Hand stitching my first mermaid bra!

[Seraphina Suds]

I finally got a tail (just fabric, but it's a start!) so I need to get working on a top. I've decided to hand stitch everything onto it instead of using hot glue since it'll be easier to fix a mistake that way. I have glued a few leaf bunches together to keep them where I want them, though. But they'll get stitched onto the bra just like everything else. I already started it, but in my haste, did it kind of backwards. So I'm starting over!

I've got a lot of foliage prepared because I have a rather large chest and not enough shell to cover it. I placed the shells onto the cups and traced them just to get an idea of where I'll have to go with the greens. I also lined that area with netting. The straps have been removed and replaced with netting that'll be tied into a halter top (I think). The bra is black, which I regret a little bit, but hey, it was only 5 bucks. Can't beat that price!

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[WillowAnne]

I can't wait to see how this turns out! I'm busty, too :)

[Seraphina Suds]

Thanks! It's hard to get a good shell bras for those of us that are well endowed, haha. I really like Raven's silicone seaweed top. It looks really comfy and supportive.
Anyway, here's one layer of one side done:
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[Seraphina Suds]

I... think I over did it with the greens...

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I need to add some sparkle and things to break up all that green and cover a few spots where you can still see the bra/stitching.
And then I have to do the other cup @-@;;
I'm not sure if I like it yet, but hopefully the finishing touches will pull it together. This would be a lot easier if I had some sort of form to put the bra on and work off of.

[PearlieMae]

If you are busty, you might want to hold off getting rid of the foliage until you finish both sides and try it on. You can always snip away the extra if need be.

Am I the only flat chested mer on this network???

[Miyu]

Foliage! I thought I over-did it on my foliage too, but like PearlieMae says, wait until you try the whole thing on to get rid of any - I ended up having to get more foliage out of the barn because what looks like overkill is sometimes not enough, especially when it comes to mermaid bras apparently LOL.

I like how it's looking so far! What kind of sparklies are you going to put on it? :D

PearlieMae: LOL no, you're not the only one, but most flat-chested mers don't have issues with coverage so it's less likely to be talked about haha! I'm kind of envious of all you mers who can wear a shell top without massive amounts of foliage :p

[PearlieMae]

I can use two shallow baking scallop shells and a ribbon and have complete coverage, and I'm a 38 B!

[Seraphina Suds]

Oh gosh, I hope I don't need more foliage! I have a lot left, but I don't want to have to use it. :p
I'm thinking pearls and maybe little rhinestones?? Just something to glam it up a little and add some color other than green lol. I'll have to see what the craft store has and go from there.

PearlieMae, I would love to be able to just strap on some scallop shells like that! I'm a DD and would need some sort of melon to get complete coverage. xD

[Winged Mermaid]

Some like more foliage, some less. I always kind of think of Raven's style as "having a garden on there" haha! I think it's less the amount of foliage and more about the shape it has and if it compliments your shape. I've seen some bras nearly identical to each other but one looked way better on the person than the other because the foliage and shells were just placed better. This is why I put on and take off my bras a lot when I'm making them. When I glue the shells on I'm wearing the top. I essentially clamp them by laying chest down on the floor while tr glue bods haha. I think that's why I've gotten lots of compliments on mine- it's all in placing stuff right for your ladies :)

[Merman Arion]

Some like more foliage, some less. I always kind of think of Raven's style as "having a garden on there" haha! I think it's less the amount of foliage and more about the shape it has and if it compliments your shape. I've seen some bras nearly identical to each other but one looked way better on the person than the other because the foliage and shells were just placed better. This is why I put on and take off my bras a lot when I'm making them. When I glue the shells on I'm wearing the top. I essentially clamp them by laying chest down on the floor while tr glue bods haha. I think that's why I've gotten lots of compliments on mine- it's all in placing stuff right for your ladies :)

"Your ladies"... LOL

Out of curiosity, which one of you named her breasts for fun? Like Charlotte and Marie? Cécil and Annabelle? (completely random names)

Girls have a good sense of humor. :)

[Winged Mermaid]

I don't name mine simply for the fact that I already do the crazy cat lady thing of talking to my cats. If I named my boobs I might be temped to bitch/yell at them, and that would just push the crazy a little far for me personally, hahah :P I already get the she's-friggin-crazy looks when I'm holding lion paw shells over my boobs in Michaels trying to see if they'd be what I'm looking for or the right size XP

[PearlieMae]

I never named mine. It's not like they listen, anyway.

Like cats.

I do have an awesome dressmaker mannequin, though. It's adjustable! Yard sales can be an awesome thing!

[Anahita]

"Your ladies"... LOL

Out of curiosity, which one of you named her breasts for fun? Like Charlotte and Marie? Cécil and Annabelle? (completely random names)

Girls have a good sense of humor. :)

Personally, no... But my best American friend in high school named them for me (as well as the other accompanying below the belt bits) after characters in Gone with the Wind.... In turn I named her all her lady goods after characters in The Sound of Music (High school was weird... Lol, at the time those inspirational choices were totally germane to the situation).

My partner has also taken to naming my boobs... One after his favorite TV show characters and the other a name he knows I hate just to piss me off - because he loves to do that when he has nothing else to do apparently.

[Seraphina Suds]

Iona, I'm kinda wishing I used your method lol! I was so eager to finish it, that I admittedly rushed in. I originally had wanted to finish it in time for a renaissance faire, but my work schedule didn't agree, so the first cup went fast and then came to a screeching stop. Now I just want to finish. :p The nice part about stitching everything on though, is that I can just cut everything free if I need to with minimal damage.

Hahah, I haven't named my girls, but I've always thought about it. I had a lot of friends in high school and college that did name their own though. People like to name their fists too. xD

Here's an update. No blood loss yet, but lots of finger pricking. Ouch.

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Going to the craft store this afternoon to find pretty things to add.

[Seraphina Suds]

I do have an awesome dressmaker mannequin, though. It's adjustable! Yard sales can be an awesome thing!
I've been meaning to look on craigslist for something like that! I saw a tutorial once for making one of yourself. Something involving duct tape and garbage bags lol

[Blaze]

I've been meaning to look on craigslist for something like that! I saw a tutorial once for making one of yourself. Something involving duct tape and garbage bags lol

Google 'Duct Tape Double tutorial' for sooooooo may results on how to make them. :) I currently have three adjustable dress forms; two that are my size (one for straight fabric sewing, one for things like painting and gluing stuff) and one plus size one. I'd like to get a male dress form eventually but Hubby plays along for now. ;D

[Seraphina Suds]

Awesome! :D I'll do some searching on youtube~ Thanks!

[PearlieMae]

I've used Saran wrap and dollar store clear packing tape!!! They make great lawn ghosts for Halloween, too

[PearlieMae]

Looks like the homepage has been hacked again.

[Seraphina Suds]

I wonder why there's this sudden surge in hacking. =/ Anyway, here's the update I wanted to post while the site was down!

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Yes, I'm using a computer chair as a model lol. I've resigned to the fact that I can never cover all of the black/bra, so I'm just trying to move past it for now. I still have some other little add ons. I have black pearls that I'll probably glue on the shells and little rhinestones for the leaves to add a little sparkle when it moves.

What it looks like on.

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[PearlieMae]

Nice! I really like the black bra with the black/Tahitian pearls! And some rhinestones mixed in for extra sparkle is a great idea!

[Seraphina Suds]

Thank you! c: I'm not in love with it, but it's not bad for a first attempt. I'm hoping my last few add ons will tie it together~

[Seraphina Suds]

Augh I haven't had the motivation to finish this bra lately. Everything is still just sitting out in the living room, taking up space and giving my cat something to jump on. I want to incorporate the blue crystals but I don't know how... This is what they look like:

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I think they're really cool. They remind me of the crystals from Disney's Atlantis.

[Echinacea]

Maybe use a few of the black pearls and make a couple/three dangles to go under the shell flower in the center?

[Seatan]

Those crystals are LOVELY! I know the feeling of not having time: My tail is literally sitting in my living room, half finished, while I start the new teaching job I just got. The summer slipping away tends to lower my motivation toward things involving swimming since it means I'll have to pay 24 Hour Fitness a bundle if I wanna be able to swim with a tail at all soon. But that bra would look great with some crystals dangling down, or maybe scattered amongst the foliage?

[Seraphina Suds]

I like the dangling crystal ideas you both suggested! I have a few extra stings of those pearls too. So maybe string them in between the crystals? I have off from work tomorrow so I'll try out a few ways and see how it looks.

[PearlieMae]

How about doing a wire wrap on the crystals and using a bit of fish net as a necklace and hanging them from the netting, along with other wire wrapped bits, like pieces of abalone shell and green beach glass? Keep the pieces and netting dark to go with and compliment the bra, perhaps?

[Seraphina Suds]

Ooo, that could be nice too! My gf used to do wire wrap stuff so there's tons of supplies still.

Sent from my YP-G1 using Tapatalk 2

[PearlieMae]

Just make sure all the ends of your wires are securely crimped down so you don't get scratched or cut. Most bead or wirework magazine websites will have wire wrapping basics outlined. Don't want you to get hurt!

[Elle]

"Your ladies"... LOL

Out of curiosity, which one of you named her breasts for fun? Like Charlotte and Marie? Cécil and Annabelle? (completely random names)

Girls have a good sense of humor. :)


I'll call mine B1 and B2 (like bananas in pyjamas)