing?
Hi there! I’m also a DDD, and I just used a power stretch mesh for mine and cut a size 18 since that’s where my bust measurement falls. If anything, you may just need to adjust your band size, but if you’re going with a power mesh you should be good! 🙂
The fabric has arrived! As I’m larger than DD I’m planning to use my chest size for the pattern but do a FBA for the cup and see what happens…
Just discovered your patterns a short time ago. Yesterday I made 3 of those. I absolutely LOVE them. I was a bit uncertain about downloading patterns online to use (I often make my own but I’ve been lazy lately) but I am SO happy with them. I plan on making more bralettes (today. heading to my local fabric store in a min!) and use the pattern to make myself a new bikini top for this summer. And of course, a bunch of other patterns to add new original pieces to my wardrobe. Thank you SO much for your work!!
Having eaten far too much quarantine chocolate I am in desperate need of a new bra. I’ve just finished my breastfeeding journey so still need something soft and non-wired, hoping to make this with 2 layers of jersey, as that it what I have at home and it’s so difficult to buy fabric without feeling it! Looking forward to giving this a whirl.
Thank you!!#!
I Love this bra
I have some cotton fabric that I want to use for this, but was wondering if it would actually work or not seeing as it is a non- stretch fabric?
Hi Seren! Unfortunately this pattern requires stretch, but you could try a bralette like the ones in our Apricot Ensemble or Saffron Ensemble. 🙂
Fab, thank you very much!
This is a beautiful piece – your design is lovely !
Thank you very much
Did you have to change the seam allowance to accommodate for the French seams? Thank you so much for the pattern. Have made several so far and can’t get enough.
i made this pattern altered to be a halter top! I didn’t use any of the bra straps, and instead connected the top of the cups with one ten inch band (I’m a size 12) for a neck hole. looked super cute!
This pattern is GREAT! I’ve made 2 so far- one from old t-shirts and another from left over cotton quilting fabric, lace for the straps and elastic in the back panels to make it fit and so I can get it on and off. I’m a 34-DDD (41 inch bust) and made size 18 and fits quite well in the cotton, with no stretch. I sewed the elastic into the inside of the back panels so it hugs my ribs better. Even though this is designed for stretch, I think making it in cotton with elastic in the back panels, makes a cute crop top!.
Thanks, Jenna D for the tips! Being a 52 y.o. 38DD and having had a child (no firm breasts here…), I hate stretchy bras. I will make this and use a couple of small panels on the back (sides, near the side seam) using a heavy duty stretch material just for some flex and cloth straps. No bounce is my happy place!
Mil gracias por tantos regalos lindos!!!!
Can this be made without the extra straps?
Yes, it can!
I made this out of a less-stretchy cotton with muslin lining and I have to say it’s more comfortable than the ‘official’ bras i’ve gootten before. Amazing pattern, would definitely make this again!
How exciting – I’ve been searching for the right maternity/nursing style bra to sew up and had almost given up finding what I want until I stumbled across your pattern. Thanks for sharing this.
Any tips on nursing hacks? An easy switch to the maternity clips in the straps aside, I thought a little extra support in the underbust and perhaps an additional pocket in the cups for a breast pad to slip in and out of.